If you’re like me, you want your website to be clean, organized, and user-friendly. One crucial aspect of this is having easy-to-understand URLs.

In this article, we’ll go in-depth about removing the category from WordPress URLs.

By the end of it, you’ll know everything you need to get those URLs looking spiffy and improve your site’s SEO.

Understanding WordPress Categories

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, it’s essential to understand the purpose of categories in WordPress.

Categories help you organize your content, making it easier for your users to navigate your site. They’re basically like file folders, sorting your posts into related groups.

Now, let’s talk about the difference between categories and tags. Categories are broad groupings of content, while tags are more specific, focusing on the details of a post. Think of categories as the table of contents in a book, and tags as the index.

URL Structures in WordPress

WordPress has a default URL structure that includes categories. This isn’t always ideal, as it can make your URLs long and messy. Plus, SEO-wise, it’s better to have clean URLs that focus on your content.

Luckily, you can customize your WordPress URL structure, and that’s what we’re going to learn today. Let’s look at some techniques to remove the category from WordPress URLs and make them more SEO-friendly.

Techniques for Removing Category from WordPress URL

There are a few ways to remove the category from your WordPress URLs:

  1. Using plugins
  2. Editing the .htaccess file
  3. Customizing WordPress code

Let’s dive into each of these methods.

Top Plugins for Removing Category from WordPress URL

Using plugins is the easiest way to remove categories from your URLs. Here are three popular options:

Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO is my go-to plugin for managing SEO on my website. It’s got a handy feature for removing the category from URLs. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Install and activate the Yoast SEO plugin.
  2. Go to SEO > Search Appearance > Taxonomies.
  3. Toggle the Remove the categories prefix option to “On.”
  4. Save your changes, and voilà!

FV Top Level Categories

The FV Top Level Categories plugin is another solid choice. Here’s how you can use it:

  1. Install and activate the FV Top Level Categories plugin.
  2. Go to Settings > Permalinks.
  3. Check the box next to Remove category base.
  4. Save your changes, and you’re done!

Manual Methods for Removing Category from WordPress URL

If you prefer not to use plugins, there are other ways to remove the category from your WordPress URLs.

Editing .htaccess file

The .htaccess file controls how your server behaves, so be cautious when editing it! Here’s how to modify it:

  1. Back up your .htaccess file (trust me, you’ll want to do this).
  2. Open the .htaccess file in a text editor.
  3. Add the following code:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^category/(.+)$ $1 [R=301,L]

4. Save and upload the modified .htaccess file to your server.

5. Test your site to make sure everything works correctly.

Customizing WordPress code

Another manual method involves customizing your WordPress code. Keep in mind that this method is more advanced, and you should only attempt it if you’re comfortable with code. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Create a backup of your website (you can never be too careful).
  2. Access your website’s files using an FTP client.
  3. Locate the functions.php file in your theme folder.
  4. Add the following code to the file:
add_action('init', 'remove_category_base');
function remove_category_base() {
global $wp_rewrite;
$wp_rewrite->extra_permastructs['category']['struct'] = '%category%';
}
  1. Save and upload the modified functions.php file to your server.
  2. Test your site to make sure everything works as expected.

Verifying Changes and Testing

Once you’ve removed the category from your WordPress URLs, it’s crucial to verify the changes and test your website. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Check your new URL structure by visiting a few category pages.
  2. Test for broken links using a tool like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
  3. Monitor the SEO impact of the change using Google Analytics or another analytics tool.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. If you run into issues, don’t panic! Here are some common problems and solutions:

404 errors

If you’re getting 404 errors after removing the category from your WordPress URLs, try flushing your permalinks. Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes. This should resolve the issue.

Redirection loops

If you encounter redirection loops, check your .htaccess file or any redirection plugins for conflicts. Make sure there aren’t any duplicate or conflicting rules.

Conflicting plugins

Some plugins might conflict with the changes you made to your URLs. Deactivate your plugins one by one to find the culprit. Once you identify the problem plugin, consider finding an alternative or reaching out to the plugin’s support team.

Advanced Tips for WordPress URL Management

If you want to take your URL management game to the next level, here are some advanced tips:

  1. Create a custom URL structure that works best for your website.
  2. Add or modify taxonomies to better organize your content.
  3. Manage URL changes and redirects to ensure a smooth user experience and maintain SEO.

FAQ on remove category from WordPress URL

Why should I remove the category from my WordPress URL?

Removing the category from your WordPress URL creates a cleaner and more organized URL structure. This not only improves user experience, but it also has a positive impact on your website’s SEO.

Search engines prefer short and easy-to-understand URLs, so it’s worth investing your time in making this change.

Can removing the category from the URL hurt my SEO?

No, it actually helps improve your SEO! Clean URLs without the category base are more straightforward and easier for search engines to crawl. As a result, your website’s ranking and visibility on search engine results pages can improve.

Is it hard to remove the category from my WordPress URL?

Not at all! There are several ways to remove the category from your WordPress URL, including using plugins or making manual adjustments to your .htaccess file or your WordPress code.

Just follow the steps outlined in the guide, and you’ll have clean URLs in no time.

What are the best plugins for removing the category from the URL?

Three popular plugins that can help you remove the category from your WordPress URL are Yoast SEO, Remove Category URL, and FV Top Level Categories. All of these plugins are easy to use and effective in achieving the desired URL structure.

Can I remove the category from my URL without using a plugin?

Yes, you can! There are two manual methods for removing the category from your WordPress URL: editing the .htaccess file and customizing the WordPress code. Both options require a bit of technical knowledge, so make sure you’re comfortable with editing code and always back up your files before making changes.

What if I encounter 404 errors after removing the category from the URL?

If you’re experiencing 404 errors, try flushing your permalinks. Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes. This should resolve the issue. If you’re still having trouble, double-check your .htaccess file or any redirection plugins for conflicts.

Will removing the category base break any internal links on my website?

It might, but you can easily fix this by updating your internal links to the new URL structure. Tools like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog SEO Spider can help you identify any broken links on your website, so you can fix them quickly.

Can I revert the changes if I don’t like the new URL structure?

Absolutely! If you decide to go back to the original URL structure, you can disable the plugin or remove the custom code you added. Don’t forget to update any internal links that you may have changed and flush your permalinks to ensure a smooth transition.

What other URL management tips can I use to improve my WordPress site?

Creating a custom URL structure that works best for your website, adding or modifying taxonomies to better organize your content, and managing URL changes and redirects are some advanced tips that can further improve your site’s SEO and user experience.

Are there any case studies that showcase successful category removal from WordPress URLs?

Yes, there are several case studies that highlight successful category removal examples, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned. You can search online for real-world examples and learn from the experiences of other website owners who have gone through the process.

Ending thoughts on “remove the category from WordPress URL”

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article.

From understanding categories and URL structures to using plugins and manual methods, you now have all the tools you need to remove the category from your WordPress URLs.

With cleaner URLs, you’ll improve your website’s user experience and SEO, so it’s well worth the effort.

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