When a designer or developer works on your author website, the instinct is to send them your username and password. Do not. WordPress is built for multiple users, so you can give your designer WordPress access with their own account and the right role, then remove it in one click when the project ends. This guide covers the roles, the steps, and the safer options when someone needs deeper access than content.
Pick the role that matches the work
WordPress roles decide how much someone can do. Administrator has full control, including themes, plugins, and other users, which is what a designer building or restructuring the site needs. Editor can create and edit all content but cannot change themes, plugins, or settings, which suits someone writing or managing posts and pages. Author and Contributor are limited to their own posts and are rarely what a designer needs. Match the role to the task: content help gets Editor, and build or design work gets Administrator, temporarily.
How to add a user
Step 1: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Users, then Add New.
Step 2: Enter their email and a username.
Step 3: Set a strong password, or let WordPress generate one and email it to them.
Step 4: Choose the role.
Step 5: Click Add New User. They can now log in with their own account, and you never shared yours.
A safer option for deep access
If a developer needs administrator access only briefly, create the admin account for the project and delete it when the work is done, reassigning their content to you. For a tool that needs to connect to your site, an application password (created in the user’s profile) lets it link without exposing your main login. Either way, your own credentials stay private.
What to Watch Out For
Do not share your own admin login. If you do and later part ways, you have to change your password and log every session out. A separate user account is removed in one click.
Administrator can do everything, including remove you. Give it only to someone building the site, and take it back when they are done.
Delete, do not just leave it. When the work ends, delete the user account and reassign their content to you, so no live access lingers on your site.
What comes next
Website access often comes alongside a domain move. See How to Point Your Domain (DNS) for a New Author Website. For your email platform, see How to Give Your Marketer Access to MailerLite. The Author Onboarding Bootcamp covers the full access sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does my designer need?
Administrator if they are building or restructuring the site, since that covers themes, plugins, and settings. Editor if they only work on content. Give the least access the task requires.
Can I remove access later?
Yes. Go to Users, delete the account, and reassign their content to you. It takes effect immediately, with no password change needed on your side.
Is it safe to give administrator access?
Yes, when it is scoped to the project and removed afterward. The risk is not the role, it is leaving it in place or sharing your own login instead of creating a separate account.
What if they only need to connect a tool, not log in?
Use an application password, created in the user’s profile, so the tool can connect without your main password. Revoke it when the tool is no longer needed.
Frequently asked questions
What role does my designer need?
Administrator if they are building or restructuring the site, since that covers themes, plugins, and settings. Editor if they only work on content. Give the least access the task requires.
Can I remove access later?
Yes. Go to Users, delete the account, and reassign their content to you. It takes effect immediately, with no password change needed on your side.
Is it safe to give administrator access?
Yes, when it is scoped to the project and removed afterward. The risk is not the role, it is leaving it in place or sharing your own login instead of creating a separate account.
What if they only need to connect a tool, not log in?
Use an application password, created in the user's profile, so the tool can connect without your main password. Revoke it when the tool is no longer needed.