WordPress User Roles Explained
WordPress has a built-in user role management system that lets you control what users can and can't do on your site. Here are the default user roles, from most to least powerful:
🔒 1. Administrator
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Access Level: Full control over the website.
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Common Use: Site owners or developers.
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Can:
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Install, update, and delete themes & plugins
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Add, delete, and manage all user accounts (including other admins)
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Change site settings and configurations
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Manage all posts, pages, and content (regardless of author)
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Edit the site using tools like Elementor or other builders
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✏️ 2. Editor
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Access Level: Full control over content only.
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Common Use: Content managers or senior team members.
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Can:
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Create, edit, publish, and delete any posts or pages (even those written by others)
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Moderate comments
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Manage categories and tags
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Upload media
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Cannot:
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Install or manage themes/plugins
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Change site settings
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Manage user roles
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📝 3. Author
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Access Level: Can manage their own posts.
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Common Use: Trusted contributors or team members.
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Can:
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Write, edit, publish, and delete their own posts
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Upload media
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Cannot:
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Edit or publish others’ content
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Access site settings or plugins
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Manage pages
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✍️ 4. Contributor
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Access Level: Write-only with no publishing rights.
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Common Use: Guest writers or new team members.
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Can:
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Write and edit their own posts
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Submit posts for review by an Editor or Admin
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Cannot:
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Publish posts
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Upload media (images, files, etc.)
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Edit others’ content
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👁️ 5. Subscriber
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Access Level: Very limited.
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Common Use: Membership sites or sites with restricted content.
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Can:
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Create and manage their own user profile
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Comment (if comments are enabled)
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Access content restricted to logged-in users (if applicable)
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Cannot:
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Write or manage content
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✅ Summary Table:
| Role | Can Manage Posts | Can Publish Others' Posts | Can Upload Media | Can Manage Plugins/Themes | Can Manage Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admin | ✅ All | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Editor | ✅ All | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Author | ✅ Own | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Contributor | ✅ Own (draft) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Subscriber | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Let me know if you’re using any membership plugins, WooCommerce, or custom user roles, as those can add extra roles and permissions.
