How to Adjust Writing Settings in WordPress

WordPress’s writing settings control the default behavior of the editor, from the size of the post box to how URLs are formatted. Adjusting them can make your daily writing workflow faster and more predictable. This guide walks you through every option in the Writing Settings screen, what each one does, and which changes are safe to make.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access to your WordPress dashboard (only admins can change these settings).
• A web browser and your site’s login URL (usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
• No coding or technical skills required—everything is done through the visual interface.

Step-by-Step

1. Log in to your WordPress admin area. Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and enter your username and password.
2. Open the Writing Settings page. In the left sidebar, hover over Settings and click Writing. The URL will be yourdomain.com/wp-admin/options-writing.php.
3. Set the default post category. Under “Default Post Category,� choose which category new posts will be assigned to if you forget to pick one. This is especially useful for blogs with a primary topic.
4. Choose the default post format. If your theme supports post formats (like “Video,� “Gallery,� or “Aside�), select the one you use most often. If you’re unsure, leave it as “Standard.�
5. Configure the “Press This� bookmarklet (optional). This tool lets you quickly share links from other sites. Drag the provided button to your browser’s bookmarks bar. It’s rarely used now, but you can still set it up.
6. Adjust the post via email settings (optional). WordPress can publish posts by email. You’ll need a secret email address and a mail server that supports POP3. Enter the server, login, password, and port. This is an advanced feature—skip it if you don’t need it.
7. Set the default editor size. In the “Default editor size� field, enter the height (in lines) for the post editing box. The default is 20. Increase it to 30 or 40 if you prefer a taller writing area. This only affects the classic editor, not the block editor (Gutenberg).
8. Choose the default link category (only if using link manager). If you’ve enabled the Link Manager via a plugin, you can set a default category for links. Most modern sites don’t use this.
9. Enable or disable “remote publishing.� Check the box to allow third-party apps (like a desktop client) to publish posts via the XML-RPC protocol. If you don’t use external tools, leave it unchecked for better security.
10. Save your changes. Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page. A green confirmation message will appear.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the default category to a non-existent one. If you delete the category you set as default, WordPress will fall back to “Uncategorized.� Always keep the default category or update the setting after deleting a category.
• Entering an email address for post-by-email that is not secure. If that email account is compromised, anyone could publish posts on your site. Use a dedicated, rarely-used email address and a strong password.
• Assuming the block editor uses the “default editor size.� That setting only applies to the classic editor. The block editor has its own full-screen and width options.
• Enabling remote publishing without needing it. This opens an extra attack surface. Only enable it if you actually use apps like the WordPress mobile app or a desktop client.
• Forgetting to save. Changes are not applied until you click “Save Changes.� It’s easy to navigate away and lose your edits.

Tips

• Set a sensible default category. If you have a “News� category and you write mostly news posts, set that as the default. You can always change it per post.
• Increase the editor size if you write long-form content. A larger box reduces scrolling and helps you see more of your draft at once.
• Use the “Press This� bookmarklet if you curate content. It saves time when you want to quickly draft a post from a link you’ve found.
• Keep remote publishing disabled unless needed. It’s a security best practice to minimize exposed endpoints.
• Review your settings after a major WordPress update. Updates rarely change these settings, but it’s good to confirm they’re still as you expect.

Troubleshooting

You can’t see the Writing Settings page. This means you don’t have administrator privileges. Contact your site admin to adjust the settings for you, or ask them to grant you the manage_options capability.

Changes you made don’t seem to take effect. First, clear your browser cache and any caching plugin (like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache). If you’re using the block editor, remember that some settings only apply to the classic editor. Also, check that you clicked “Save Changes� and saw the confirmation message.

The “Press This� button doesn’t work. Your browser may be blocking pop-ups or the bookmarklet might not have been dragged correctly. Try dragging it again, or use a different browser. Also, ensure your site is not behind a firewall that blocks the script.

Post-by-email isn’t working. Verify that your mail server supports POP3 and that you’ve entered the correct port (usually 110 for POP3, 995 for POP3S). Check that the email address is not already used by another service. If you’re using a Gmail address, you may need to enable “less secure app access� or use an app-specific password.

You changed the default category but new posts still go to “Uncategorized.� This can happen if a plugin or theme overrides the default. Try deactivating all plugins temporarily to see if the issue resolves. If it does, reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find the Writing Settings in my WordPress admin?

The Writing Settings page is only available to users with administrator role. If you’re an editor or author, you won’t see it. Ask your admin to change the settings for you.

What is the “Default editor size� for?

It sets the height of the text area in the classic editor (the one before Gutenberg). It’s measured in lines. If you write long posts, you can increase it to see more of your content without scrolling.

Does the Writing Settings page affect the block editor (Gutenberg)?

Mostly no. The block editor has its own preferences, such as fullscreen mode and content width. The only shared setting is the default post category and format, which apply to all editors.

Is it safe to enable “remote publishing�?

It’s generally safe if you use trusted apps and keep your site updated. However, it opens an additional endpoint (xmlrpc.php) that can be targeted by brute-force attacks. If you don’t need it, keep it disabled.

Can I set a different default category for different post types?

No, the setting is global for all posts. For custom post types, you’ll need a plugin or custom code to define a default category per type.

What happens if I delete the default category?

WordPress will automatically assign new posts to the “Uncategorized� category. To avoid this, either keep the default category or change the setting before deleting it.

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