How to Remove the “Powered by WordPress” Footer Links

So you have spent days, weeks, or perhaps even months perfecting your WordPress website, and you are excited to finally publish it-and then you notice the Proudly Powered By WordPress disclaimer in your website’s footer. 

WordPress may be one of the World’s most popular content management systems, but chances are you will want people to view your website as a unique entity, and not “Just another” WordPress website. If you are running a business, then you may even be worried that crediting another organization will make your business seem less professional. 

While it is possible to remove the Powered By WordPress footer, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, as this process can vary depending on the WordPress theme you are currently using. 

In this quick tip, I will be sharing four ways that you can remove the WordPress copyright footer. I will start with the quickest and easiest method, before moving on to more obscure fixes-including one that you should only ever use as a last resort. 

Table of Content

• Can You Legally Remove the Text?
• How to Remove “Proudly Powered by WordPress?”
  • Remove “Powered by WordPress” using the theme customizer
  • Consider switching to a different WordPress theme
• Final Thought

Can You Legally Remove the Text?

Yes, you can remove the text.  Yes, Yes, Yes. You can legally remove the text.

WordPress is a free website-building platform. Keeping the “Proudly Powered By WordPress” text is a gesture of appreciation to the community that drives the software. But you are not legally bound to keep the text on your site. 

WordPress is licensed under the GPL (General Public License). This means that you have the freedom to use, modify, and even redistribute the software. So legally, you have the right to do whatever you please, including editing or removing the text from your site’s footer. 

Now let’s get down to business! Below, you can find the exact steps you can take to remove the “Proudly Powered By WordPress” text from your website. 

How to Remove “Powered by WordPress” Footer Links?

The “Proudly Powered by WordPress” Text usually appears in the footer of your site. Most free themes place it there-including the default WordPress themes ( from the Twenty-X family). Some premium theme developers add their own credits in that section and modify the text to also include their branding. You might see it as “Powered by WordPress, Theme by Company X.” 

In the following section, you will learn not just how to remove the text but also modify it as per your needs. There are three main ways to do that. They are: 

• Removing the text through Customizer
• Removing the text using a plugin 
• Removing the text by editing the footer.php file

1. Remove “Powered by WordPress” using the theme customizer

First, you should check whether it’s possible to disable the footer credits via WordPress’s Theme Customizer: 

• In WordPress’s left-hand menu, select Appearance > Customize.
• Select Footer > Bottom bar.
• Find the Disable Footer Credits checkbox if one appears and click it.
• Save your changes by clicking Publish. 

If the Theme Customizer doesn’t feature a Disable Footer Credits checkbox, then look for any sections labeled Footer settings, Copyright area, or Copyright text, as these often contain settings that you can use to edit the footer or even disable it entirely. 

First, you should check whether it is possible to disable the footer credits via WordPress’s Theme Customizer: 

• In WordPress’s left-hand menu, select Appearance > Customize
• Select Footer > Bottom bar
• Find the Disable Footer Credits checkbox if one appears and click it
• Save your changes by clicking Publish 

2. Consider switching to a different WordPress theme

If you cannot edit your footer in the Theme Customizer, then it may be easier to switch to a different theme, since a large number of WordPress themes do allow you to remove the Powered by WordPress footnote using the Theme Customizer. 

If you’ve invested a significant amount of time into perfecting your website, then you may not be too eager to rip out your current theme, but the rest of the techniques covered in this article require you to touch your site’s code, which is far riskier than switching to a different theme.

If you do decide to change your website’s theme:

• Select Appearance > Themes from WordPress’s left-hand menu.
• Give the Add New Theme button a click, and browse through all the available themes.
• When you find a theme that you want to test, click Live Preview.
• If you’re happy with the results, then click Activate & Publish. 

Now, open the Theme Customizer from Appearance > Customize and check whether it’s possible to edit your website’s footer text. 

If you cannot edit your footer in the Theme Customizer, then it may be easier to switch to a different theme, since a large number of WordPress themes do allow you to remove the Powered by WordPress footnote using the Theme Customizer. 

If you have invested a significant amount of time into perfecting your website, then you may not be too eager to rip out your current theme, but the rest of the techniques covered in this article require you to touch your site’s code, which is far riskier than switching to a different theme. 

• If you do decide to change your website’s theme: 

• Select Appearance > Themes from WordPress’s left-hand menu

• Give the Add New Theme button a click, and browse through all the available themes

• When you find a theme with the results, then click Activate & Publish 

Now, open the Theme Customizer from Appearance > Customize and check whether it is possible to edit your website’s footer text. 

Final Thought

In conclusion, removing the “Powered by WordPress” footer links can give your website a more professional and polished look. While it may seem like a minor detail, it can make a big difference in how your website is perceived by visitors. There are several methods available for removing these links, ranging from simple plugins to manual coding changes. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to remember to keep your WordPress installation updated and to always back up your website before making any changes. With a little effort, you can remove the “Powered by WordPress” footer links and give your website the finishing touch it deserves.