Step 1: Install and prepare WordPress
If you’ve WordPress installed already then just create a backup.
I would advise you to go ahead with a fresh WordPress install since it’ll be way easier to follow through.
Step 2: Plugins Deactivation
Next step is to deactivate all active plugins.
The reason is when you create a network, the plugins will be available for each site in the network and you can enable and disable it for the whole network. There are ways to enable the plugins for specific sites too.
Step 3: Enable Networks
To show the Network option in the Tools WordPress menu, add the following code into the wp-config.php file.
Add this code above the line where it says /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */.
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );
Once you do that, you’ll see Network Setup option in the Tools menu like this:
Step 4: Install Network
Fill out the details such as directory or subdomain installation, title and email.
WordPress gives an awesome explanation on the same page regarding directory vs subdomain installation.
Click on the Install button when you’re ready.
Step 5: Enable Network
Once the installation is done, you should see a detailed explanation from WordPress regarding change in wp-confid.php and .htaccess files.
Add the displayed code in the wp-config.php right after the line you added in Step 3 and Add this code above the line where it says /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */.
If you don’t have .htaccess file in your root directory then create one and add the specific code.
Step 6: Login
WordPress will ask you to login again once you make the changes specified in the previous step. Click on the login link and use the same username and password to login.
You should see your specified Network sites name for e.g. “My Sites”.
You hover on that and a dropdown will show the sites and Network Admin menu items.
Explore the menu items and you’ll see the themes and users and a few other options. Play with it!
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