Revamp Your WordPress Website: A Comprehensive Manual for Personalizing the Default Category Label

Are you tired of the unimpressive “Uncategorized” label on your WordPress website? Look no further! In this inclusive manual, we will demonstrate how to give it a fresh and captivating title. Discover a step-by-step guide on how to rename the default category and set a new default category in WordPress.

How to Modify the Default Category Label

Follow these straightforward instructions to rename the default category:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Posts » Categories.
2. Hover over the “Uncategorized” category and select Edit.
3. On the Edit Category screen, choose a more suitable name for the category and modify its URL slug.
4. Save your changes by clicking the Update button.

Note: Changing the URL slug for the category may lead to 404 errors for search engines and visitors attempting to access the old category. To avoid this, we will explain how to set up redirects later on.

Changing the Default Category

If you wish to establish a new default category in WordPress, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have at least one category other than “Uncategorized”. If not, create a new category by going to Posts » Categories.
2. Go to Settings » Writing to access the Writing Settings page.
3. Locate the option to set a default post category and select your preferred category from the dropdown menu as the new default.
4. Remember to save your changes by clicking the Save Changes button.

From now on, any posts without a specific category assigned will automatically be assigned to the new default category. However, existing posts labeled as “Uncategorized” will remain in that category and must be manually edited.

Setting Up Redirects for Renamed or Deleted Category URLs

If your WordPress site was live when you renamed or deleted the “Uncategorized” category, you need to set up redirects to avoid 404 errors on old category URLs. Follow these steps for a seamless transition:

1. Install and activate the Yoast SEO plugin on your WordPress site.
2. Access the Yoast SEO » Redirects page in your WordPress dashboard and click the Activate Redirects button.
3. In the Source URL field, enter the old category URL (/category/uncategorized) or the name of your previous default category.
4. Click on the gear icon next to the field to display additional settings and check the Regex box.
5. In the Target URL field, enter the URL of the renamed or new default category (e.g., /category/general).
6. Ensure the Redirect Type is set to “301 Moved Permanently” and click the Add Redirect button.

Now, whenever visitors access the old “Uncategorized” category URL, they will be automatically redirected to the new URL. This eliminates 404 errors and enhances both the user experience and SEO benefits.

In Summary

By following the steps outlined in this manual, you can effortlessly enhance the appearance of your WordPress site by renaming the default category to something more relevant. Remember to set a new default category and establish redirects for a seamless user experience and improved SEO results.