How To Change Editor To Author In WordPress

How to Change Editor to Author in WordPress: Complete 2026 Guide

To change an Editor to Author in WordPress, go to Users → All Users, find the Editor account, click Edit, scroll to the Role dropdown, select Author from the list, and click Update User.

This immediately adjusts their permissions from managing all site content to only creating and publishing their own posts.

Downgrading Editors to Authors is a common workflow adjustment when team responsibilities change. Perhaps a senior content manager has moved to a different role, a freelance writer no longer needs to edit others’ work, or you’re implementing stricter content workflows where each writer manages only their own posts.

This 2026 guide shows you exactly how to change Editor to Author using multiple methods—dashboard, bulk actions, plugins, WP-CLI, and database—plus what capabilities are affected and best practices for managing the transition.

Last updated: September 2026

Why You Might Change Editor to Author

Adjusting user roles from Editor to Author typically happens in these scenarios:

Role Restructuring

A team member’s responsibilities have changed:

They no longer manage other writers
They’re focusing on their own content creation
Editorial oversight has been reassigned

Security Hardening

Reducing permissions as a precaution:

Limiting access to only what’s necessary
Minimizing potential damage from compromised accounts
Following the principle of least privilege

Workflow Changes

Your content process has evolved:

Implementing stricter editorial workflows
Separating content creation from content management
Assigning editorial duties to specific senior staff

Contractor or Freelancer Transitions

Adjusting access for external contributors:

Long-term contractors becoming occasional contributors
Freelancers moving from team management to individual work
Project-based editors completing their assignments

Please learn more from here: WordPress Role Security Checklist

Understanding the Difference: Editor vs Author

Before making the change, understand exactly what capabilities are lost and retained.

Editor Capabilities (Current Access)

Publish, edit, and delete any post or page (including others’)
Manage all categories and tags
Moderate all comments across the site
Upload files to Media Library
View and manage all content types
Access to other users’ drafts and unpublished content

Author Capabilities (New Access)

Publish, edit, and delete their own posts only
Upload files to Media Library
View their own content in the dashboard
Submit their posts for review (if workflow requires)

Cannot Do as Author:

Edit or delete other users’ posts or pages
Manage site-wide categories and tags
Moderate comments on other users’ content
Access other users’ drafts
Create or manage pages (typically)
Change site settings or structure

Key Takeaway: Authors have full control over their own content but cannot touch other users’ work or manage site-wide content structures.

For more details See the post: WordPress user roles explained

Before You Change: Critical Considerations

Downgrading from Editor to Author affects workflow and access. Consider these factors first:

Confirm They Only Need Their Own Content

Ask:

Do they need to edit other writers’ posts?
Are they responsible for editorial oversight?
Do they manage categories, tags, or site structure?
Do they moderate comments site-wide?

If yes to any, they may still need Editor access.

Communicate the Change

Especially for team members:

Explain why the change is happening (role adjustment, workflow change)
Clarify what they can still do (full control over their own content)
Address any concerns about reduced access

Check for Unfinished Work

Before downgrading:

Review if they’re currently editing others’ posts
Ensure no collaborative work will be disrupted
Complete any pending editorial tasks together

Reassign Editorial Responsibilities

If they were managing other writers:

Assign editorial duties to another Editor
Update workflow documentation
Inform the team of the new point of contact

Test Their Workflow

After the change:

Have them test publishing their own posts
Confirm they can upload media
Verify they understand the new limitations

Method 1: Change Editor to Author via Dashboard (Easiest) – 7 Steps

This is the standard method for changing one user’s role.

Step 1: Log Into WordPress Dashboard

Visit yoursite.com/wp-admin and log in with an Administrator account. Only Administrators can change user roles.

Step 2: Navigate to Users → All Users

In the left sidebar:

Hover over Users.
Click All Users.

Step 3: Find the Editor to Change

Scroll through the user list or use the search box to locate the Editor account you want to change.

You can filter by role:

Click Editor link at the top (shows count, e.g., “Editor (3)”)
This displays only Editor accounts

Step 4: Click Edit

Hover over the username and click the Edit link that appears below it.

Step 5: Scroll to the Role Section

On the user profile page, scroll down until you find the Role dropdown menu.

Step 6: Select Author

Click the dropdown and choose Author from the list.

Available options:

Administrator
Editor (current)
Author (select this)
Contributor
Subscriber

Step 7: Click Update User

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update User button.

A confirmation message appears: “User updated.”

The user is now an Author with own-content-only permissions.

Method 2: Change Multiple Editors to Authors (Bulk Action) – 5 Steps

For sites with multiple Editors to downgrade, WordPress allows bulk role changes.

Step 1: Go to Users → All Users

Navigate to the Users list in your dashboard.

Step 2: Filter by Editor Role

At the top of the user table:

Click Editor link (shows count, e.g., “Editor (5)”)
This filters the list to show only Editors

Step 3: Select Editors to Change

Check the boxes next to the usernames you want to downgrade.

Step 4: Choose Bulk Action

At the top of the user table:

Find the Bulk Actions dropdown.
Select Change role to…
Choose Author from the submenu.

Step 5: Click Change

Click the Change button next to the dropdown.

All selected Editors are now Authors.

Pro tip: Use bulk actions when restructuring an entire content team or implementing new workflow policies across multiple users.

Method 3: Change Editor to Author with a Plugin

Plugins like User Role Editor, Members, or Capability Manager Enhanced provide advanced role management with additional controls.

Example: Using User Role Editor

Install and activate the User Role Editor plugin.
Go to Users → User Role Editor in your dashboard.
Select the Editor you want to downgrade from the user dropdown.
Uncheck the “Editor” role.
Check the “Author” role.
Click Update to save changes.

Example: Using Members Plugin

Install and activate the Members plugin.
Go to Members → Members in your dashboard.
Find the user and click Edit.
Change their role from Editor to Author.
Click Update User.

Benefits of Using Plugins

View detailed capability lists before changing
Create custom intermediate roles (e.g., “Senior Author” with select editor capabilities)
Audit role changes with activity logs
Grant specific Editor capabilities to Authors if needed (e.g., moderate comments)

Explore the post: custom WordPress roles and capabilities

Method 4: Change Editor to Author via WP-CLI (Advanced)

For developers or agencies managing multiple sites, WP-CLI allows fast, scriptable role changes without loading the dashboard.

Prerequisites

SSH access to your server
WP-CLI installed on your host

Command to Change Role

bash

wp user set-role janedoe author

Replace:

janedoe with the Editor’s username
author with the target role (in this case)

Examples

Using User ID:

bash

wp user set-role 12 author

Change Multiple Editors:

bash

wp user list --role=editor --field=ID | xargs -I % wp user set-role % author

(This changes all Editors to Authors—use carefully)

Verify the Change

List users to confirm:

bash

wp user list --fields=ID,user_login,roles

The downgraded users now show author instead of editor.

Method 5: Change Editor to Author via phpMyAdmin (Database Method) – 6 Steps

For advanced users who need to change roles directly in the database (e.g., when locked out of wp-admin).

Warning

This method is risky—incorrect database edits can break your site. Always back up first.

Step 1: Access phpMyAdmin

Log into cPanel → Databases → phpMyAdmin. Select your WordPress database.

Step 2: Find the User ID

Open the wp_users table and locate the Editor. Note their ID (e.g., 15).

Step 3: Open wp_usermeta Table

Click on the wp_usermeta table (adjust prefix if needed).

Step 4: Find Capability Row

Look for the row where:

user_id matches the user’s ID (e.g., 15)
meta_key is wp_capabilities

Step 5: Edit wp_capabilities

Click Edit on the wp_capabilities row. Replace the meta_value with:

For Author:

text

a:1:{s:6:"author";b:1;}

Click Go to save.

Step 6: Edit wp_user_level

Find the row where:

user_id matches the user’s ID
meta_key is wp_user_level

Click Edit and change meta_value to:

For Author:

text

2

Click Go to save.

The user is now an Author in the database.

Special Case: WooCommerce and Custom Post Types

If your site uses WooCommerce or custom post types, the Editor to Author change has additional implications.

WooCommerce Products

Editors Can:

Edit and publish any product
Manage product categories and tags
View all orders and reports (if granted)

Authors Can:

Only create and manage their own products (if capability granted)
Cannot edit other users’ products
Typically cannot access WooCommerce admin areas

Consideration: If the user manages products, keep them as Editor or create a custom role with edit_products capability.

Custom Post Types

For sites with custom post types (portfolios, testimonials, courses):

Editors Typically Can:

Edit all entries of custom post types
Manage custom taxonomies

Authors Typically Can:

Only manage their own entries (if capability granted)
May not see custom post types at all

Solution: Use User Role Editor to grant Authors specific capabilities for custom post types they need to access.

Check this post: WordPress User Roles in Ecommerce

Workflow Impact: What Changes for the User

Content Access

Before (Editor):

Sees all posts and pages in the dashboard
Can filter by any author
Can edit any content

After (Author):

Sees only their own posts
“All Posts” shows only their content
Cannot access others’ drafts or published work

Editorial Workflow

Before (Editor):

Reviews and edits team members’ work
Publishes others’ drafts
Manages editorial calendar

After (Author):

Focuses on their own content pipeline
Submits work for others to review (if workflow requires)
No editorial oversight responsibilities

Comment Moderation

Before (Editor):

Moderates all comments site-wide
Can approve, trash, or spam any comment

After (Author):

Only sees comments on their own posts
Can moderate comments on their content only

Media Library

Before (Editor):

Access to all uploaded media
Can edit or delete any file

After (Author):

Access to all media (WordPress default)
Can upload and use files freely
This capability remains the same

When to Change Editor to Author

Team Restructuring

Senior editors moving to advisory roles
Content managers transitioning to individual contributors
Editorial responsibilities reassigned to new hires

Freelancer Role Changes

Long-term editors becoming occasional writers
Project-based editorial work completed
Budget changes reducing editorial oversight needs

Security Best Practices

Implementing principle of least privilege
Reducing access for users who don’t need it
Preparing for staff transitions or departures

Workflow Optimization

Separating content creation from content management
Creating clearer editorial hierarchies
Streamlining approval processes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not Communicating the Change

Team members may feel demoted or confused. Explain the rationale clearly:

Role evolution, not demotion
Focus on their strengths (writing vs. managing)
Part of broader workflow improvements

Changing Without Checking Workloads

Ensure they’re not:

Currently editing others’ posts
Mid-way through collaborative projects
Responsible for time-sensitive editorial tasks

Forgetting to Reassign Duties

If they managed other writers:

Assign a new Editor to oversee the team
Update workflow documentation
Inform all affected team members

Ignoring Custom Capabilities

Some sites grant Editors custom capabilities:

Access to specific plugins
Custom post type management
Special workflow permissions

Review and adjust these before or after the role change.

Not Testing After the Change

Have the user:

Try creating and publishing a post
Attempt to access others’ content (should be blocked)
Confirm they understand new limitations

Troubleshooting: Issues After Changing to Author

User Cannot See Their Posts

Cause: Filter issue or cache problem.

Fix: Ensure “All Posts” view is selected, not a custom filter. Clear browser and site cache.

User Loses Access to Categories

Cause: Authors can use existing categories but cannot create new ones by default.

Fix: If they need to create categories, use User Role Editor to grant manage_categories capability.

User Cannot Moderate Comments

Cause: Authors can only moderate comments on their own posts.

Fix: This is expected behavior. If they need broader comment access, keep them as Editor or grant moderate_comments capability.

Cause: Authors don’t see Pages menu by default (can be changed with plugins).

Fix: Use a plugin like “Remove Admin Menu Pages” in reverse, or User Role Editor to grant edit_pages capability.

Cannot Reverse the Change

Cause: You’re not logged in as Administrator.

Fix: Log in with an Administrator account and follow the same steps to change them back to Editor.

Best Practices for Managing Editor and Author Roles

Define Clear Role Descriptions

Document what each role can do:

Editor: Manages all content, oversees writers, editorial decisions
Author: Creates and publishes own content, focuses on writing

Use Editors Strategically

Limit Editor access to:

Lead content managers
Senior editorial staff
Trusted team leads

Empower Authors for Independence

Authors should have:

Full control over their content
Ability to upload media
Freedom to publish without bottlenecks

Consider Custom Roles for Hybrid Needs

For users who need more than Author but less than Editor:

Create custom roles with User Role Editor
Grant specific capabilities (e.g., edit_others_posts for one content type only)
Document the custom role’s purpose

Review Roles Quarterly

Schedule quarterly audits to:

Verify roles match current responsibilities
Adjust access as team evolves
Remove or downgrade inactive users

Proposal link to learn more: WordPress Role Security Checklist

How to Verify the Role Change Was Successful

Check the Users List

Go to Users → All Users and confirm:

The user’s role column now shows “Author”
They no longer appear when filtering by “Editor”

Test Their Access

Ask the user to:

Try editing another user’s post (should be blocked)
Try publishing their own post (should work)
Try accessing Pages menu (may be hidden by default)
Try moderating comments on others’ posts (should be blocked)

Review Activity Logs

If you use activity logging plugins:

Check for any role-related errors
Verify the change is recorded in audit logs

Confirm Capabilities

Use a plugin like User Role Editor to view their exact capabilities and confirm Editor privileges are removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my own Editor account to Author?

Yes, but you’ll lose access to others’ content immediately. Ensure you don’t need Editor access before making the change.

Will changing Editor to Author delete their content?

No. Their posts, pages, and media remain intact. Only their permissions change, not their existing content.

Can I change an Author back to Editor?

Yes. Follow the same steps in reverse: Users → All Users → Edit → Select Editor → Update User.

Does changing to Author affect WooCommerce access?

Yes. Authors typically cannot manage products or WooCommerce settings unless custom capabilities are granted. Use User Role Editor if needed.

Can Authors create categories and tags?

By default, Authors can use existing categories and tags but cannot create new ones. Grant manage_categories capability if needed.

How do I change multiple Editors to Authors at once?

Use the Bulk Actions method: filter by Editor role, select users, choose “Change role to… → Author,” and click Change.

Will the user be notified when I change their role?

No. WordPress doesn’t send automatic notifications for role changes. Inform them manually to avoid confusion.

What’s the difference between Author and Contributor?

Authors can publish their own posts; Contributors must submit drafts for review and cannot publish independently.

Can Authors upload files?

Yes. Authors have full access to the Media Library and can upload files freely.

How do I grant Authors access to edit others’ posts in one category only?

WordPress doesn’t support this natively. Use a plugin like User Role Editor with custom capability filters, or create a custom role with specific post-type permissions.