How to set up a multisite network on WordPress

Multisite on WordPress allows you to build an entire network of sites powered by a single installation of WordPress.

You can either keep your network private and use it to power your own network of websites - like a local business that creates a network website for each location. Or, you can make your network public and let people sign up and create their own websites in your network, like WordPress.com.

While each website has its own dashboard, it's all powered by a single WordPress installation and a single database, and individual website owners don't have quite as much control.

In this post, we're going to share a bit more about how Multisite works on WordPress and when it's, or isn't, a good idea to use it. Then we will show you step by step how to set up your own Multisite network on WordPress.

But before, let's discover together How to Install a WordPress Blog in 7 Steps et How to search, install and activate a WordPress theme on your blog.

Then, back to why we are here.

How does WordPress Multisite work?

Multisite is a basic WordPress feature, although it is not enabled by default.

Once you activate it you will get a new network administrator dashboard where you can manage all the websites in your network. The WordPress Multisite also adds a new user role byNetwork administrator, which is the only type of user account that can access the aforementioned dashboard.

There you can make decisions such as:

• Whether or not users can register and create their own websites.
• What themes and plugins are available for network websites.
• How much control individual website owners have, and whether or not they can manually deactivate certain plugins that you have made available to them.

Each website will also have its own WordPress dashboard where people can manage content, themes, and plugins. However, unlike a regular WordPress website, individual website administrators cannot install their own themes or plugins - they can only choose from the options that the global network administrator has enabled.

How WordPress multisite works at the technical level

Multisite on WordPress allows you to create unlimited network websites, but there is a big difference in how WordPress stores data for those websites.

If you need to create multiple unique WordPress websites, each website would have its own database and files.

However, with Multisite, all websites share the same database and the same files.

• WordPress creates new database tables for each network website.
• WordPress shares a few tables between all the websites of the network. wp_users.

Additionally, to organize files for each website on the network, WordPress adds a folder for each website in the downloads folder. For example :

• Single website - downloads are stored in wp-content / uploads / year / month
• Multisite - downloads are stored in wp-content / uploads / NETWORK_SITE / year / month

When should you use a Multisite network on WordPress?

A Multisite network on WordPress is a good option if you:

• Look to build multiple websites with similar functionality.
• Look to create a place where users can create their own websites, like WordPress.com. Some subscription plugins - Membership - can even integrate with Multisite so you can charge people to build a website on your network.

For the first use case, a few examples would be:

• A physical business with a separate website for each branch.
• A university with a different website for each department or faculty member.
• A real estate / insurance agency with a separate website for each agent.
• Etc ...

For example, the Georgia State University website is based on a Multisite WordPress installation with over 150 network websites for various departments, functions, etc.

Can you use WordPress Multisite to host client websites?

With WordPress Multisite Domain Mapping, you have the option of using a domain fully customized for each website in your network, which might make you wonder if you can use Multisite as an easier way to manage multiple client websites.

Well… it is definitely possible, and I know that there are a few WordPress developers who choose this solution for client websites without any special functionality.

However, I don't think this is the best approach for a few reasons:

• Shared database - all of your customers' websites would share a single database, which isn't great from a privacy standpoint.
• Single Point of Failure - Using a single WordPress installation could put all of your websites at risk, should that installation fail.
• Resourcesaccommodation shared – all websites on your network share the same resourcesaccommodation, which can be a problem if one website on the network uses a lot more resources than the others.
• Difficulty Migrating - If you ever need to migrate your customer's website elsewhere, it is going to be very difficult. While it is possible to extract a single website from a multisite network, it takes a lot more involvement than a normal migration process, or you will have to purchase something like WP Migrate DB.

Discover also our 9 WordPress plugins to migrate and clone your blog

How to create a multisite network in WordPress

Below we will show you the process how to create a Multisite network on WordPress.

However, many hosting companies now offer to create a Multisite network on WordPress in their auto-installer tools. So, before jumping into this tutorial, we invite you to check if your web host's auto-installer offers you a one-click multisite option:

If this is not the case, or if you want to activate the Multisite feature on an existing website, here's how to configure everything ...

/ * Multisite * /
define ('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);

Here you will make a very important choice about the URL structure of your network. More precisely, if each website of the latter must have its own URL structure:

• Subdomain - like site1.votrereseau.com. If you choose subdomains, you must also add a generic DNS record.
• Subdirectory - like your network / site1. There is no configuration with this method.

There is no right answer - be sure to think about the question, as you won't be able to change this structure later.

In addition, there is also a third option - domain mapping, which allows you to use a custom domain for each website in the network - for example site1.com, site2.com. If you want to go this route, all you need to do is choose subdirectories for now, as you will need to define the domain mapping later. 

Once you have made your choice and configured the basic network details, click on Installer.

3. Add code snippets to wp-config.php and .htaccess

On the next page, WordPress will give you two snippets that you need to add to your website files:

The first code snippet goes in wp-config.php above the line / * That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. * /

The second code snippet is in the .htaccess file and replaces existing WordPress rules.

This is what your wp-config.php file should look like:

And this is what your .htaccess file should look like - notice how you override the existing WordPress rules:

Now - your multisite network is active!

4. Manage the multisite network from the network administrator dashboard

After completing the previous step, you may need to log into your WordPress dashboard again.

Then you should see the new network administration area. You can access it from the option My sites in the WordPress toolbar, or you can access yoursite.com/wp-admin/network :

Much like how the regular WordPress dashboard lets you manage a single website installation, the Network Admin Dashboard lets you manage settings for your entire network.

Let's go over some of the important features here.

Network settings

To configure things you have to go to Settings → Network settings. There you can configure the basic settings for the functioning of your network, for example whether or not people can register and / or create new websites, as well as the default content that is installed on new websites. :

Themes:

Next, the Themes tab lets you choose the themes that are available to individual website owners. Individual website owners will be able to choose from all the themes you have enabled on the network, and you can install new themes just as you would on a single website install:

Plugins

The plugins area is similar, with just a slight modification:

• When you install a plugin, you canactivate for network, which makes it automatically active for each individual website in the network. Individual website owners cannot turn it off - it will always be active.
• Or, if you activate the menu administration of Plugins in the zone Network settings, individual website administrators will be able to choose whether or not to enable plugins that you have installed, but have not specifically enabled over the network.

For example, if you wantElementor is active on each website of the network, you must activate it for the network:

Creation of new websites

Finally, to manually create a new network website, you can go to Sites → Add new :

Once you click Add a site, you can edit this website to configure / display additional information, such as users, themes and settings. 

Administrator dashboard for individual website

In addition to the network admin area, each individual website also gets its own WordPress dashboard, which looks and functions much like the normal WordPress dashboard.

The biggest difference is that individual website admins can't install new themes or plugins (and they might not even be able to see the Plugins area, depending on how you've set things up).

For example, a website owner can choose to enable the WordPress theme Hello Elementor, but there is no option to install own WordPress theme :

Likewise, because Elementor is network enabled, individual website owners can access all of Elementor's regular features, but they would not be able to install their own plugins or deactivate Elementor.

Is it possible to use Elementor Pro on the WordPress Multisite?

Yes, you can use Elementor Pro alongside the WordPress Multisite. However, you will need an active license key for each individual website on the network, rather than just using a license key for the entire network.

Conclusion

WordPress Multisite is not the right solution for every situation involving multiple WordPress websites, but it makes a great option if you need to create a network of similar websites, like some of the examples we featured earlier.

To configure Multisite, most WordPress auto-installers allow you to enable WordPress using a checkbox. If not, or if you want to add Multisite to an existing WordPress installation, you can follow the manual method we have detailed in this post.

Here is ! That's it for this guide. If you have comments or suggestions, do not hesitate to let us know in the reserved section.

However, you can also consult our resources, if you need more elements to carry out your projects of creation of Internet sites, by consulting our guide on the WordPress blog creation or the one on Divi: the best WordPress theme of all time.

But meanwhile, share this article on your different social networks. 

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