A network lets you run as many WordPress sites as you like from one installation — one set of files, one login, and one dashboard for all of them. Here's how to turn your single site into a network, then add and look after the sites, people, themes, and settings inside it.

## Before you start

- Access to your WordPress files, through your host's file manager or an FTP app — you'll be editing `wp-config.php`.
- Every plugin turned off. WordPress will not create a network while a plugin is active, and you can turn them back on afterwards.
- A backup of your site files and your database, just in case.
- The email address you want to use as the network administrator.

## Steps

### Step 1: Turn on the network and run the Network Setup

This first step happens in your files, not the dashboard: open `wp-config.php` in your file manager or FTP app and add this line just above the one that reads `/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */`:

```php
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );
```

Save the file, reload your dashboard, then open **Tools** and choose **Network Setup**.

Under **Addresses of Sites in your Network**, pick **Sub-domains** or **Sub-directories** — this cannot be changed later. Check the **Network Title** and **Network Admin Email** that WordPress filled in for you, then click **Install**.

![Turn on the network and run the Network Setup](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTEwNDIsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--7208745f5b34b4eba8ef1de41835773cbd2587a7/block_run-network-setup.png)

### Step 2: Add the network code and open the Network Admin

The next screen hands you the exact code your network needs: copy the first block into `wp-config.php`, still above the `/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */` line:

```php
define( 'MULTISITE', true );
define( 'SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false );
define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'example.com' );
define( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/' );
define( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
```

The second block replaces the WordPress rules already in your `.htaccess` file:

```text
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]

# add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?wp-admin$ $1wp-admin/ [R=301,L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $2 [L]
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(.*\.php)$ $2 [L]
RewriteRule . index.php [L]
```

Save both files, then log back in: a **My Sites** menu now appears in the toolbar at the top of every screen — open it and choose **Network Admin**, then **Dashboard**.

![Add the network code and open the Network Admin](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTEwNjMsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--9dc5900ccf85620fac0551afedd67cef9d7d48c9/block_open-network-admin.png)

### Step 3: Add a site to the network

Open **Sites** and choose **Add Site**. Type the address you want for the new site, give it a **Site Title**, and enter the **Admin Email** of the person who'll run it.

Click **Add Site** — if that email address isn't in your network yet, WordPress creates the account and emails them a welcome message with a link to set a password.

![Add a site to the network](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTEwNjQsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--bcec4cc86a93c9b40e3d4db3915e93d24b4e12f8/block_add-a-site.png)

### Step 4: Set the options that apply to every site

Open **Settings** and choose **Network Settings**. Under **Operational Settings** you can change the **Network Title** and **Network Admin Email**, and **Registration Settings** decides whether people can sign up for their own accounts or sites.

Make your changes, then click **Save Changes** at the bottom of the page.

![Set the options that apply to every site](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTExMzMsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--9c6d3eab5a6f05497022464d3a0977be65719ca4/block_network-settings.png)

### Step 5: Turn a theme on for the whole network

Open **Themes** and choose **Installed Themes**. Every theme you've added is listed here, but a theme only becomes available to your sites once you turn it on.

Hover the theme you want and click **Network Enable**.

![Turn a theme on for the whole network](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTEwNzQsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--2131c98b45e10bdb9ac4b510dc31d715e174cf34/block_enable-a-theme.png)

### Step 6: Add someone to the network

Open **Users** and choose **Add User**. Type a **Username** and the person's **Email** address, then click **Add User**.

They'll get an email with their username and a link to set their own password.

![Add someone to the network](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTEwOTAsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--fd44969c2b9c8c930be4bd75a6448365afe43348/block_add-a-user.png)

## Tips

- Not sure which address style to pick? **Sub-directories** work anywhere and need nothing extra from your host. **Sub-domains** give each site a tidier address but need a wildcard DNS record.
- Turn your plugins back on once the network is running. From then on you manage them from **Plugins** in the Network Admin, so every site shares one set.
- The code you added is kept for you. Look it up any time under **Settings** then **Network Setup**.
- A network site can use its own theme and settings while still sharing the same users and plugins.

## Summary

Your one WordPress installation is now a network of sites. From the Network Admin you can add new sites, set the options that apply to all of them, turn themes on for everyone at once, and give people accounts to run them.