Does a New Page in WordPress Automatically Get Published?

When managing a WordPress website, adding new content is part of maintaining a fresh, dynamic site. However, you may wonder, "Does a new page in WordPress automatically get published?" Understanding how WordPress handles page publication can save time and ensure your content is visible to visitors only when ready. In this guide, we’ll explore what happens when you create a new page and how to control its publication status.

Steps to Control the Publication of a New Page in WordPress

1. Understand WordPress Page Status Options

WordPress provides various status options for pages:

1. Published: The page is live and accessible to all visitors.
2. Draft: The page is saved but not visible to the public.
3. Pending Review: The page is ready for review before publishing, useful for team workflows.

By default, WordPress does not automatically publish new pages. Instead, it saves them as drafts, allowing you to review content before making it live.

2. Create a New Page in WordPress

To create a new page:

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Pages > Add New.
2. Start adding content to your page using the editor.

This page will remain in draft status until you manually publish it, providing time for adjustments.

3. Save Your Page as a Draft

As you create your page, WordPress automatically saves your work. You can check your page's status in the Status & Visibility section on the right side of the editor. Here, you can confirm that it’s saved as a draft, ensuring it’s not visible to your website visitors yet.

4. Preview Your Page

Before publishing, it’s good practice to preview how your page will look to visitors:

1. Click Preview in the top right corner of the page editor.
2. This preview shows your content’s layout and formatting on the live site, allowing you to make necessary changes.

5. Publish Your Page

Once you’re satisfied with the content, follow these steps to publish:

1. Go to the Status & Visibility panel.
2. Click Publish. WordPress will prompt you to confirm, and once you do, the page will become live on your website.

Keep in mind, you can schedule pages to publish at a specific date and time if you’d like to automate their release.

6. Update or Unpublish an Existing Page

If you need to make changes or temporarily remove a page from your site, WordPress provides flexibility:

1. Edit: Make edits and update the page to reflect changes.
2. Unpublish: Change the page’s status to Draft or Private to hide it from the public without deleting it.

7. Use Plugins for Additional Control (Optional)

Some plugins, such as PublishPress or WP Scheduled Posts, offer more control over page publishing and scheduling. These tools can streamline workflows, especially for sites with multiple contributors.

FAQs

1. Does WordPress automatically publish new pages?
No, WordPress does not automatically publish new pages. By default, new pages are saved as drafts, allowing you to publish them when ready.

2. Can I schedule a page to publish at a later date?
Yes, you can schedule a page to publish later by setting a specific date and time in the Status & Visibility settings.

3. How do I hide a published page from my site?
To hide a page, go to the Status & Visibility panel and change the status from Published to Draft or Private.

4. Are plugins necessary to control page publication?
Plugins aren’t required for page publication control but can add extra features like scheduling and review workflows, which may be helpful for larger teams or complex sites.

5. Can I revert a page back to draft after publishing?
Yes, you can change a page’s status to draft or private at any time, removing it from public view.