Getting Comfortable with Your New WordPress Dashboard and User Account

Learn how to log in, explore the WordPress Dashboard, and safely personalize your user profile so you can manage your new site with confidence.

Why Your First WordPress Login Matters

When your new WordPress site goes live, your first logins set the tone for how confidently (and safely) you’ll manage it. This guide walks you through logging in, understanding the Dashboard, and personalizing your user profile without breaking anything.

Step 1: Logging In to Your WordPress Site

Your Compass Production project manager will provide your login URL, username, and a temporary password. Typically, your login screen is at /wp-admin or a custom URL we’ve set up for security.

How to Log In

1. Open your browser and go to your login URL (for example, https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
2. Enter the username and password provided to you.
3. Click Log In.

What You Should See

After a successful login, you’ll land on the WordPress Dashboard screen. This is the main control panel for your site, with a left-hand menu (Posts, Pages, Media, etc.) and a series of widgets in the center such as At a Glance and Activity.Source

Step 2: Getting Oriented in the Dashboard

The Dashboard is made up of two main areas:

• Admin Sidebar (left) – navigation to everything: Posts, Pages, Media, Appearance, Plugins, Users, Tools, Settings, and any additional tools we’ve installed.
• Dashboard Widgets (center) – quick information panels like At a Glance, Activity, and Quick Draft that summarize what’s happening on your site.Source

Basic Navigation You’ll Use Often

• Dashboard ? Home – your starting overview.
• Pages ? All Pages – view and edit your static pages (Home, About, Services, etc.).
• Posts ? All Posts – manage blog or news articles.
• Media ? Library – upload and manage images, PDFs, and other files.

Viewing the Public Site

In the top admin bar, hover over your site name and click Visit Site to see what visitors see. You can switch back to the Dashboard at any time using the same menu.Source

Step 3: Understanding Your User Role

Every account in WordPress has a role, which controls what you can see and do. Common roles include:

• Administrator – full control of the site (settings, plugins, users, content).
• Editor – manage and publish any content, including other users’ posts.
• Author – publish and manage only your own posts.
• Contributor – write posts but not publish them.
• Subscriber – manage only their own profile.

These roles and their capabilities are defined by WordPress itself and can be extended by developers when needed.Source

How to See Your Role

1. In the left sidebar, go to Users ? Profile (or click your name in the top-right “Howdy” menu).
2. Scroll down to the Role field. If you are not an Administrator, this field may be visible but not editable.

If you need more access (for example, to manage other users), contact your Compass Production support contact rather than changing roles yourself.

Step 4: Safely Personalizing Your Profile

You can safely customize your profile without affecting the rest of the site.

Update Your Profile Details

1. Go to Users ? Profile.
2. Under Name, set your First Name, Last Name, and choose how your name is displayed publicly using the Display name publicly as dropdown.
3. Confirm your Email address is correct. This is used for admin notifications and must be unique to you.Source
4. Optionally fill in your Biographical Info if your site shows author bios.
5. Scroll down and click Update Profile.

Change Your Password

1. On the same Profile screen, scroll to Account Management.
2. Click Set New Password.
3. WordPress will generate a strong password. You can accept it or enter your own long, unique password.
4. Click Update Profile to save.

Use a password manager to store this securely. If your site has two-factor authentication enabled, follow the separate instructions Compass Production provides.

Step 5: Exploring the Users List (If You’re an Administrator)

If your account is an Administrator, you’ll see Users ? All Users. This screen shows every account that can access your site and lets you add or remove users when needed.Source

What You Should See

• A table listing Username, Name, Email, Role, and Posts for each user.
• Hovering over a username shows quick links like Edit and (for other users) Delete.

Safe Actions for New Admins

As a new site owner, keep your actions simple at first:

• Do edit a user to correct their name or email if needed.
• Do add new users only when you understand which role they need.
• Don’t delete users without understanding what happens to their existing content.
• Don’t change your own role away from Administrator unless Compass Production directs you to.

Step 6: Customizing Your Dashboard View

You can adjust what you see on the Dashboard without affecting other users.

Show or Hide Dashboard Widgets

1. From Dashboard ? Home, click the Screen Options tab at the top-right of the screen.
2. Check or uncheck boxes to show or hide widgets like Quick Draft or WordPress Events and News.
3. Drag and drop widgets to rearrange them into the layout that feels most comfortable.

These changes apply only to your account, so you can organize the Dashboard without affecting other team members’ views.Source

Step 7: Basic Security Habits for Everyday Use

Even if Compass Production handles advanced security for you, your daily habits still matter.

Simple Practices to Follow

• Always log out when using a shared or public computer (use the “Log Out” link under the “Howdy” menu in the top-right).
• Use a modern browser and keep it updated so the admin screens work smoothly.
• Avoid sharing accounts; request a separate user for each team member instead.
• Don’t install plugins or themes unless Compass Production has approved them.

What You Should See (Quick Checklist)

As you work through this guide, you should be able to confirm:

• You can log in and reach Dashboard ? Home without errors.
• The left sidebar shows the main sections you expect (Posts, Pages, Media, Users, etc.).
• Your Profile screen shows your correct name, email, and role.
• You can change your password and see a confirmation message when the profile updates.
• Your Dashboard widgets are arranged in a way that feels comfortable to you.

When to Ask for Help

Contact Compass Production support if:

• You can’t log in, even after resetting your password.
• You see menus or options that suddenly disappear or look broken.
• You’re unsure which role to assign to a new user.
• You suspect someone has accessed your account without permission.

Once you’re comfortable logging in, navigating the Dashboard, and managing your own profile, you’ll be ready for more advanced training on editing content, working with Elementor layouts, and reviewing analytics.