Connect WordPress

Introduction

Minimum Requirements

• Self-hosted WordPress Account (WordPress.org)

Step by Step Guide to Connect with WordPress

1. Go to “Connections” tab.

2. Choose WordPress and click “Add Connection”.

3. Enter your WordPress site's domain name (ensure to include relevant subdomains, if any). Leave out 'https://', 'www.', or any trailing slashes or folders.

4. Optional: If your WordPress site is protected with HTTP Basic Authentication, please also enter your WordPress credentials.

5. Once you input your domain name, Click “Connect” then you'll be automatically redirected to your WordPress admin page.

6. On the WordPress admin login page, enter your Username and password. Click on “Log In”.

7. After successfully logging in, you'll be taken directly to the page where you can create an Application Password.

8. Enter a descriptive name related to the third-party application in the designated box (i.e “SEOmatic”). Click on “Yes, I approve of this connection”.

9. You will be automatically redirected back to SEOmatic and see a confirmation message if the connection is successful. If not, an error message will appear.

10. Your connection will appear in “My Connections” tab.

Troubleshooting

1. Ensure You’re Using a Self-Hosted WordPress Site

SEOMatic only works with self-hosted WordPress installations, not WordPress.com.

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Settings > General.
• Verify the site URL points to your custom domain (e.g., example.com).
• Confirm you can install plugins, as this is only possible on self-hosted WordPress sites.

2. Verify Application Passwords Are Enabled

Application passwords are required for API access.

• Go to Users > Your Profile in the WordPress dashboard.
• Look for the Application Passwords section.
• If it’s missing, ensure your WordPress version is 5.6 or higher, and ask your site administrator to enable it.

3. Check REST API Access

The REST API must be enabled for SEOMatic to connect.

• Open your browser and go to https://yourdomain.com/wp-json.
• Ensure the JSON response includes the application-passwords/v1 endpoint, like this (do a CTRL + F for searching):

{
  "namespaces": ["wp/v2", "application-passwords/v1", ...]
}

• If the page doesn’t load or the endpoint is missing, check your settings or plugins (see below).

4. Ensure Plugins Aren’t Blocking the REST API

Some security plugins, like WordFence, can disable the REST API.

• Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and check for active plugins that may restrict API access.
• Temporarily deactivate any such plugins and test the connection again.

5. Check for HTTP Authentication

If your WordPress site is behind HTTP Authentication (e.g., a login screen before accessing the site), this can block API requests.

• You’ll need to provide your WordPress HTTP Auth credentials in the SEOMatic connection settings.

• Alternatively, disable HTTP Authentication temporarily while setting up the connection.

FAQ

Contact and Support