Removing the Category Prefix from the URL of a WordPress Page
By default, WordPress adds the prefix /category/ before category names in URLs. For example:
http://example.com/category/newsYou may want cleaner URLs without the prefix, such as:
http://example.com/newsOn ruachost.com, you can remove the category prefix using a plugin.
Why Remove the Category Prefix?
Section titled “Why Remove the Category Prefix?”- Creates shorter, cleaner URLs.
- Improves SEO and user experience.
- Makes category pages look more professional.
Steps to Remove Category Prefix
Section titled “Steps to Remove Category Prefix”Method 1: Using the FV Top Level Categories Plugin
Section titled “Method 1: Using the FV Top Level Categories Plugin”-
Log in to WordPress with an administrator account.
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In the dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.
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Search for FV Top Level Categories.
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Click Install Now, then Activate.
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In the dashboard, go to Settings → FV Top Level Categories.
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Choose one of the following options:
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Only use top‑level categories in URLs
Section titled “Only use top‑level categories in URLs” -
Only allow specific categories in URLs
Section titled “Only allow specific categories in URLs”
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Click Save Changes.
✅ Your category URLs will now appear without the /category/ prefix.
Method 2: Custom Rewrite Rules (Advanced)
Section titled “Method 2: Custom Rewrite Rules (Advanced)”If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can add custom rewrite rules in your theme’s functions.php file. However, this requires coding knowledge and may conflict with other plugins.
⚠️ For most users, the plugin method is safer and easier.
Important Notes
Section titled “Important Notes”- Removing the prefix may cause conflicts if a category name matches a page or post slug.
- Always back up your site before making changes.
- Test thoroughly to ensure child categories work correctly.