How To Remove Credit Links in WordPress

Credit links are links placed by theme developers (usually in the footer) that link back to their website. Most WordPress themes have these links especially the free themes. Since WordPress is under GPL license, you are allowed to remove this link from any of the free themes your download from WordPress.org. To learn more about GPL licensing, visit http://wordpress.org/about/license/.

So, how do you remove credit links in WordPress?

Each theme has a different code, so it actually varies depending on the WordPress theme you are using.

Though it would be impossible to cover each theme, below are how to remove them from 4 themes, which should help you identify what you need to do in your own theme.

1. Eco Theme by PageLines

Figure 1: Footer of Eco Theme with credit link

To remove this link here’s what you must do:

• Go to your WordPress Admin panel. Click Appearance > Editor
• Go to Footer.php. Find the code below and delete it.

Figure 2: PHP code you need to delete (Click to View Larger Image)

2. Atahualpa

Figure 3: Footer of Atahualpa Theme with credit links

To remove these links here’s how:

• Go to your WordPress Admin panel. Click Appearance > Editor
• Go to Functions.php. Look for the code below and delete it.

Figure 4: The code highlighted in yellow should be deleted (Click to View Larger Image)

3. Suffusion

Figure 5: Footer of Suffusion Theme with credit link

To remove this link here’s what you can do:

• Go to your WordPress Admin panel. Click Appearance > Editor
• Go to actions.php. Look for the code below and delete it.

Figure 6: The code highlighted in yellow should be deleted (Click to View Larger Image)

4. Mystique

Figure 7: Footer of Mystique Theme with credit links

To remove these links here’s what you can do:

• Go to your WordPress Admin panel. Click Appearance > Editor
• Go to shortcodes.php. Look for the code below and delete it.

Figure 8: The code highlighted in yellow should be deleted (Click To View Larger Image)

• After you delete the code in the Mystique theme, it should look like this:

Figure 9: The Mystique new code (Click To View Larger Image)

If you are unsure of what you are doing, always take a copy of the original code before you delete anything. I find it best to just copy and paste the original code into a text editor before I begin. If you have trouble identifying what code to delete, look for the link and just replace the link with a blank space. You could then use that space for your own text such as copyright info or a link to your sitemap.

Should you require further help in removing credit links in WordPress, don’t hesitate to contact us. Also, visit Helen Innes’ blog at http://heleninnes.ca/ for free SEO tips.

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