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/news

You may want cleaner URLs without the prefix, such as:

http://example.com/news

On ruachost.com, you can remove the category prefix using a plugin.

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

Method 1: Using the FV Top Level Categories Plugin

1. Log in to WordPress with an administrator account.

2. In the dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.

3. Search for FV Top Level Categories.

4. Click Install Now, then Activate.

5. In the dashboard, go to Settings → FV Top Level Categories.

6. Choose one of the following options:

   • Only use top‑level categories in URLs

   • Only allow specific categories in URLs

7. Click Save Changes.

✅ Your category URLs will now appear without the /category/ prefix.

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

• 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.