If you are using a WordPress theme and want to remove the default footer credit (“Powered by WordPress”), this guide will show you how to do it safely and ensure the change remains even after updates. For our example, we are using the Elegant Extra Theme from Elegant Themes.

Recommended Method: Using a Child Theme

The best way to remove the footer credit permanently is by creating a child theme. This ensures that any theme updates won’t override your modifications.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Extra Child Theme

Step 1: Create the Child Theme Folder

  1. Connect to your website using FTP (FileZilla) or your File Manager in your hosting panel.

  2. Navigate to:

    /wp-content/themes/

  3. Create a new folder and name it:

    extra-child

Step 2: Create the style.css File

  1. Inside the extra-child folder, create a file named style.css.

  2. Open style.css and add the following code:

    /*
Theme Name: Extra Child
Theme URI: https://engineerhow.com
Description: Child theme for Extra
Author: Your Name
Template: Extra
Version: 1.0
*/

  3. Save the file.

✅ This tells WordPress that your child theme is based on Extra.

Step 3: Create the functions.php File

  1. In the extra-child folder, create a file named functions.php.

  2. Open functions.php and add this code:

    <?php
function extra_child_enqueue_styles() {
    wp_enqueue_style('parent-style', get_template_directory_uri() . '/style.css');
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'extra_child_enqueue_styles');
?>

  3. Save the file.

✅ This loads the parent (Extra) theme’s styles so that nothing breaks.

Step 4: Copy & Modify footer.php

  1. Navigate to the Extra theme folder:

    /wp-content/themes/extra/

  2. Find the footer.php file and copy it.

  3. Paste it into the extra-child folder.

  4. Open footer.php (inside extra-child) and find this line:

    <div id="footer-info">Powered by <a href="https://wordpress.org">WordPress</a></div>

  5. Remove or replace it with:

    <div id="footer-info">© 2025 EngineerHow.com | All Rights Reserved</div>

    Note: Where you see “EngineerHow.com,” you can replace it with your own website URL.

  6. Save the file.

✅ Now the WordPress footer credit is gone forever!

Step 5: Activate the Child Theme

  1. Go to WordPress Dashboard → Appearance → Themes.

  2. You will see “Extra Child” listed. Click Activate.

  3. Test your site to make sure everything works properly.

Step 6: Clear Cache & Verify

  • Clear your WordPress cache (if using LiteSpeed, WP Rocket, or other caching plugins).

  • Refresh your site and check if the footer is updated.

Alternative Method: Using CSS (Quick but Not Update-Safe)

If you don’t want to create a child theme, you can hide the footer credit using CSS. However, this method is not recommended as it can break after updates.

Steps to Hide Footer Credit Using CSS

  1. Go to WordPress Dashboard → Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS.

  2. Add the following CSS code:

    #footer-info { display: none !important; }

  3. Click Publish and refresh your site.

🚨 Note: This method only hides the text but does not remove it from the source code.

Conclusion

🎉 That’s it! Your Extra Child Theme is now active, and the footer changes will remain even after updates.

✅ Recommended Method: Using a Child Theme ensures permanent removal. ✅ Alternative Method: Using CSS hides the credit but may break after updates.

👉 Have questions or need help? Let me know in the comments! 😊

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