WordPress comes with several different types of content by default, with the most common being pages and posts. However, you may also come across custom post types created by themes or plugins, such as products (WooCommerce), courses (LearnDash), and more.
When creating content on WordPress, it can be easy to confuse pages and posts. Pages are typically used for creating static content that won’t change frequently over time, while posts are ideal for content that you want to display on your site immediately after publishing. Another key difference between pages and posts is that pages can be arranged into a hierarchical order when relevant posts are grouped by categories or tags.
If you realize that you’ve created content with the wrong post type, don’t worry! You can always change it later with these simple steps.
#1. Use the Post Type Switcher Plugin
The easiest way to change the post type of your content is to use a plugin like Post Type Switcher. This plugin provides an option to change the content type on the editor page as well as the quick edit dashboard.
You can also use bulk actions to update post types for multiple contents at once. The plugin has a clear UI and is straightforward to use.
#2. Use SQL Query in phpMyAdmin
Using an SQL query to change post types is a bit more advanced, and requires familiarity with SQL and access to phpMyAdmin.
WordPress stores post type under the wp_posts table by default. All you need to do is update this type of information in this table.
It is possible to edit the database right under the WordPress admin dashboard with plugins such as WP Data Access. Once you have installed this plugin, you can then edit the post that you want to update and insert the post type as you wish.
To convert all posts to pages, use the following SQL query:
UPDATE `wp_posts` SET `post_type` = 'photos' WHERE `post_type` = 'members';If you want to convert the post type of specific content only, use the SQL query below instead:
UPDATE wp_posts SET post_type = 'new_post_type' WHERE ID = post_ID;Replace new_post_type with the new post type you want to change to and post_id with the ID of the specific post that you want to convert.
You can find the post ID by going to Posts in your WordPress dashboard, hovering over the post, and looking at the URL in the status bar of your browser. The post ID will be the number that appears after post= in the URL.
Conclusion
Changing post types in WordPress is a simple process that can make a big difference in how your content is displayed and organized. Whether you use the Post Type Switcher plugin or an SQL query in phpMyAdmin, you now have the knowledge to update your post types and ensure your website’s content is easy to navigate and understand.