How to Automatically Change WordPress SALT Keys

We recommend using strong passwords as the first step in keeping your WordPress website safe from hackers. You can add an extra layer of security with SALT keys. These special codes protect your login information, making it much harder for hackers to break in.

Think of SALT keys like a secret ingredient in a recipe. They make your passwords even more secure by adding random data that makes them difficult to guess.

This article explains how to automatically change your WordPress SALT keys to protect your website. We’ll show you how to do this easily, even if you’re not a technical expert.

What Are SALT Security Keys?

When you log in to your WordPress website, there is an option for WordPress to remember your login credentials. This is achieved by storing the users’ authentication details in cookies. These expire after 15 days, when the user will have to log in again.

The danger is that this information could be compromised and place your website at risk, especially when using public computers.

That’s why WordPress uses security keys, or SALT keys, to protect users’ login credentials. SALTs are cryptographic tools that add extra information to your info, which provides another layer of security to your encrypted data.

The security and SALT keys are stored in the wp-config.php file, which is found in the root folder of your WordPress site. They look like this:

You can improve your WordPress security further by automatically changing your WordPress secret keys on a regular basis, such as weekly or monthly.

You could generate new SALT keys using the WordPress.org secret-key service and then change them manually using FTP. But, this process can be time-consuming and isn’t recommended if you don’t have coding experience.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how to set up an automated process to easily change security and SALT keys in WordPress.

How to Change WordPress SALT Keys

The first thing you need to do is install and activate the Salt Shaker plugin. For more details, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once the plugin is activated, you need to go to the Tools » Salt Shaker page in your WordPress admin to set a schedule for changing the SALT keys.

You must check the option to automatically ‘Change WP Keys and Salts’ and then select your schedule from the dropdown. You can automatically change the authentication keys daily, weekly, and monthly.

In case you want to change the security and SALT keys manually, then you can do so by clicking on the ‘Change Now’ button.

Expert Guides on Improving WordPress Security

We hope this article helped you automatically change the WordPress SALT keys. You may also want to see some other guides related to improving WordPress security:

• The Ultimate WordPress Security Guide (Step by Step)
• How to Perform a WordPress Security Audit (Complete Checklist)
• How to Check for WordPress Security Updates (Beginners Guide)
• Best WordPress Security Plugins to Protect Your Site (Compared)
• How to Scan Your WordPress Site for Potentially Malicious Code
• How to Add HTTP Security Headers in WordPress (Beginner’s Guide)
• How to Protect Your WordPress Site From Brute Force Attacks

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