There are lots of gear that can assist you handle your WordPress site. We have now mentioned a few of them prior to now in this post. Excluding them, there also are the official WordPress mobile apps.

Even if it’s been round for some time, a lesser-known instance is the WordPress desktop app named Calypso. It was once at the start made for WordPress.com consumers to allow them to handle their websites from their desktop computer systems. Then again, together with the Jetpack plugin, it additionally works for self-hosted WordPress websites.

On this article, I can display you how you can use it. I can first come up with slightly of data at the app and communicate in regards to the professionals and cons of the usage of it. After that, you are going to learn to arrange and set up the WordPress desktop app step-by-step. In any case, the put up will give an explanation for how you can use the app together with your self-hosted WordPress web page.

Let’s get going.

The WordPress Desktop App – Execs and Cons

Calypso is made by way of Automattic, the corporate at the back of WordPress.com. The app is to be had for Home windows, Mac, and Linux. Let’s speak about a few of its professionals and cons.

Execs

Some great benefits of the usage of the WordPress desktop app for self-hosted websites are a lot of:

  • In point of fact speedy because of JavaScript and the WP REST API
  • Talent to accomplish control duties with out opening your browser
  • Comfy person interface that makes operating together with your web page simple
  • Nice, distraction-free writing revel in
  • Works for a number of websites directly, gets rid of a large number of logins

Cons

Then again, there also are a couple of spaces the place WordPress desktop app is missing:

  • Doesn’t mean you can save posts offline, wishes an Web connection to paintings
  • Not able to load customized fields just like the Yoast search engine marketing content material research field
  • You want to have Jetpack put in and a WordPress.com account
  • It’s lacking some necessary settings, akin to the facility to control menus

Connecting the WordPress Desktop App to Your Self-Hosted Site

Alright, now that you already know the benefits and downsides of the app, let’s take it for a spin. First, you are going to learn to set up it and attach it for your self-hosted site.

1. Set up Jetpack

As discussed, for the app to paintings you wish to have to have Jetpack provide to your web page. In the event you haven’t put in it already, cross to Plugins > Upload New. Right here, you will have to see Jetpack someplace close to the highest of the checklist.

wordpress desktop app install jetpack

In the event you don’t see it, merely seek for the plugin by way of identify. In case you have discovered it, click on Set up Now and turn on the plugin as soon as it’s executed downloading.

2. Attach Jetpack to Your WordPress.com Account

As soon as Jetpack is put in, it is going to ask you to hook up with a WordPress.com account. For that, click on on Arrange Jetpack.

wordpress desktop app set up jetpack

This may take you to WordPress.com site. If you have already got an account there, merely enter your credentials to log in. In a different way, hit the Enroll button within the higher proper nook.

wordpress desktop app connect jetpack to wordpress com

WordPress.com will then ask you for an electronic mail cope with, username, and password. Pick out no matter you prefer. Simply ensure that on the finish of the setup procedure, when requested about which plan you wish to have to enroll in, you to find the Get started with loose button on the backside and click on it.

wordpress desktop app pick wordpress com plan

After that, you are going to routinely be redirected for your web page.

3. Obtain and Set up the WordPress Desktop App

After that, cross to the official page of the WordPress desktop app. Right here, hit obtain button and save the record for your laptop.

download wordpress desktop app

As soon as it’s executed downloading, to find the record to your arduous power and execute it. Practice the stairs to put in the Calypso to your gadget. It will have to get started routinely after setup is completed.

4. Attach Your Self-hosted Web site to the App

When the WordPress desktop app begins, you are going to see this display.

wordpress desktop app first sign in

Right here, as soon as once more, you wish to have to enter your WordPress.com credentials. Upon getting executed so, you land at the app’s primary display.

wordpress desktop app landing screen

Right here, it displays you the newest posts of all WordPress websites you practice inside the app or your WordPress.com account.

To regulate your web page within the WordPress desktop app, you wish to have to click on on My Web site within the higher left nook of the display. While you do, you will have to get to the next web page.

wordpress desktop app main screen

Be aware: When you have a number of websites hooked up by the use of Jetpack, you are going to first see choices for they all. To care for one specifically, click on on Transfer Web site to get to the checklist of to be had web pages. From that menu, you’ll be able to additionally attach a brand new web page by way of clicking the respective button on the backside.

That’s it, your site is now hooked up. Time to test what Calypso means that you can do.

Taking Care of Your Web site within the App

In the rest of this text, we can cross throughout the WordPress desktop app choices and the way they allow you to handle your web page.

Take a look at Statistics

As you might have noticed above, while you first attach your web page, you are going to see the Jetpack statistics at the proper.

On this display you’ll be able to do all of the standard issues: test site visitors, acquire insights into customer conduct, observe task, see common posts and pages, referrers, seek phrases, seek places and hyperlink clicks.

You’re additionally ready to have a look at statistics for previous weeks, months and years. If you might have labored with Jetpack sooner than, this will have to all be very acquainted.

Create Posts and Pages

Within the left-side column, you might have the solution to create new content material. The app lists your pages, posts, and any customized put up sorts. Remember, on the other hand, that you simply recently can’t create or organize the latter throughout the WordPress desktop app.

wordpress desktop app add content

To create a brand new put up or web page, merely click on Upload within the respective box. For weblog posts, you additionally have the opportunity to hit Write on the best of the display.

wordpress desktop app write button

Each will take you to this great, blank writing surroundings:

wordpress desktop app post and page editing screen

When you have labored with the WordPress editor sooner than, the whole thing will probably be very acquainted. At the left aspect, you’ll be able to edit the put up identify and URL in addition to upload and layout content material. If you wish to do a little gentle coding, you’ll be able to additionally cross into to HTML mode.

Remember, that the media button is located underneath Upload at the left aspect.

wordpress desktop app add media to content

Clicking it means that you can get right of entry to your web page’s media library or different assets and create Jetpack touch paperwork.

At the proper aspect of the display, you to find all of the standard choices like put up scheduling, including a featured symbol, converting classes and tags, excerpts, and extra. You’ll be able to additionally disable this sidebar by way of clicking at the equipment image on best. This offers you a real distraction-free writing revel in.

wordpress desktop app distraction free editing mode

When you’re executed, both put up your put up straight away from throughout the WordPress desktop app or preview it previously with the button on best. The latter will open a browser window so you’ll be able to test the put up or web page within the context of your precise site.

Arrange Current Content material

In fact, you don’t seem to be simply ready to create new content material but in addition handle what’s already to your web page. While you click on on Web site Pages or Weblog Posts, you get an inventory of current content material.

wordpress desktop app manage posts and pages

This comprises drafts, scheduled posts and what’s on your trash can. From right here you’ll be able to additionally edit, view/preview, put up, replica, proportion and delete them in addition to test their stats. Simply click on at the icon with the 3 dots. Along with that, a click on on considered one of your posts or pages will take you again to the editor the place you’ll be able to make any adjustments you need.

Set up and Arrange and Subject matters

Inside the Subject matters segment, you’ll be able to set up, add and alter subject matters.

wordpress desktop app manage themes

Then again, there’s a drawback: in Calypso, you’ll be able to best set up subject matters to be had on WordPress.com. If you wish to upload a theme from the WordPress.org listing, you wish to have to both add it manually or cross for your web page and set up it from there.

You can also no longer customise your subject matters throughout the WordPress desktop app. In the event you click on at the Customise button, it is going to as an alternative take you to the web page’s customizer web page inside of your internet browser.

Set up and Arrange Plugins

Against this to the Subject matters segment, the Plugins menu does come up with get right of entry to to the whole thing discovered on WordPress.org.

wordpress desktop app install new plugins

You’ll be able to seek for any plugin within the listing and set up it with a unmarried click on. Importing a third-party plugins may be conceivable.

But even so that, you might have the chance to control current extensions to your web page and you’ll be able to turn on, deactivate, replace and take away them from throughout the desktop app.

wordpress desktop app manage existing plugins

Updating may also be executed both separately or for all plugins directly. The WordPress desktop app even means that you can set plugins to auto replace. That means you not need to handle it manually. Then again, remember to allow this just for plugins you believe.

Arrange Feedback

Underneath Feedback, you predictably to find an solution to average discussions going down to your web page. It has all of the standard choices you already know from the WordPress dashboard.

wordpress desktop app manage comments

View the newest feedback, approve, answer, delete or transfer them to junk mail. Simple peasy.

Arrange Customers

Must you wish to have to change the customers who’ve get right of entry to for your web page, you’ll be able to achieve this underneath the Folks tab.

wordpress desktop app manage users

This menu permits you to upload staff individuals with a easy click on of the button. In the event you click on on current customers, you’re additionally ready to switch their roles, edit their main points and delete them if vital.

Edit Settings

Within the Settings segment, you’ll be able to regulate all necessary choices about your web page.

wordpress desktop app site settings

Be aware, on the other hand, that those don’t seem to be the similar settings that you simply to find to your self-hosted web page. A few of them are Jetpack explicit, such because the choices to allow the WordPress.com toolbar, transfer photographs to the Jetpack CDN and turn on limitless scroll.

Then again, you additionally to find acquainted settings akin to converting your web page identify and tagline and controlling the remark choices. Import and export gear also are situated on this menu. But, to switch some belongings you nonetheless wish to cross for your precise web page.

Configure Sharing Choices

In any case, the sharing module is a part of Jetpack and likewise constructed into the WordPress desktop app underneath Sharing.

wordpress desktop app configure sharing options

On this menu, you’ll be able to arrange your social media accounts and feature WordPress routinely proportion posts to them. In the second one tab, you’ll be able to upload proportion buttons for various social networks to many portions of your web page.

wordpress desktop app add sharing buttons

The WordPress Desktop App – Is It for You?

General Calypso provides an effective way to handle elementary management of your web page. You’ll be able to run a number of websites from the similar dashboard and carry out crucial control duties. The interface is sweet and blank and I particularly like that the whole thing works very speedy.

The most important drawback, personally, is the loss of customized metaboxes. Since I take advantage of Yoast SEO on just about all of my posts, it might be actually useful so that you could use it from throughout the WordPress desktop app as neatly. Having to return to my precise web page to fill in key phrases and meta descriptions more or less defeats the aim of getting a devoted app. Similar for developing and managing menus.

I additionally omit the facility to replace WordPress core. The app tells you when updates are to be had however directs you for your web page to in reality do it. However, having the ability to replace all plugins for all websites from one position is beautiful cool. Plus, autoupdates – so helpful.

Excluding that, I additionally discovered nerve-racking that after I had to replace to the newest model of Jetpack or allow an additional module to make the most of some options, I all the time needed to restart the app for the adjustments to take impact. This may have been solved higher.

Then again, the WordPress desktop app provides a cast person revel in and I completely counsel checking it out.

Are you the usage of the WordPress desktop app? What’s your opinion? Tell us within the feedback segment beneath!

Nick Schäferhoff

Nick Schäferhoff is an entrepreneur, on-line marketer, {and professional} blogger from Germany. He discovered WordPress when he wanted a site for his first trade and right away fell in love. When no longer development web pages, developing content material or serving to his purchasers toughen their on-line trade, he can maximum incessantly be discovered on the health club, the dojo or touring the sector together with his spouse. If you wish to get involved with him, you’ll be able to achieve this by the use of Twitter or via his site.

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