The simplest way to show an author’s X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook profiles in WordPress is to use an author-box plugin that adds social URL fields to user profiles. If you need exact markup or placement, store the URLs as user metadata and render them in your theme. WordPress’s built-in author link is different: it uses the author’s Website field, not dedicated social-profile fields.
Choose the right implementation
| Approach | How URLs are stored | Display options | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core author link | No dedicated social fields; uses the author’s Website field | Author link or author name | Sites where one website link is sufficient |
| Author-box plugin | Plugin-added fields on each WordPress user profile | Plugin block, shortcode, widget, or automatic author box | Editors who want a configurable profile card without PHP |
| Custom theme code | Developer-defined user metadata | Any location and markup supported by the theme | Sites requiring bespoke output and ongoing development control |
Option 1: Use an author-box plugin
This is the practical no-code route for most sites. WordPress.org listings for plugins such as Tidy Author Box and Author Profile Blocks describe profile fields for Facebook and Twitter/X, along with blocks and other insertion methods. Names, menus, compatibility, and free-versus-paid features can change, so verify the current listing before installing.
Set up the profile fields
- In the dashboard, open Plugins and choose Add New.
- Install and activate an author-box plugin that explicitly supports X/Twitter and Facebook and offers the placement you need.
- Edit each contributor under Users and fill in the plugin’s social URL fields. Enter complete profile URLs, not usernames alone.
Place the author profile
- Use the plugin’s block, shortcode, or widget if you want placement inside a template, page, or widget area.
- If the plugin offers automatic placement, enable the author box and select the desired location, such as beneath a post.
- Publish or update a post, then view both the post and the author archive while logged out.
Available locations and styling are plugin-specific. Confirm that the card appears in the theme’s actual content area and that links remain usable on mobile.
When this route is preferable
- Editors need to update social URLs without touching theme files.
- You want a ready-made biography card and multiple insertion methods.
- You may add more networks later and prefer fields maintained by the plugin.
Option 2: Add fields and output them in your theme
Custom code gives you control over the exact HTML, labels, icons, and location. It also means you must define how profile data is edited and maintain the code when the theme changes.
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1. Store separate user metadata
Define stable metadata keys such as author_x_url and author_facebook_url. Provide an administrator-facing profile form or another safe editing mechanism for entering those values. Do not treat the standard WordPress Website field as a substitute: it is a single homepage URL, not dedicated social fields.
2. Retrieve the post author’s values
In the single-post or author template, obtain the current post author’s user ID, retrieve both metadata values, and trim the results. Render a link only when its value is non-empty. This prevents empty icons or links from appearing for authors who have not supplied a profile.
3. Escape URLs in the output
Escape each URL for the HTML attribute where it is used. WordPress’s documented author-link implementation applies esc_url() to the author Website URL; follow the same context-appropriate escaping principle in custom markup. Keep visible link text meaningful, for example “Follow on X” and “Facebook profile,” rather than relying on an icon alone.
4. Choose the template location
- Below the post: place the links beside the author biography.
- In the byline: use a compact row when the theme has room beside the author name.
- On the author archive: show the links in the profile header or reusable author block.
What WordPress’s built-in author link actually does
If you only need an author homepage, WordPress provides the_author_link(), or get_the_author_link() when your code needs the returned string. WordPress Developer Resources describes its behavior this way: “If the author has a home page set, echo an HTML link, otherwise just echo the author’s name.” It does not create X/Twitter or Facebook fields, social icons, or social-network links.
Testing checklist
- Test an author with both social URLs populated.
- Test an author with only one URL.
- Test an author with neither URL and confirm no empty controls appear.
- Open the published post and author archive while logged out.
- Use keyboard navigation to verify that every link has a clear accessible label.
- Check the layout at mobile widths and confirm icons or text do not overlap the biography.
- Review the plugin’s current compatibility and plan requirements before deploying updates.
Which method should you use?
Use an author-box plugin when non-developers need profile fields and a configurable card. Use custom theme code when the site requires precise placement, markup, or styling and someone will maintain the PHP and metadata form. Use the core author link only when a single author website link meets the requirement; it does not satisfy a two-network social-profile setup.
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