How to Change the WordPress Login Logo Without a Plugin

Hey there! Ever noticed that standard WordPress logo on the login page and thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could replace that with my own logo?”

It’s a small tweak, but one that really gives your WordPress site a personal touch—especially if it’s for a client, or just to make your site look that much more polished!

Today, I’m going to show you how to change that default WordPress login logo to something custom, without adding any plugins. Let’s dive in!

Why Change the Login Logo?

You might wonder, “Is it really worth the effort?” I remember the first time I made this change on a client’s site. They had a brand with a very distinct logo, and seeing it on the login page really brought the whole site together.

It’s just a quick branding boost that makes the site feel more “yours.”

This can be especially important for multi-user sites, where you might want that consistent branding every time someone logs in.

Step 1: Prepare Your Logo

First things first, you need a logo that’s ready to go. Make sure it’s sized appropriately—usually, around 250px by 80px works well, but you can adjust this based on your preference. Just make sure it’s not too large, or it could look squished or off-center.

You’ll want the logo saved as a PNG file with a transparent background if possible. This keeps it looking sharp on the login page.

Step 2: Upload Your Logo to the Media Library

Now, let’s get that logo onto your site! Go to your WordPress Dashboard > Media > Add New and upload your logo file.

Once it’s uploaded, click on it to open the details page, and copy the URL of the image. We’ll need this URL to make it appear on the login page.

Step 3: Add Custom CSS to Your Theme

Here’s where we make the magic happen! We’ll add a bit of CSS to override the default WordPress logo with your custom one. Go to Appearance > Theme Editor and open the functions.php file.

Just a heads up: It’s always a good idea to use a child theme for these types of edits so you don’t lose them when the theme updates, or make sure you have a recent backup.

In your functions.php, add this code:

function my_custom_login_logo() { ?>
    <style type="text/css">
        #login h1 a {
            background-image: url('YOUR-LOGO-URL');
            width: 250px; /* Adjust based on your logo size */
            height: 80px;
            background-size: contain;
        }
    </style>
<?php }
add_action('login_enqueue_scripts', 'my_custom_login_logo');

Here’s what’s happening:

1. background-image: Replace 'YOUR-LOGO-URL' with the URL you copied from the media library earlier.
2. width and height: These should match your logo’s dimensions. You can tweak them if you need to make adjustments.
3. background-size: We’re using contain to make sure the logo scales correctly within its container.

When I first tried this, I played around with the dimensions until I found a size that looked just right. Don’t worry if you need to test a few variations before it fits perfectly!

Step 4: Adjust the Link (Optional)

If you click on the logo, by default, it’ll link to WordPress.org. Want it to link back to your site’s homepage instead? You can add a bit more code to make that happen!

Still in the functions.php file, add this snippet:

function my_custom_login_logo_url() {
    return home_url();
}
add_filter('login_headerurl', 'my_custom_login_logo_url');

And if you want a custom hover message when people hover over the logo, add this code:

function my_custom_login_logo_url_title() {
    return 'Welcome to My Site!';
}
add_filter('login_headertext', 'my_custom_login_logo_url_title');

Replace "Welcome to My Site!" with whatever text you’d like. When I set this up for myself, I used a little tagline related to the site—it’s a fun way to personalize things even more.

Step 5: Test Your New Login Page

That’s it! Now, go to yourwebsite.com/wp-login.php and see your fresh, custom login page with your new logo in action. It should look a lot more “you” than the default WordPress one.

Why I Love This Custom Touch

I find that adding these little customizations really makes a website feel complete. Sure, it’s a small thing, but branding is in the details. And the best part is that this method doesn’t require a plugin, so you’re keeping your site lean and fast.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it—a personalized login page with your custom logo, all done without plugins! I hope this guide helped make your WordPress site feel a bit more branded and unique.

If you run into any snags or want to share how it turned out, leave a comment below—I’d love to see how it looks on your site!

Happy customizing! 🎉