By default, WordPress shows the most recent posts at the root of your site. That works well for a personal blog, but it’s not always what you want for a business, services, or e-commerce site.
One static WordPress homepage instead lets you present a clear message, your services, calls to action, and important content as soon as visitors arrive. Your posts remain accessible on a separate page, often called «Blog,» «Tips,» or «News.».
This setting is built in: you don’t need to install a plugin. You just need to create the right pages, assign them in the Reading settings, then verify the public display.
Understanding the difference between the homepage and the posts page
In WordPress, a page is generally used to publish enduring content, such as an About, Services, or Contact page. A post is intended for content published over time and displayed in reverse chronological order. The official documentation explains this distinction between pages and posts in its guide on creating pages in WordPress.
When you choose the «A static page» option, WordPress therefore asks you for two different pages:
- Homepage : the page displayed at your site’s main address, for example
yoursite.ca/. - Posts page : the index that automatically displays your blog posts.
These two roles cannot be assigned to the same page. The WordPress Reading settings also specify that the number of posts shown on each blog page is controlled separately by the option provided for that purpose.
1. Create your two pages
In the WordPress admin, open Pages > Add New. Create a page first called «Home,» «Welcome,» or another title that fits your site structure. Add the content you want to present to visitors: introduction, services, projects, testimonials, useful links, or a contact form.
Then create a second page named «Blog,» «News,» or «Tips.» This page serves as the access point to your posts.
For this second page, it’s best not to build a long layout in the editor. Once assigned as the posts page, WordPress automatically displays the list of posts according to your theme’s template. Content you added in this page’s editor usually doesn’t display like that of a regular page.
Publish both pages before continuing. If they aren’t published, they won’t be offered correctly in the settings selection lists.
2. Assign the WordPress static homepage
In the dashboard, go to Settings > Reading. Locate the section that determines what your homepage displays.
- Select A static page.
- From the Homepage, choose your «Home» page.
- From the Posts page, choose your «Blog» page.
- Click Save Changes.
The official guide Creating a static homepage describes the same sequence: create a homepage, select «A static page» in the Reading settings, then choose a separate page for posts if you want to keep a blog.
If you’d prefer your site to be a blog first, you can return to this same screen at any time and choose Your latest posts. In that case, the chronological list of your posts reappears at the site’s main address.
3. Add the blog page to the navigation menu
The setting makes your posts page accessible, but it won’t necessarily appear in your menu automatically. Check your main navigation and add a link to the «Blog» or «Tips» page.
This step prevents a common mistake: thinking posts have disappeared after creating a custom homepage. They’re still published in WordPress, but must be reached via the link to the posts page, categories, archives, or internal links.
To organize this link neatly, also see how to create a clear and effective WordPress navigation menu. Simple navigation helps visitors understand the difference between your main site and your blog content.
4. Set the number of posts displayed
In Settings > Reading, the option Site pages should display no more than controls the number of posts shown on the blog page before pagination. This setting applies to the posts index according to your theme's behavior.
Choose a realistic number for your content and layout. For example, a blog page showing many very long excerpts can become hard to scan. Conversely, too few posts may force visitors to change pages more often.
The theme then decides the presentation: post cards, excerpts, featured images, columns, or a simple list. The reading setting chooses which page serves as the blog; it does not replace the theme's design options.
Why isn't the content of the «Blog» page showing up?
This is normal in most setups. The page selected as the «Posts page» becomes a marker for your posts index, and WordPress uses the theme's intended template to display that list.
With a block theme, templates can also heavily influence the result. The documentation on the’WordPress Site Editor notes that the «Front Page» template is for the home page, while the «Blog Home» template is for the list of recent posts, whether shown on the front page or on the posts page set in the reading settings.
If your front page shows unexpected content despite correct settings, check the templates in Appearance > Editor > Templates if your theme uses the site editor. In particular, look for a customized «Front Page» template. Do not modify a global template without checking other pages that might use it.
Checks to perform after the change
Before considering the configuration complete, open your site in a private browsing window or after clearing your browser cache. Then check the following:
- The site's main address shows your custom home content.
- The «Blog» menu link opens the list of your published posts.
- Links to your categories and to individual posts still work.
- The front page and the posts page are two distinct pages in Pages > All Pages.
- The number of visible posts and the pagination match your expectations.
- The layout is consistent on mobile, especially if your theme uses a post grid.
Also use this change to confirm your URL structure. A clear, durable blog link, such as /blog/ or /advice/, simplify links in the menu and in your content. If needed, see how to configure WordPress permalinks without complicating navigation.
Key takeaways
To display a custom homepage while keeping a blog, create one page for the homepage and another for posts, then assign them in Settings > Reading. Keep the posts page separate, add it to your menu, and check the result on the public site. This is a simple, native setup that’s easy to change later if your content strategy evolves.
If you’re preparing the foundations of your site, the guide Build a WordPress site one step at a time can help you place this setting within a more complete configuration process.