What Happens if I Change a Permalink in WordPress?

Changing the permalink for a post in WordPress is a simple, but potentially risky, procedure. If the permalink is incorrect, or if the post has been deleted, modified, or moved, the new permalink may be incorrect as well.

If you change a post’s permalink, WordPress automatically updates the post’s published date and time, and archives the post. However, if you change a post’s permalink and the post has not been published yet, WordPress does not publish the post.

If you change a post’s permalink and the post has been published, WordPress removes the post’s published date and time and archives the post.

If you change a post’s permalink and the post has been published and modified, WordPress replaces the post’s published date and time with the date and time at which the post was last updated. If you change a post’s permalink and the post has been published and deleted, WordPress does not publish the post, archive the post, or change the post’s published date and time.

If you change a post’s permalink and the post has been published and moved, WordPress replaces the post’s published date and time with the date and time at which the post was last updated on its new location.

If you change a post’s permalink and the post has not been published yet, WordPress creates a new post with the permalink you entered. If you change a post’s permalink and the post has been published, WordPress does not create a new post. If you change a post’s permalink and the post has been published and deleted, WordPress does not create a new post, or replace the post’s published date and time with the date and time at which the post was last updated.