The SEO title sits in your SEO plugin’s snippet box inside each post or page editor in WordPress.
Trying to set the line searchers see? Here’s the map. The big content title at the top prints on the page. The label read by search engines lives in a separate “SEO title” field that plugins add to the editor.
Find The SEO Title Field In WordPress Editors
Most sites use a plugin that adds a preview panel with fields for the Google snippet. You’ll see a live preview, a title input, and a meta description input. The panel can sit under the content, in a sidebar, or inside a drawer in the block editor. Here’s where to look in common setups.
| Context | Path In Dashboard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single Post Or Page (Yoast) | Posts/Pages → Edit → Yoast panel → “SEO title” | Open “Google preview” if collapsed; width bar helps avoid truncation. |
| Single Post Or Page (Rank Math) | Posts/Pages → Edit → Rank Math panel → “Edit Snippet” → “Title” | Panel can be in the sidebar or below content; click the score badge. |
| Single Post Or Page (AIOSEO) | Posts/Pages → Edit → AIOSEO Settings → “Title” | Desktop and mobile previews; smart tags fill dynamic pieces. |
| Homepage Managed By Reading Settings | Settings → Reading / Your plugin’s “Homepage” SEO screen | When front page is a posts feed, use the plugin’s homepage controls. |
| WooCommerce Product | Products → Edit → SEO panel | Same snippet box; product data doesn’t set the title tag on its own. |
| Category Or Tag Archive | Posts → Categories/Tags → Edit term → SEO fields | Set a term-level template if you have many terms. |
| Custom Post Type | {Your CPT} → Edit → SEO panel | Enable the type inside your plugin’s Titles & Meta settings if missing. |
WordPress Title Tag Versus SEO Title
The blue link in results and the browser tab come from the document’s title tag. Modern themes hand control of that tag to WordPress core and, in turn, to an SEO plugin. The snippet box rules that tag. The big content title prints on the page unless your setup maps it into the SEO field.
How Themes Hand Off Control
Since WordPress 4.1, themes can declare support for a core feature named title-tag. With that flag on, WordPress and your SEO plugin assemble the final tag. If a theme lacks that flag, the plugin may still output a tag, but it can clash with theme code that prints its own string. See the core title-tag docs for the exact hook.
Ways To Open The Snippet Box Fast
You can reach the SEO panel from several entry points. Pick the one that fits your editor.
Block Editor (Gutenberg)
Open any post or page. Click the plugin icon or score badge in the top-right sidebar, then pick the snippet or preview. If the box isn’t in the sidebar, scroll under the content.
Classic Editor
Open the edit screen and scroll under the main content box. If you don’t see the panel, open “Screen Options” and toggle it on.
Set A Clean, Click-Ready Line
A tight title tag earns attention and helps match intent. Keep it within the pixel width your plugin shows, place the core topic first, and add your brand only when it helps. Skip fluff. Use plain words that mirror the page promise.
Smart Tags And Templates
Plugins offer variables for post title, category, site name, and custom fields. Use them to set safe defaults for archives and post types. You can still override any single post.
Home, Blog, And Archives
Many sites set a static page for the front page and another page for the posts feed. The SEO title for those screens lives in the plugin’s global settings. Taxonomies like categories and tags also have edit screens with fields for the title and description.
Plugin-Specific Pointers That Save Time
Every plugin labels buttons a bit differently. The steps below match the default UI in current versions.
Yoast
Edit a post, page, or product. Open the “Google preview.” Enter your custom line in the field labeled “SEO title.” The width bar under the field helps you avoid truncation. For the homepage, use the plugin’s Settings screen and set the fields in the Homepage section. The Yoast page-title guide shows the field and the preview.
Rank Math
Edit a post and click the score badge or the Rank Math icon. Hit “Edit Snippet,” then fill the “Title” field. Global templates live under “Titles & Meta.” Attachments use a separate section inside that screen.
All In One SEO
Edit a post and scroll to “AIOSEO Settings.” Enter the Title. Use the desktop and mobile tabs in the preview to check fit. The plugin also adds an SEO Preview link in the admin bar when you view a draft.
Build A Solid Default Template
A smart baseline keeps your site tidy even when an author forgets to hand-craft a line. Set a template per post type and taxonomy, then polish outliers only where they need a hand touch.
Sample Template Patterns
- Posts: %post_title% — %site_name%
- Pages: %post_title% — %site_name%
- Products: %product_title% — %site_name%
- Categories: %term_title% Articles — %site_name%
When To Override
Override the line when the default trims a key phrase, when two pages could collide on the same search, or when a rewrite would read clearer. Keep the brand suffix short if space runs tight.
Common Mistakes And Quick Fixes
Problems with the live tag usually trace back to theme support, plugin settings, or caches. Use this checklist when the snippet box and the search result don’t match.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Search shows an old line | Cache or delayed recrawl | Clear caches; request indexing; wait for recrawl. |
| Browser tab shows two titles | Theme prints a hard-coded tag | Enable core title-tag support; remove legacy wp_title() code. |
| No SEO panel on a post type | Post type disabled in plugin | Enable the type inside Titles & Meta; save permalinks; reload editor. |
| Attachment edit screen lacks the panel | Plugin limits the meta box | Use the plugin’s Attachments settings screen to set a template. |
| Title cuts off in results | String too wide in pixels | Trim words; move brand to the end; use the plugin’s width guide. |
How The Core Title System Works
WordPress builds the document title with hooks. Themes declare support for the core feature and do not print a hard-coded tag. Plugins then filter the parts to assemble the final string. That setup keeps one source of truth and prevents duplicates.
Check Your Theme
If you see double tags or odd separators, your theme might be printing its own line. Update the theme or add support for the core feature in a child theme.
Check Your Plugin
Open the Titles & Meta screen and confirm each post type and taxonomy is enabled. Set a site-wide pattern, then review a few live pages. Match the preview to the source with View Source and search for the <title> tag.
Simple Workflow That Scales
- Pick one plugin and stick with it.
- Turn on the plugin’s Titles & Meta modules for the types you use.
- Set short, clear templates that place the topic first.
- Write custom lines only for pages that drive search traffic.
- Review the width bar and the live preview before you publish.
- Ship, then circle back to tune any pages with weak click-through.
Helpful References For Fast Fixes
Save two links for quick checks during edits: the WordPress title-tag docs and the Yoast page-title guide. Those cover the core hook and the field you’ll use daily.