🔍 Overview
Connecting WordPress to OTTO SEO requires two things: the Search Atlas WordPress plugin installed on your site, and a valid Search Atlas account linked during setup. If your site is not connecting or authentication keeps failing, this guide walks you through every step to fix it.
✅ Before You Begin
Make sure the following are in place before attempting to connect:
- You have admin access to your WordPress site.
- You have an active Search Atlas account.
- Your WordPress site is live and publicly accessible (not in maintenance mode or behind a login wall).
- Your server allows outbound HTTP requests (some managed hosts block these by default).
🛠️ Step 1: Install the Search Atlas WordPress Plugin
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for Search Atlas.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
Important: The plugin does nothing on its own. It must be connected to your Search Atlas account to function. Do not skip Step 2.
🔗 Step 2: Connect WordPress via the OTTO Installation Guide
- In Search Atlas, go to Left sidebar → OTTO SEO → Installation Guide.
- Select WordPress as your platform.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to generate your connection credentials.
- Copy the credentials provided and paste them into the Search Atlas plugin settings inside your WordPress dashboard.
- Save your settings and wait for the connection status to update.
You can also add or manage connected sites by going to Left sidebar → OTTO SEO → All Sites.
⚠️ Common Reasons Authentication Fails
If your site still shows as not connected or authentication is not completing, check each of the following:
- Wrong credentials entered: The plugin requires the exact credentials generated in the Search Atlas Installation Guide. Do not use your Search Atlas login username or password here.
- Credentials entered in the wrong field: Make sure you are pasting each value into the correct field inside the plugin settings.
- Plugin not activated: Verify the plugin is active under Plugins → Installed Plugins in WordPress.
- Caching conflict: If your site uses a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache), clear the cache after saving the plugin settings.
- Firewall or security plugin blocking the connection: Security plugins like Wordfence can block outbound requests. Temporarily disable them to test the connection, then whitelist Search Atlas if needed.
- Maintenance mode enabled: Disable any maintenance mode plugin before attempting to connect.
- Server-level restrictions: Some hosting providers block external API calls. Contact your host to confirm outbound requests are allowed.
🔄 Step 3: Re-authenticate If the Connection Breaks
- Go to Left sidebar → OTTO SEO → All Sites.
- Find the affected site and check its connection status.
- If the status shows an error, remove the site and re-add it using the steps in the Installation Guide.
- Generate fresh credentials and re-enter them in your WordPress plugin settings.
📊 Step 4: Verify the Connection Is Working
Once credentials are saved, return to Left sidebar → OTTO SEO → Overview. Your WordPress site should appear as connected. You can then run a scan by going to Left sidebar → OTTO SEO → All Sites and clicking Scan.
💡 Tips to Avoid Connection Issues
- Always generate fresh credentials from the Installation Guide — do not reuse old ones.
- Check that your WordPress version and PHP version meet the minimum requirements listed in the plugin description.
- If you manage multiple sites, connect each one individually through OTTO SEO → All Sites.
🆘 Still Not Connecting?
If you have followed all the steps above and your WordPress site is still not authenticating, our team can investigate your specific setup. If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.