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Have you ever wanted to use your own website to log in to other sites? That’s what IndieAuth helps you do.

But what if the special WordPress plugin for IndieAuth stops working?

That’s what happened to me. So, I found a simple way to fix it myself—with help from something called the Code Snippets plugin.

Let me show you how I did it.

What Is rel=”me”?

rel=me is a small bit of code that you can add to your site.

It tells other websites which social media accounts and links belong to you.
This helps prove that you are really you when you log in or connect your accounts.

For example:

<link rel="me" href="https://mastodon.social/@yourusername" />
<link rel="me" href="https://github.com/yourusername" />

You can add as many links as you want for your different profiles.

Why Did the Plugin Break?

Sometimes, plugins don’t work because:

• Your WordPress site or theme gets a big update.
• Another plugin causes problems.
• The plugin just hasn’t been updated in a long time.

When this happens, important things like rel=”me” might not show up on your site.

How I Fixed It With Code Snippets

Instead of changing tricky WordPress code, I used the Code Snippets plugin.

This plugin lets you safely add new code to your site, kind of like adding stickers to a notebook.

Step 1: Get the Code Snippets Plugin

• Go to “Plugins” in WordPress.
• Click “Add New.”
• Search for “Code Snippets.”
• Install and turn it on.

Step 2: Add Your rel=”me” Link in Header & Footer

• Go to your WordPress dashboard.
• Open the Code Snippets plugin.
• Find the section for “Header & Footer.”
• In the “Header” area, paste your rel=”me” code.

• Change the links to match your real accounts!
• Save your changes.

How to Check If It Works

• Go to your website.
• Right-click and choose “View Page Source.”
• Look for your rel=”me” links in the head section.
• Try using IndieAuth again on another site.

If you see your links, you did it.

Why This Helps

Plugins can break sometimes. But you can still show other sites which accounts belong to you. Adding rel=”me” links by yourself is a simple fix.

This way, you stay in charge of your online identity, even when tools break. Give it a try and see how easy it is.

Sometimes WordPress plugins break. This happened to the IndieAuth plugin.

When this plugin doesn’t work, you can’t use it to log in to other sites with your WordPress website. That’s a problem if you use IndieWeb tools.

But there’s a simple way around this.

Use something called relmeauth. You don’t need a plugin for this. Instead, you just connect your site to another account you own, like GitHub.

Here’s how you can do it:

Why IndieAuth Stops Working

Sometimes updates or new settings in WordPress mess up the IndieAuth plugin. This can stop you from logging in to sites that need IndieAuth. You might see errors or things just don’t work as you expect.

What Is relmeauth?

Relmeauth is an easier way to prove who you are on the web.

It uses something called a “rel=me” link. This is just a special kind of link that tells other sites, “I own this other account too!”

Sites like Mastodon and some IndieWeb tools know how to read these links.

How to Use GitHub With rel=me

1. Add this line to the header (top part) of your WordPress site:

<link rel="me" href="https://github.com/yourusername">

2. Next, go to your GitHub profile. In the “Website” field, add the link back to your website.

This makes a 2-way connection. Your site links to GitHub. GitHub links back to your site.

Now, some sites will let you login or prove who you are by checking these links.

The Good Parts

• No plugin needed! This works even if the IndieAuth plugin is broken.
• Simple steps. It’s just adding a link on your site and a link on your GitHub.
• Still works for IndieWeb login on places that check rel=me links.

One Thing to Remember

This only works on websites that support rel=me login. If the site checks for these links, you’re good.

So, if IndieAuth stops working on your WordPress, just use rel=me with GitHub. It’s quick, easy, and keeps your IndieWeb login working.