Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) allows you to define Custom Post Types (CPTs) and Taxonomies directly within the WordPress dashboard. This makes it easier to build a website without editing theme or plugin files.
However, the permalink options available through ACF are limited and only support basic URL structures. If you want to remove it or apply it consistently across multiple content types, Permalink Manager Pro gives you a simple way to do it through its settings.
You can use it without writing any PHP code. It is compatible with other popular plugins and works with all custom post types and taxonomies added through ACF. Since it does not rely on rewrite rules, you can define your permalink structure exactly how you want.
How Default "Advanced Custom Fields" Permalinks Work?
Custom post types and taxonomies created with ACF use WordPress’s standard permalink system. ACF does not change how these URLs are built, so the structure follows the post type or taxonomy slug you define, e.g.:
| Post type/taxonomy slug | Title | Final URL |
|---|---|---|
| jobs | Senior Barista | https://example.com/jobs/senior-barista/ |
| city | Brussels | https://example.com/city/europe/belgium/brussels/ |
Understanding Permalink Limitations
By default, the WordPress rewrite system has specific rules for how URLs are structured. These limitations apply to all content types, whether you register them using ACF, another plugin or custom PHP code:
- Post type and taxonomy base slugs cannot be removed from URLs.
- Different post types and/or taxonomies cannot share the same URL structure.
- Taxonomy terms cannot be added to post permalinks.
- Existing URLs cannot be changed without breaking links unless redirects are handled separately.
While these behaviors are built into the WordPress core, you can bypass them by using a custom permalink plugin to extend the system’s functionality.
Why Rewrite Bases Must Be Unique?
WordPress uses rewrite rules to decide how the requested URLs should match the content. These rules use patterns built from post type and taxonomy (bases) slugs. WordPress goes through them one by one and stops at the first match.
If multiple post types and taxonomies share the same permalink structure, WordPress applies only the first rule, ignoring the rest and displaying 404 errors for their items.
Editing ACF Permalinks
Individual Changes
The core feature of Permalink Manager is the built-in individual URL editor. It allows you to change the permalink for any custom post type or custom taxonomy created with ACF.
It works much like the standard WordPress permalink editor. The difference is that you are not limited to the slug (last part of the URL) and you can adjust the entire permalink.
Instead of editing URLs one by one, you can also change multiple permalinks at once. Separate sections for custom post types and taxonomies make it easier to work with larger websites.
Bulk Changes
If you need to quickly apply a new permalink structure to new posts or terms, the Permastructures editor is the simpleset solution. It allows you to customize permalinks for any content type, including removing the default slug or adding custom fields to WordPress permalinks.
By default, the plugin keeps existing URLs unchanged, but you can bulk update them to the new format using the "Regnerate/reset" tool.
ACF Permalink Customization Options
How to Remove Default Slugs (Bases) From ACF URLs?
The "rewrite slugs" make permalinks longer and harder to read. With Permalink Manager, you can remove the post type and taxonomy slugs from your content, resulting in cleaner, shorter URLs that are easier to understand and share.
How to Duplicate a Rewrite Slug?
Permalink Manager allows you to do more than just remove rewrite slugs from ACF permalinks. It can also be very useful if you want to implement silo architecture and use the same permalink structure to different types of content.
WordPress’ built-in permalink system is limited, and ACF alone does not allow to override it. Permalink Manager solves this by letting you assign custom permalinks to your content items.
This can be helpful for websites that organize content hierarchically with multiple post types or taxonomies. You can duplicate slugs and use the same permalink format for all of them to reflect relationships between them directly in the URL.
How to Add Custom Taxonomy to ACF Permalink?
Permalink Manager lets you add the slug of custom taxonomy terms to the custom post type URLs.This makes the permalink even more descriptive and helps visitors understand the content hierarchy at a glance.
How to Use ACF Custom Fields inside Single Permalinks?
One thing that makes Permalink Manager stand out is the possibility to directly add custom fields into the permalinks. This process is straightforward and fairly similar to adding taxonomy to individual permalinks.
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