Not sure this will help but this is what I used to use:
<?php global $user_ID, $user_identity, $user_level ?>
<?php if ( !$user_ID ) : ?>
<a href="https://www.YourSite.com/wp-login.php">Log in</a> | <a href="https://www.YourSite.com/wp-login.php?action=register">Register</a>
<?php else : ?>
Welcome <strong><?php echo $user_identity ?></strong> |
<a href='<a href='<?php echo wp_logout_url(); ?>&redirect_to=/'>Logout</a>
<?php endif; ?>
The above code will show two text links:
Log In | Register
After logging in the page will show this message:
Welcome NAMEOFUSER | Log Out
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If you want users to be able to write and edit posts, you need to go to Settings >> General and change New User Default Role from Subscriber to Author. To acess the dashboard the user will need to go to:
https://YOURSITE.com/wp-admin/
For more on user roles see this:
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Roles_and_Capabilities