J.K. Rowling launched the original Pottermore website in 2011.
Pottermore was created as an interactive online companion to the Harry Potter books. Rowling provided new writing for the site, including background information about wizarding-world characters, places, and customs. Users could explore illustrated moments from the novels and be sorted into Hogwarts houses.
The website was announced in June 2011 and opened more broadly in 2012 after an early registration period. Its launch was associated with the continuing expansion of the Harry Potter franchise beyond the seven main novels.
A common mix-up is confusing Pottermore with the later Wizarding World website. Pottermore was renamed and reorganized as WizardingWorld.com in 2019, but 2011 remains the launch year of the original Rowling-created platform.