How do I recover my WordPress admin password?
Having trouble logging into your WordPress site because you forgot your admin password? Don’t panic – you have several options for recovering, resetting, or changing your WordPress admin password so you can regain access to your site. This comprehensive guide will walk through the various methods to update your forgotten WordPress password.
Resetting Your WordPress Password from the Login Screen
If you can’t remember your current WordPress password, the easiest way to reset it is directly from the WordPress login screen:
- Go to yoursite.com/wp-login.php to access the WordPress login screen.
- Click on the “Lost your password?” link underneath the password field.
- On the next screen, enter the email address associated with your WordPress admin account.
- Check your email inbox for a password reset link sent from WordPress.
- Click the password reset link, which will take you to a page to create a new password.
- Type your desired new password into both fields and click “Reset Password” to save your new credentials.
This self-serve password reset process allows you to quickly create a new secure password without needing access to your site’s hosting or database. However, the reset link can only be sent to the email associated with your admin account.
Changing Your WordPress Password from the Dashboard
Once you’ve regained access to your WordPress dashboard, you can change your password directly from your profile:
- Log into your WordPress dashboard at yoursite.com/wp-admin.
- Hover over your username in the top right and click on “Edit My Profile”.
- Scroll down to the “Account Management” section.
- Click the blue “Generate Password” button.
- Delete the auto-generated password WordPress creates.
- Type your new preferred password into the “New Password” and “Confirm New Password” fields.
- Scroll to the bottom and click “Update Profile” to save your new password.
This allows you to proactively change your WordPress password to something more secure at any time. Be sure to also update the password saved in your browser or password manager.
Resetting Your Password Through phpMyAdmin
If you don’t have access to the email for your WordPress account, you can directly reset your password in the MySQL database:
- Caution: It’s important to backup your database before making any manual changes.
- Log into your hosting control panel and open phpMyAdmin.
- Select your WordPress database from the left navbar.
- Click the “SQL” tab to open the query interface.
- Run this query to update your password, replacing “username” and “newpassword”:
sql
UPDATE wp_users SET user_pass = MD5('newpassword') WHERE user_login = 'username' - Click “Go” to execute the query and reset your password in the database.
This will immediately overwrite your existing WordPress password with the new one provided. You can then login via wp-admin using the new password.
Using a Plugin to Reset Your Password
There are also some handy WordPress plugins that include password reset functionality:
- iThemes Security – This popular security plugin allows users to reset their password via an email confirmation link. Just install, activate, and use the “Lost Password” form on the login page.
- Limit Login Attempts – This plugin will allow you to reset the password directly on the login page via email if you exceed the maximum login attempts.
Plugins extend the built-in password recovery options in WordPress. However, you will need access to install plugins before utilizing them.
Tips for Your New WordPress Password
When creating a new password for your WordPress site, keep these security tips in mind:
- Make your password long, complex, and unpredictable. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Avoid common passwords or personal information that could be easily guessed.
- Enable two-factor authentication for your WordPress user account.
- Use a password manager to generate and store your new credential securely.
Recovering from a lost WordPress password can be stressful, but serves as a good reminder to implement strong passwords and account security best practices going forward.
Recovering From a Lost WordPress Admin Password
No matter the situation, keep this advice in mind if you ever lose access to your WordPress admin:
- Stay calm – there is always a solution to reset your password via email or directly in the database.
- Try the email password reset first, then attempt manual reset via phpMyAdmin if needed.
- Enable two-factor authentication for your WordPress user after resetting your password.
- Create a new very strong password and store it in a password manager.
Losing your WordPress password doesn’t have to spell disaster. This guide outlines the most common password recovery options to safely reset your credential and regain access to your site.
Additional Resources to Deepen Your WordPress Knowledge
Looking to further expand your WordPress skills? Here are some additional resources:
- WordPress video tutorials: WordPress.tv has a wealth of free video tutorials on managing WordPress, creating themes/plugins, SEO strategies, and more.
- WordPress Codex: The Codex is the official WordPress documentation site. It contains everything from basic usage to developer guides.
- WordPress Support Forums: Stuck troubleshooting an issue? The active community forums are a great place to ask for help.
Investing in learning WordPress best practices will make managing your site much easier. Start with the basics then expand into more advanced topics like customization.
In Summary…
As we’ve explored, the most common options for resetting your forgotten WordPress admin password include:
- Using the password reset email link on the login screen
- Manually changing your password in your user profile
- Resetting your password directly in the database with phpMyAdmin
- Utilizing a password reset feature included in a plugin like iThemes Security
No matter which method you choose, be sure to create a new strong password and take measures to prevent losing it again. Your WordPress site’s security relies on it!