Unable to Sign in to WordPress?

If you are unable to access your WordPress dashboard, or unable to receive a password reset email, then you may need to take additional steps to gain access.

To reset, change, delete, or create a user in WordPress yourself, use the methods below to find the scenario that’s applicable and follow those instructions.

Update WordPress Password

There are several ways to update your WordPress password. Typically you can perform this from within your WordPress dashboard. If you cannot access your WordPress dashboard then there are some alternatives as well.

To learn more about these alternatives, follow the Hosting Column post Different Methods of Changing WordPress Password.

Update Email Address, Create or Delete a user

As an alternative to resetting the password, you can update a user’s email address, so they can receive a password reset email. You can even create a new Admin user.

1. Change an email address for another WordPress user

As a WordPress administrator you can change another user’s email address. This is helpful if they cannot log into WordPress, or receive the password reset email.

Note: These steps assume you can log in as a WordPress admin user.

Log in to WordPress
Click the Users link on the Admin toolbar
Click on the user you want to update
In the Contact info section, change the email address
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Update Profile

2. Delete a WordPress user

As a WordPress administrator you can remove user accounts from your site.

Log in to WordPress.
Click the Users link on the Admin toolbar.
Place a check in the box next to the user you want to delete.
From the Bulk Actions drop-down menu, select Delete.
Click the Apply button.

3. Change a WordPress email address in the database

You can update your WordPress email address in the database, which can help if you cannot receive the password reset email.

Log into phpMyAdmin.

Note: If you’re using cPanel Hosting, you must select the database for your WordPress site in the left-hand column before proceeding to the next step.

Click on the _users table.
Click Edit next to the user you want to update.
In the Value column, delete the contents of the user_email box.
Type your new email address into the same box.
Click Go

4. Create an admin user in the WordPress database

You can create a new WordPress admin user from within the database. Use this method if your original admin user was corrupted or deleted.

Log into phpMyAdmin.

Note: If you’re using cPanel Hosting, you must select the database for your WordPress site in the left column before continuing to the next step.

In the left menu, select the wp_users table.
Select Insert.
Enter the following:

Field	What it is…
ID	Any number that isn’t already used by another user
user_login	Username for accessing the WordPress dashboard
user_pass	Password for this user Note: Make sure to select MD5 in the functions menu.
user_nicename	The nickname for this user
user_email	Email address for this user
user_registered	Date and time this user was registered
user_status	Set this to 0
display_name	Name that will display for this user

Select Go.
Select the wp_usermeta table.
Select Insert.
Enter the following

Field	What it is…
user_id	Enter the ID from step 4
meta_key	Enter wp_capabilities Note: For Managed WordPress accounts or custom database table prefixes, include the prefix (e.g. wp_coolPrefix_capabilities).
meta_value	Enter the following:a:1:{s:13:”administrator”;s:1:”1″;}

Select Go.
Select the Insert tab again.
Enter the following

Field	What it is…
user_id	Enter the ID from step 4
meta_key	Enter wp_user_level Note: For Managed WordPress accounts or custom database table prefixes, include the prefix (e.g. wp_coolPrefix_user_level).
meta_value	Enter the number 10