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Reset your WordPress Admin Password When You Cannot Access Your WordPress Dashboard

By on November 24, 2012

When you have too many websites like me, sometimes you have to reset your WordPress admin password. Yes this happens to me all of the time.

Normal people can simply click on the “forgot password’ link, but I often do not even know the email address I have actually used. I know this sounds crazy, but I am sure you will have your own reasons for needing to read this tutorial.

How to Reset your WordPress Admin Password?

Yes you can reset your WordPress admin password but you will need a few things first.

What do you need to change your WordPress admin password?

  1. To reset your WordPress admin password you will need access to your server. This is the website hosting where your website is located. For example, I use Hostgator for my website hosting and would go to my Cpanel to change this password.
  2. If you are hosting more than one website in the same location you will need to know the database name that particular website you want to log into.
  3. You will need to have access to the Internet to login to your server and to create a new MD5 encryption.
  4. You will need to open a notepad so you can copy your new MD5 encryption password, and to note what this code interprets to.

Basically you should have all these things if you are running a website. We all need an Internet connection if we are involved with websites.

How to reset your admin password for WordPress

I have made a detailed video tutorial on how to reset your admin password but I will also list a quick set of instructions.

1. Login to your server Cpanel and look for the databases section. Look for the phpMyAdmin icon.
2. Double-click on this icon to enter. See the screenshot below.

3. Once in phpMyAdmin select the WordPress database from the drop-down menu on the left. If you are not sure which database to choose, scroll down below to find the instructions on how to see which database you are using.

4. Then when you have entered the right database, you need to look for the username. This will be the account that you want to change the password for.

5. You will then need to click on the edit link to actually change the details for this user. See this screenshot below.

6. Now you will see more details and be able to change them. Where it says user_pass, this means we need to change these details.

7. Go to Google and type in MD5 encryption or you can try this MD5 hash website. You will need to generate a new encrypted user password.

8. Once you have generated a new encrypted password, paste it into the user password section.

9. Click on the GO button to submit the query.

The best way to learn how to change your WordPress admin password is to watch the video below.

How To Find Your WordPress Data Base Name?

Lets say you have 20 websites installed on your Hostgator server. This creates a small problem when trying to edit the data base user details as you need to know which data base to enter. You could enter them all until you see something that looks familiar but this is a waste of time. Before going to the phpMyAdmin section in your hosting, you need to go to the root of your domain and look for your wp-config.php file.

1. Login to your cpanel hosting.
2. Scroll down to the files section and look for the file manager icon. Double-click on that icon. See the screenshot below.

3. A file manager directory selection box will appear. You will need to make a few choices here.

  • you need to select document root for:
  • You need to tick the box that says show hidden files.
  • You need to choose which website from the drop down menu.

After all of this you can press the go. See the screenshot below.

WordPress admin password

4. Now you can look for your wp-config.php file and select it by making it blue.

5. Then right click on the blue selection and choose “view” from the menu.

WordPress database name

6. In this file you should see something like ” (‘DB_NAME’, ‘mydb_wrdp30′);

7. That means that mydb_wrdp30 is my database name.
If you have problems resetting the password yourself, ask your website hosting company for help. I’d definitely know that Hostgator would help out in a situation like this as I have always got fantastic help from them, even though the problem had nothing to do with their hosting.

 

About Mitz

My name is Milica Pantic but everyone calls me Mitz. I am addicted to internet marketing and making money online. Who wouldn't want to live that life? I started out with one website as a hobby and now have over 20. Building websites and making money online is not that hard. You have to actually take action to make money...that is the biggest hurdle! :)

28 Comments

  1. Nadia Barbara

    January 30, 2013 at 7:46 am

    This is a very helpful post Mitch! I guess it is inevitable for a blogger to forget their password especially if they are handling multiple blogs or website. This tutorial has helped me a lot. :)
    Nadia Barbara recently posted..SEO Tip: Google Analytics

    Reply

  2. Shane

    December 31, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    I have had issue with this in the past. I really wish they didn’t’ make it so difficult to do. It really makes you wonder why they have made it so hard.
    Shane recently posted..Why keyword negatives are important

    Reply

  3. Jasmine

    December 30, 2012 at 5:47 pm

    Great tips on resetting WordPress password. I especially like the tutorial video you did. By the way, what software did you use for the video?
    Jasmine recently posted..Happy New Year from 100Webhosting.com (dofollow)

    Reply

  4. xazea

    December 11, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    actually we can also find email and password in phpmyadmin, but because it is encrypted sometimes you need to reset it by using email as the best way
    xazea recently posted..Instagram 3.3.0 Android Apk App

    Reply

  5. ahyarnasution

    December 11, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Hello Mitz, thanks for nice post, luckily i always save my password on notepad…
    because i had a bad experience with too simple password, so now i open my notepad when i need the password
    ahyarnasution recently posted..Comment on Trial Xtreme 2 HD v2.1 Android Apk by admin

    Reply

  6. Jeremy

    December 10, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    Hah that’s a useful unformation for me as I always forget my passwords, not only WordPress ones and I also use different e-mail addresses) But I’m trying to use the same password now so it has become less confusing
    Jeremy recently posted..plenty of salvage cars for sale in california

    Reply

  7. Melissa

    December 6, 2012 at 6:47 am

    Hi Mitz,
    Nice tutorial. It is recommended for all blog owners to know such tips, as “forgot password” might not work if you also forgot email id associated with the user id.
    BTW.. thank you
    Melissa recently posted..Insect pests: how to protect your home?

    Reply

  8. Tan

    December 4, 2012 at 1:39 am

    I think forgotten password feature also useful if you do not want to do it back end.
    Tan recently posted..Customer Service Skills: How to Deal with a Difficult Customer – 6 best remedies explained!

    Reply

  9. vicky

    December 2, 2012 at 11:23 am

    It would be a great help in the future if I need to reset my password. You have explained the whole method step by step. Will surely bookmark it for reference. Thanks Mitz. :)
    vicky recently posted..HTC DROID DNA SMARTPHONE REVIEWS: 1080p display and quad core chip

    Reply

  10. Salman

    December 1, 2012 at 3:56 am

    Great video tute … I remember the time when I looked for tutorial on changing WP admin password via the cpanel, when a hacker got into my site and changed the primary email along with password!
    Salman recently posted..The HTC One X Plus: A Great Christmas Gift!

    Reply

  11. Kelly

    November 29, 2012 at 11:05 am

    I’m one of many people who is having a really iffy time resetting passwords if needed be. They’re a pain on the neck. So thank you for this one.

    Reply

  12. arif sinbad

    November 28, 2012 at 2:38 am

    Several times my blog was compromised causing me unable to access the admin page. I have searched several security page to protect the site–sometimes they only use our blog to become trial of attack instead of really destructing our site.

    Accessing cpanel is good way and back the content up also better.

    thanks for your sharing
    arif sinbad recently posted..Home Bookkeeping android personal finance apps (50% discount available)

    Reply

    • Mitz

      November 28, 2012 at 7:58 am

      Yes we should also backup our websites often so we can restore the content if there is a problem. :)

      Reply

  13. Ron

    November 26, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    Unfortunately I have had to do this several times due to a hacker. I like how you go into detail on how to do it and not have to hassle with it. It can be a pain if you don’t know how to reset the password, and if you had to do it as many times as I have (at least once a month) then this is an awesome post because you have made it simple and easy to follow. Thanks!
    Ron recently posted..Build List For Big Profits MRR Ebook with Master Resale Rights

    Reply

    • Mitz

      November 27, 2012 at 12:27 am

      Thanks Ron I did try to make it easy.I thought I was the only one messing with the passwords or forgetting them!!! LOL :) Sounds like a few people are doing this too!

      Reply

  14. Manishak

    November 26, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    I always do that whenever I am stuck. Also between all those users and service providers, I sometimes lose my password. So I just go and reset it.
    Manishak recently posted..5 Ways Of Ingrown Hair Removal

    Reply

  15. Santosh

    November 26, 2012 at 7:21 am

    Awesome post. Because this indeed saved my beacon. thanks a lot. really.
    Thanks for share this post.
    Santosh recently posted..Most Loved Destinations Around The World During Christmas

    Reply

  16. Aasma

    November 26, 2012 at 6:39 am

    Really informative and detailed article. I wasn’t aware that we could change the login password from cPanel as well. I think not many people would be aware of this option.
    Aasma recently posted..Paying Guest in Delhi for Girls (dofollow)

    Reply

    • Mitz

      November 28, 2012 at 7:59 am

      Yes this option is very handy to know for all webmasters using WordPress. :)

      Reply

  17. Ann

    November 25, 2012 at 3:00 am

    Samuel B., you are a lifesaver for posting that link! I had exactly the same problem and used FileZilla to edit the functions.php file and get my site running again.
    Ann recently posted..Bad Links – How to Tackle this Problem

    Reply

  18. Maja

    November 24, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    This is the professional way to access the password. A good tutorial on WordPress. Each step is explained in easy and professional way.
    Maja recently posted..Massage at Hair Salons

    Reply

  19. Steven Jude

    November 24, 2012 at 4:02 pm

    I would definitely bookmark this page incase i ever need to reset my password. I didn’t know this was even possible.
    Steven Jude recently posted..The Path To Guaranteed Web Site Traffic + Understanding the Risks of Liposuction

    Reply

  20. Joe Clark

    November 24, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Very informative share Mitz. I am sure that would be helpful for many novice bloggers with less technical knowledge.

    Joe.
    Joe Clark recently posted..Tips to track stolen cell phone, laptop and other gadgets (dofollow)

    Reply

  21. selena

    November 24, 2012 at 1:24 pm

    Nice and informative post!
    For more than a week now, I have been unable to log in to my site’s dashboard…The website works but when I log in…put in my username and password….it does not open…
    when i refresh, it goes back to the homepage, where it shows that I’m logged in, but I cannot access the dashboard…any ideas?

    Reply

    • mitz

      November 25, 2012 at 10:13 am

      Hi there
      Sounds like you have a problem… First I would try to login to another user account. Also remove any plugins you might have recently installed just in case they are causing a conflict. The last resort would be to hire someone to fix this or re-install WordPress.. You need to backup your data base first so you can recreate the site.

      Reply

  22. Rahul Kashyap

    November 24, 2012 at 9:50 am

    Yes its very indispensable for every blogger. Yes also me. I some time forgot my password on my blog. thanks for sharing this information :)
    Rahul Kashyap recently posted..Taken 2 – More Of The Same, In A Good Way

    Reply

  23. Taswir Haider

    November 24, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Useful post. I also faced the same problem once upon a time and had to ask hosting support to solve it. Bookmarking it for future reference. Thanks.
    Taswir Haider recently posted..Optin Skin Review : How it helps to Grow Your Email list

    Reply

    • Mitz

      November 28, 2012 at 8:01 am

      Yes, now you know how they did it. :)

      Reply

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