Fix WordPress Locked Out of Admin Panel
Video Guide
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Getting locked out of your WordPress Admin Panel can be a frustrating experience. In this guide, we will explain step by step how you can regain access to your WordPress dashboard and fix the locked out issue quickly.
Common Reasons for WordPress Admin Lockout
- Incorrect Username or Password: Often, login fails due to forgotten credentials or accidental typing errors like Caps Lock.
- Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Certain plugins or themes may conflict after updates, causing login issues.
- .htaccess File Issues: This file controls security and redirections. A misconfigured .htaccess file can block admin access.
- Server or Hosting Issues: Temporary server problems or restrictions from your hosting provider can prevent login.
- Corrupted WordPress Core Files: If files fail to update properly during WordPress updates, the admin panel may become inaccessible.
Step 1: Reset Your Password
The easiest fix is to reset your password:
- Go to your WordPress login page and click “Lost your password?”
- Enter your username or email.
- Follow the instructions in the password reset email to create a new password.
Step 2: Deactivate Plugins via FTP or File Manager
If password reset doesn’t work, a plugin conflict might be causing the problem:
- Access your website via FTP or cPanel File Manager.
- Navigate to
wp-content/plugins. - Rename the plugin folder to
plugins_backupto deactivate all plugins. - Try logging in again. If it works, reactivate plugins one by one to find the culprit.
Step 3: Switch to Default Theme
A theme conflict can also block admin access. You can temporarily switch themes:
- Go to
wp-content/themesvia FTP/File Manager. - Rename your active theme folder (e.g.,
mytheme_backup). - WordPress will automatically revert to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
- Try logging in again.
Step 4: Check the .htaccess File
Corrupted .htaccess can block login. Fix it as follows:
- Access your website via FTP or File Manager.
- Locate the
.htaccessfile in the root directory. - Rename it to
.htaccess_backup. - Try logging in. If it works, go to Settings → Permalinks in WordPress and click “Save Changes” to generate a new .htaccess file.
Step 5: Create a New Admin User via phpMyAdmin
If all else fails, create a new admin account manually:
- Login to your hosting control panel and open phpMyAdmin.
- Select your WordPress database and open the
wp_userstable. - Click “Insert” and add a new user with the following details:
- user_login: newadmin
- user_pass: Use MD5 and enter your new password
- user_email: your email
- user_registered: current date
- user_status: 0
- display_name: Admin
- Next, go to
wp_usermetaand add two rows for the new user: - meta_key: wp_capabilities, meta_value: a:1:{s:13:"administrator";b:1;}
- meta_key: wp_user_level, meta_value: 10
- Save changes and login with the new admin account.
Step 6: Contact Your Hosting Provider
If none of these solutions work, contact your hosting provider. They can check server logs, reset permissions, or restore backups.
Conclusion
Getting locked out of your WordPress admin panel is stressful, but most issues can be resolved by following the above steps. Always remember to take regular backups and keep your plugins, themes, and WordPress core updated to avoid such problems in the future.
Video Guide
Watch this step-by-step video tutorial:

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