How to reset a WordPress admin password

What this problem looks like

WordPress stores password hashes in wp_users.user_pass. You never store plain text passwords in the database.

If login fails after a correct reset, the issue is often cookies, security plugins, or wrong site URL rather than the password itself.

Reset via wp-login email

1. Visit yoursite.co.uk/wp-login.php?action=lostpassword.
2. Enter the admin username or email.
3. Open the email link within the expiry window.
4. Choose a new strong password.

Reset with WP-CLI

wp user list --role=administrator
wp user update admin --user_pass='NewStrongPassw0rd!'

Reset in phpMyAdmin

Open wp_users, find your admin row, and edit user_pass. WordPress expects a phpass hash, not plain text.

Easiest path: use WP-CLI or a one-time functions.php snippet that calls wp_set_password().

add_action( 'init', function () {
    if ( isset( $_GET['emergency_reset'] ) && $_GET['emergency_reset'] === 'CHANGE_ME' ) {
        wp_set_password( 'TemporaryPass123!', 1 );
    }
} );

When password reset does not fix login

Check siteurl and home URLs, disable security plugins via FTP, and clear browser cookies for the domain.

Brute-force plugins may lock your IP. Wait or whitelist your IP in the plugin folder rename trick.

Create a new admin user

wp user create newadmin [email protected] --role=administrator --user_pass='NewStrongPassw0rd!'

When to stop DIY and hire help

Repeated lockouts often mean malware or a broken auth plugin. BugShield fixes WordPress login issues at a fixed price when password resets alone do not work.