6 Common Problems When Logging In WordPress Admin Panel (And Their Solutions)

Don’t Panic!

Unable to log in to your account? It’s certainly a frustrating experience, and sometimes it might even trigger thoughts of being hacked.

However, fret not! We’ve compiled a guide to help you troubleshoot common login issues and get back to accessing your account.

Even though WordPress is a powerful tool, sometimes it can cause issues. One common problem users encounter is difficulty accessing the WordPress dashboard. There could be various reasons why you might have trouble logging into WordPress, but some reasons are more likely than others.

If you’re having trouble logging in, it’s essential to explore common issues to figure out and fix the problem.

List of the 6 Common Problems When Logging In WordPress Admin Panel

Problem 1: Lost or Forgotten Password

It’s a common issue, especially if you regularly change your password for security. Forgetting or misplacing it can be frustrating. WordPress has a built-in way to reset your password, but sometimes that process isn’t straightforward.

Solution:

Use the Built-in Password Recovery:

• Click “I lost my password” on the login page.
• Enter your email address.
• WordPress will send you an email with a link to create a new password.

Check Other Devices:

• If you use WordPress on different devices, check if you’re still logged in on any of them.
• If yes, go to the console and change your password.

Update Password in the Database:

Access phpMyAdmin if your site is on a Linux server, Before making changes, create a backup.

Follow these steps:

• Start phpMyAdmin, select the database, and open wp_users.
• In the user_login column, locate your username and select “Edit.”
• Locate the user_pass field, enter the new password, and choose MD5 from the drop-down menu.
• Scroll down and click Go.

You may now use your new password to log in. If this doesn’t work, there are still a few more tricks to try.

Problem 2: Cache and Cookies

Cookies hold information about a user’s visit, aiding in remembering them on a website. If cookies are disabled, WordPress login might not work. Cache, on the other hand, stores temporary files on a visitor’s web browser. Outdated cache can display old versions of files supporting WordPress.

Solution:

Enable Cookies:

WordPress login requires enabled cookies. If disabled, enable them in your browser settings.

Clear Cache and Cookies:

• For Google Chrome:
• Click on the browser settings menu.
• Select More Tools and Clear browsing data.
• In the ‘Clear Browsing Data‘ popup, choose “Clear cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.“
• Click ‘Clear data.’

This simple step often resolves cache and cookie-related login issues for most users.

Problem 3: Plugin Intervention

Sometimes, plugins can disrupt the login process. This could happen due to incorrect updates or conflicts between different plugins.

Solution:

Identify the Problematic Plugin:

Disable all plugins to check if the issue is plugin-related. If you have admin panel access:

• Go to the Plugins menu.
• Deactivate all plugins by selecting them, going to Group action, and clicking Disable.

If you don’t have admin panel access:

• Use an FTP client to navigate to the wp-content/plugins folder.
• Rename the plugins folder.

Re-enable Plugins One by One:

• After disabling it, try logging in.
• If successful, it confirms a plugin issue.
• Re-enable plugins one by one.
• Check login functionality after enabling each plugin to identify the problematic one.

This step-by-step process helps pinpoint the plugin causing the inconvenience, allowing you to resolve the issue effectively.

Problem 4: Damaged wp-login.php File

If the wp-login.php file’s authorization is compromised, deleted, or misplaced, you won’t even reach the login page.

Solution:

Replace the wp-login.php File:

• Make a backup of your WordPress before making any changes.
• Locate your wp-login.php file using an FTP client and remove it from the directory where WordPress is installed.
• Download the latest version of WordPress and find the wp-login.php file in the new downloads.
• Copy the file and replace the removed one.

Edit the wp-login.php File:

• Open the new file and search for “is redefining user_login.”
• Under PHP comment, find and replace the code as follows:

// Delete this line

$user_login = $user_data["user_login"];

// Replace it with this line

$user_login = $user_data->user_login;

Verify the Fix: If the issue was with the wp-login.php file, the problem should be resolved.

This process ensures that your wp-login.php file is up to date and functioning correctly, resolving login issues caused by file damage or corruption.

Problem 5: Theme Interference

WordPress login problems can arise due to theme interference, especially if your theme has a custom login page or if there’s a compatibility issue after a latest WordPress update.

Solution:

Troubleshoot Theme Issues:

• If your theme is causing login problems, follow similar steps as troubleshooting plugins.
• Rename the folder for your active theme using FTP.
• WordPress will automatically switch to the default theme when it doesn’t recognize the active one.

Verify Theme Impact:

• Attempt to log in after renaming the theme folder.
• Confirm if the login issue persists.

This process helps identify if the theme is causing login troubles. If so, you may need to address theme compatibility or switch to a more compatible theme.

Problem 5: Resetting Password Through FTP

If you need to update your password via FTP, follow these steps:

Solution:

• Log in to your site through FTP.
• Locate and download the theme’s functions.php file.
• Open the functions.php file and add the following line right after the first <?php:

wp_set_password( 'password', 1 );

Replace ‘password’ with your new admin user password.

• Save the changes and upload the edited functions.php file back to the server.
• Log in to your site using the new password.
• After logging in, remove the added line from the functions.php file to avoid resetting the password on every page load.

This method allows you to reset your password through FTP, providing an alternative way to regain access to your WordPress site.

Problem 6: WordPress URL and Site URL Redirection Issues

Issues with WordPress URL (identifying where WordPress is installed) and Site URL (address where the site should be) can lead to various problems, including difficulty accessing the admin console.

Solution:

Identify the Issue:

• Determine if recent changes, site relocation, core WordPress location adjustments, or database errors might have caused the problem.
• Create a backup of your site.
• Access the wp-config.php file via FTP and add the following code:

define('WP_HOME','https://example.com');

define('WP_SITEURL','https://example.com');

Ensure you use the WordPress URL for WP_HOME and the web address URL for WP_SITEURL. Both are typically the same by default.

Verify Access:

• Save the modified wp-config.php file and upload it to the server.
• Attempt to log in to the site. If successful, you’ve identified the issue.
• Remove the added code from wp-config.php.
• Update values for WP_HOME and WP_SITEURL in the site database.

This temporary fix helps diagnose redirection problems related to WordPress and site URLs. For a permanent solution, adjust the values in the site database after identifying the root cause.

Conclusion

Navigating the WordPress admin panel is crucial for managing your website effectively, but login issues can hinder your progress. By understanding and addressing common problems, you can ensure seamless access to the admin panel. Whether it’s a forgotten password, plugin conflicts, or URL redirection troubles, the provided solutions offer effective ways to troubleshoot and resolve these issues.

FAQs on Common Problems When Logging In WordPress

What should I do if I forget my WordPress admin password?

Use the built-in password recovery function by clicking “I lost my password” on the login page. To create a new password, follow the instructions that were provided to your email. If needed, additional methods include accessing the admin panel on different devices or updating the password directly in the WordPress database using phpMyAdmin.

Why am I experiencing login issues due to cache and cookies?

Cookies and cache store information about your site visit. If disabled or not updating correctly, it can affect WordPress login. To fix this, enable cookies and clear your browser’s cache and cookies. This ensures the browser fetches updated data, resolving login problems for most users.

How can I troubleshoot plugin-related login problems?

If plugins are causing login issues, disable them temporarily. In the admin panel, go to Plugins, select all, and disable them. If you lack admin panel access, rename the plugins folder using FTP. Reactivate each plugin individually to determine which is causing the issue. This process helps isolate and address plugin conflicts.