As a website owner, forgetting your password can be a frustrating and stressful experience.
In fact, according to a recent study, 30% of people have forgotten their password at least once a month. And, it’s no surprise, as we are required to remember an average of 191 passwords.
But, what do you do when you find yourself locked out of your WordPress website?
The good news is that there are several ways to regain access to your site, even without your password.
In this article, we will explore several methods for accessing your WordPress site without a password, including the “Forgot Password” feature, resetting your password through your email or the database, and alternative methods for advanced users.
Not only that, but we will also provide some best practices for creating a strong and unique password, to avoid this problem in the future.
With this information, you’ll be able to regain access to your site and ensure the security of your website.
Use the obvious ´Forgot Password´ feature
If you have forgotten your password for your WordPress website, there are a few options to regain access to your site:
- Use the “Forgot Password” feature on the login page to reset your password.
- If you have access to the email associated with the account, you can request a password reset email.
- If you have access to the database, you can reset the password manually through phpMyAdmin.
- If you are the website administrator and have access to the server, you can reset the password via FTP or SSH.
It’s important to note that If none of the above options work, you should contact the website administrator for assistance.
Please keep in mind that hacking or unauthorized access to a website is illegal, and it’s important to respect the privacy and security of others’ online spaces.
Reset your WordPress password through phpMyAdmin
To reset a WordPress password through phpMyAdmin, you will need access to the database for your website. Here are the steps to reset a password:
Please be aware that this method is only recommended for advanced users and if you do not have access to the email associated with the account or the server and if you are the website administrator and have access to the database.
Also, it’s important to make a backup of the database before making any changes.
- Log in to phpMyAdmin.
- Select the database for your WordPress website.
- Click on the “wp_users” table.
- Click on the “Edit” button next to the user whose password you want to reset.
- In the “user_pass” field, select the “MD5” function from the dropdown menu.
- Enter a new password in the “Value” field.
- Click on the “Go” button to save the changes.
It’s important to use a strong and unique password for your website. (more on this later)
Reset your WordPress password through FTP or SHH
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Secure Shell (SSH) are both methods for remotely accessing and managing the files on a server.
If you have access to the server, you can use either FTP or SSH to access your site’s files and reset the password manually.
FTP is a standard protocol for transferring files between a client and a server. To access your site’s files using FTP, you will need an FTP client, such as FileZilla, and the login credentials for your server.
Once you are connected to the server, you can navigate through the file structure and edit the files as needed.
SSH is a secure protocol for remote access to a server. To access your site’s files using SSH, you will need an SSH client, such as PuTTY, and the login credentials for your server.
Once you are connected to the server, you can use command line commands to navigate through the file structure and edit the files as needed.
In both cases, once you have access to the server you can find the wp-config.php file, which stores the database connection information and you can change the password for the user with the administrator role.
It’s important to note that these methods are for advanced users and should be used with caution. Before attempting any of these methods, you should make a backup of the database and server files, in case something goes wrong.
How to create strong passwords
What is a strong password to some may be considered a weak password to others. How is one to know what constitutes a strong password? Luckily, we have enough knowledge of website security to give the following advice:
A strong password should be:
- At least 12 characters long
- A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
- Include numbers and special characters
- Not a common word or phrase
- Different from any previous password
Here are a few examples of strong passwords:
- L0ng$tr0ngP@$$w0rd
- C@r#B0@tGr33n
- 2Apples#ADay
- P@$$w0rd$ecur1ty
- Str0ngP@ssw0rd2021
You can you a password manager which can help you generate and store strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts, so you don’t have to remember them all. However there is a direct risk that if the software and its cryptography are hacked, all your passwords will be exposed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, forgetting your password can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but the good news is that there are several ways to regain access to your WordPress site, even without your password.
It’s important to note that creating a strong and unique password is the best way to avoid this problem in the first place. By following the best practices for password creation, you can ensure the security of your website and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Additionally, keeping backup of your site’s files and database, will help you to restore your site in case something goes wrong.
As a WordPress website owner, it’s essential to be prepared for the possibility of forgetting your password and to know the steps to take to regain access to your site. By following the methods outlined in this article, you’ll be able to regain access to your site quickly and easily, and protect your website from potential security risks.
If you are stuck with your WordPress installation and need some help, inquire about a free consultation.