🔐 How to Change the Password of a WordPress Account
Changing your WordPress password regularly helps secure your website and protect user data. Whether you’re updating your own credentials or resetting another user’s password as an admin, WordPress offers multiple ways to change it safely.
✅ Method 1: Change Your Password from the WordPress Dashboard
This is the easiest method if you can log in to your WordPress account.
Step 1: Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard
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Go to your login page (usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin)
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Enter your username and current password
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Click Log In
Step 2: Go to Your Profile
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In the left-hand menu, click on Users
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Then click on Profile
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Alternatively, click your name in the top right corner and choose Edit Profile
Step 3: Scroll to the Account Management Section
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Find the section titled Account Management
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Click the Generate Password button
Step 4: Enter a New Password
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WordPress will generate a strong password automatically
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You can replace it with your own secure password if preferred
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Make sure it is at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
Step 5: Click Update Profile
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Scroll down and click the Update Profile button
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Your new password is now saved and active
🔄 Method 2: Change Another User’s Password (Admin Only)
Admins can change any user’s password directly.
Step 1: Go to Users then All Users
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Locate the user account whose password needs changing
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Click Edit under the username
Step 2: Scroll to Account Management
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Click the Generate Password button
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Enter a new password or keep the suggested one
Step 3: Click Update User
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Scroll to the bottom and click Update User to save the new password
📧 Method 3: Reset Password via the Login Page
If you’re locked out of WordPress or can’t remember your password:
Step 1: Go to the Login Page
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Visit yourdomain.com/wp-login.php
Step 2: Click Lost Your Password
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Enter your WordPress username or email address
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Click Get New Password
Step 3: Check Your Email
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Open your inbox and click the password reset link
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Enter a new password and confirm
🧰 Method 4: Change Password via phpMyAdmin (Advanced)
Use this method if you don’t have email access and can’t log in.
Step 1: Log in to cPanel or your hosting dashboard
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Open phpMyAdmin
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Select your WordPress database
Step 2: Go to wp_users Table
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Locate the user you want to update
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Click Edit next to the user row
Step 3: Update the Password Field
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In the user_pass field, enter your new password
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Select MD5 from the Function column
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Click Go to save changes
Important: Use this method only when absolutely necessary. MD5 is insecure by modern standards and only supported for legacy compatibility.
🧾 Additional Tips
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Avoid common passwords or usernames like admin or password123
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Use a password manager to store and generate secure passwords
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Update your password after any suspicious activity or plugin compromise
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For added security, enable two-factor authentication using a plugin like Wordfence or WP 2FA
✅ Conclusion
Changing your WordPress password is a basic but critical step in website security. Whether you’re updating your own password or helping another user, WordPress provides flexible and accessible ways to reset credentials quickly and safely.