How To Reset WordPress Password With phpMyAdmin?

If you've lost access to your WordPress admin account and can't reset your password through the usual email method, you can reset it directly through phpMyAdmin. Here's how:

Step 1: Access phpMyAdmin

1. Login to Your Hosting Control Panel:

Access your hosting account (e.g., cPanel, Plesk, etc.).

2. Open phpMyAdmin:

Locate and open the phpMyAdmin tool. It's usually found under the "Databases" section.

Step 2: Select Your WordPress Database

1. Choose the Right Database:

In phpMyAdmin, you’ll see a list of databases on the left-hand side. Click on the database that corresponds to your WordPress installation.

If you're unsure which database to select, you can find the database name in your wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation. Look for the line:
php
Copy code
define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');

Step 3: Locate the Users Table

1. Find the wp_users Table:

In the list of tables, find and click on the wp_users table. Note that the prefix wp_ might be different if you used a custom prefix during installation (e.g., mywp_users).

Step 4: Edit the User Password

1. Find the User Account:

In the wp_users table, find the row corresponding to the user whose password you want to reset. This is typically the admin user.

2. Edit the User:

Click on the Edit link next to the user you want to modify.

3. Change the Password:

Find the user_pass field. This is where the password is stored.

In the user_pass field, replace the existing value with your new password. Make sure to select MD5 from the dropdown menu under the "Function" column. This ensures the password is stored in the correct encrypted format.

Example:

Function: MD5

Value: yournewpassword

4. Save Changes:

Click the Go button at the bottom to save the changes.

Step 5: Log in to WordPress

Go to your WordPress login page and log in using the username and the new password you just set.

Step 6: Change Your Password to a Stronger One (Optional)

Once logged in, you can go to Users > Profile in the WordPress dashboard and change your password to a more secure one using the WordPress password generator.

Important Notes:

MD5 Encryption: While WordPress uses more secure password hashing methods like bcrypt, phpMyAdmin’s MD5 is still supported for password resets. WordPress will automatically rehash the password using its more secure algorithm upon your next login.

Security: After resetting your password, it’s a good practice to review your site’s security to ensure there are no other vulnerabilities.

Following these steps will allow you to regain access to your WordPress admin account by resetting the password via phpMyAdmin.