How to Reset WordPress Password from Database

Are you looking to quickly reset your WordPress password from the database but unsure how to do it? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. I can guide you through the process of resetting your WordPress password without using FTP or any complicated methods.

But why would you need to reset your password from the database in WordPress?

Sometimes, we forget the username and password of our website, which makes it impossible to log in to the admin panel. In such situations, it’s much easier to change the password of a WordPress user directly from the database. All you need to remember is the password for your cPanel or any other website control panel, and you’re good to go.

So, let’s begin…

Where Passwords are Stored in the Database?

The WordPress database stores the passwords of users and administrators in the wp_users table. Even if someone manages to access your database and see the stored passwords, they won’t be able to log in to your website because the passwords are encrypted using a highly secure method.

“wp_users” Table in SQL

The best way for you to reset your password and regain access to your website is by changing the password hash in the user database and setting a new password using the MD5 algorithm.

How to Reset Password in WordPress Database?

As I mentioned earlier, all your passwords are stored in an SQL database in a table called “wp_users” with proper encryption. If you happen to forget your password, the only way to regain access is by changing your password and saving it using the MD5 encryption algorithm.

Let me share a quick way to do this, but before proceeding, I highly recommend taking a backup of your SQL database using the method I’ve explained in the guide here.

phpMyAdmin

To begin, you will need to login to your cPanel account (or whichever platform you are using for your website). After logging in, select the “phpMyAdmin” option, just like in the screenshot provided.

This will open the SQL database where your website’s databases are stored.

You will need to select the database that belongs to the website you want to edit. For instance, in my database, the name is “sunny_thewpx“. So, you can click on the name of the database to open it and start editing.

Select “wp_users” Table in SQL

Once you have selected the appropriate database, you need to find a table called “wp_users” (or something similar to that, as it might differ depending on the hosting provider, and sometimes we manually modify the table prefix during installation, although it will always end with the word “users“).

Now, you need to click on the “Browse” button to view all the fields, just like in the screenshot. Next, look for a field called “user_pass” which is typically located after the 3rd or 4th field in the table.

Select User and Click on “Edit”

Once you are in the “wp_users” table, find the username for which you want to reset the password and then click on the “Edit” button. This will open a form with all the details already filled in for you, just like in the picture below.

Enter your new password and convert it to MD5.

Now, you need to update the “user_pass” field with your new password (use regular text like the examples shown in the image). Then, choose the MD5 algorithm from the list provided and click on the “Go” button.

If you have followed all the steps correctly, you will see a message indicating success. After that, you will be able to log in to your WordPress admin section using your new password.

Wrapping Up!

That’s all for today! I hope you were able to successfully complete this tutorial and regain access to your website. If you have any questions about this tutorial or need further assistance, please feel free to leave a comment in the box below.

I will do my best to respond to your questions as quickly as possible. Additionally, if you have any other methods for resetting a WordPress password from the database or any other topics you’d like me to cover, please let me know in the comments section below.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! If you found it helpful, please share it with your friends and family.

Have a wonderful day!

Sunny Kumar

Number of posts: 160

Hi, I'm Sunny Kumar, a passionate tech enthusiast and a blogger from New Delhi, India. With a degree in IT from IIT-D and expertise in SEO, Cloud Computing, Telecom & Networking, and CEH, I specialize in various technical fields, including SEO, WordPress Development, and PC Building. And being a proficient WordPress user, I’m dedicated to delivering quality content and a remarkable user experience.

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