How to Reset WordPress Admin Password from phpMyAdmin (2025 Guide)

Forgot your WordPress admin password and can’t access your dashboard? Don’t panic. If your email recovery isn’t working, you can easily reset your WordPress password directly via phpMyAdmin.

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At Thememin (https://thememin.com), we often help users regain control of their WordPress sites using this safe, direct method. This guide will walk you through resetting your admin password from the database, step-by-step.

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🛠 When Should You Use phpMyAdmin to Reset Your Password?

Use this method if:

• You no longer have access to your admin email
• The reset password link isn’t working
• Your site is locked down due to security plugins

This approach updates the password directly in the WordPress database.

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🔐 Step-by-Step: Reset Your Admin Password via phpMyAdmin

Step 1: Log in to Your Hosting Control Panel

Use cPanel, Plesk, or your host’s custom dashboard, and look for phpMyAdmin under database tools.

Step 2: Open phpMyAdmin

Click into phpMyAdmin. On the left-hand side, select the database for your WordPress site. If you’re unsure which one it is, check your site’s wp-config.php file for this line:

define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');

Step 3: Locate the wp_users Table

Find the table named wp_users (or it may be yourprefix_users depending on your setup). Click Browse to view the list of registered users.

Step 4: Edit the Admin User

Find your admin username in the list and click Edit.

In the user_pass field:

• Select MD5 from the function dropdown
• Enter your new password in the value column

For example:

• Function: MD5
• Value: NewSecurePassword2025

Step 5: Save Changes

Scroll down and click Go. Your password is now updated.

You can now log in to your WordPress admin using your new password.

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⚠️ Important Security Note

The MD5 hashing method is outdated and insecure by modern standards, but WordPress accepts it and will rehash it into a stronger format on your next login. This makes it a convenient temporary solution.

For enhanced security, immediately update your password again from the WordPress dashboard after logging in.

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✅ Alternative Methods (if phpMyAdmin isn’t available)

• Use WP-CLI: Run a command-line update
• Edit functions.php to temporarily reset the password
• Restore access via hosting provider support

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🏁 Final Thoughts

Resetting your WordPress admin password via phpMyAdmin is fast, reliable, and works even if you’re locked out of your email. At Thememin, we always recommend using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin accounts.

Bookmark this guide for emergencies or share it with clients who need fast access.