Log in to your WordPress dashboard (and reset a forgotten password)

There are two ways to get into your WordPress dashboard (wp-admin): through the normal login page, or with one click from WP Toolkit in cPanel. This guide covers both, and what to do if you've forgotten your password.

Option 1: Log in at your website

1. Go to your website address with /wp-admin on the end, for example https://yourdomain.co.nz/wp-admin. (/wp-login.php also works.)
2. Enter your WordPress username or email address and password.
3. Click Log In.

If WordPress is installed in a folder, add /wp-admin after the folder name, for example https://yourdomain.co.nz/blog/wp-admin.

Option 2: Log in with one click from WP Toolkit

This is handy if you don't remember your WordPress password.

1. Log in to cPanel from your service page under Services → My Services (https://www.hooplahosting.co.nz/client/clientarea.php?action=services).
2. Open WP Toolkit (type it in the cPanel search bar).
3. Find your website and click Log in. Your WordPress dashboard opens in a new tab, already logged in.

If your site doesn't appear in WP Toolkit, click Scan to find WordPress sites installed by other means.

Forgotten your password?

Use whichever of these works for you:

• "Lost your password?" link: on the login page, click Lost your password? and enter your username or email. WordPress emails you a reset link. This only works if your site can send email and you can get to the address on your account. Check your spam folder.
• WP Toolkit: log in with one click as above, then go to Users → Profile in WordPress and set a new password under Account Management.
• phpMyAdmin (if WP Toolkit isn't available for the site):
  1. In cPanel, open phpMyAdmin and click your site's database on the left. (Not sure which one? It's the DB_NAME value in wp-config.php.)
  2. Click the wp_users table. The wp_ part may be different on your site, for example wpab_users.
  3. Click Edit on the row for your username.
  4. In the user_pass row, choose MD5 from the Function drop-down and type your new password in the Value box.
  5. Click Go, then log in with the new password. WordPress automatically upgrades it to a stronger format when you log in.

Keep your login secure

• Use a long, unique password that you don't use anywhere else, especially not for email.
• Avoid admin as a username.
• Add two-factor authentication with a plugin such as Wordfence or Two Factor.
• Remove admin users you don't recognise or no longer need, under Users in WordPress.

Troubleshooting

• The login page keeps reloading, or says cookies are blocked: clear your browser's cookies for the site, or try a private window. If it still happens, a caching or security plugin may be interfering.
• "There has been a critical error" or a blank page: see Find and read your website error logs.
• A security challenge or "Access denied" page: see Imunify360 blocked my page or shows a challenge.
• Your IP address is blocked after several failed logins: see Why is my IP address blocked?

Need help?

If you still can't get in, open a support ticket and we'll help.