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My WordPress admin panel is not working
Table of Contents
WordPress is a popular Content Management System (CMS) that powers millions of websites worldwide. However, like any other software, it can sometimes run into issues. One common problem that users face is the inability to access the WordPress admin panel. This article will guide you through the process of troubleshooting and resolving this problem.
Accessing the WordPress Admin Panel
The WordPress admin panel, also known as the WordPress dashboard, can typically be accessed by appending /wp-admin to your website’s URL. For example, if your website’s URL is www.yourdomainname.com, you would access the admin panel by navigating to www.yourdomainname.com/wp-admin.
Troubleshooting Steps if you Cannot Access the Admin Panel
1. Wrong or Forgotten Login Details
If you’ve forgotten your login details or they’re not working, you can reset your password. You can do this from Site Tools > WordPress > Install & Manage > Manage Installations > kebab menu for the corresponding domain > Update Admin Password.
Alternatively:
- Go to your WordPress login page, usually located at www.yourdomainname.com/wp-admin.
- Click on the Lost your password? link.
- Enter the email address associated with your WordPress account and click Get New Password.
- You’ll receive an email with a link to reset your password.
2. WordPress Security Plugin Preventing Login
Sometimes, a security plugin can prevent you from logging in. If you suspect this is the case, you can disable your plugins from Site Tools -> WordPress -> Install & Manage -> click on the Actions menu next to the entry for your website -> .
Try to log in again. If successful, reactivate each plugin one by one until you find the problematic one.
3. “Database Update Required” Message Loop
If you’re stuck in a “Database Update Required” message loop, find the file named object-cache.php located in the wp-content folder of your WordPress installation, and rename or delete it. This will allow you to access the wp-admin properly again.
Deleting or renaming the file will disable the Memcached caching functionality of any caching plugins you are using on your website. If you are using our Speed Optimizer plugin, you can reenable the use of Memcached on your WordPress by following the steps in this tutorial.
4. “Error Establishing a Database Connection” Message
This error usually means that WordPress can’t connect to the database. Follow the instructions in our dedicated article about the problem to resolve it.
5. Problem Started After Installing and Activating a New Plugin
If the problem started after you installed a new plugin, that plugin might be the cause. Disable the plugin by renaming its folder in the wp-content/plugins directory and try to log in again.
If All Else Fails: Restore Your Website
If none of the above solutions work, you can restore your website from a backup, created at a time when you were able to access the wp-admin panel properly. You can do this by navigating to Site Tools -> Security -> Backups. Choose a backup from a date when your website was working correctly and restore it.
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