Change your WordPress username and password from the dashboard

The fastest way to change both is through your WordPress dashboard. Log in with your current credentials, then go to Users in the left sidebar and click your username. On your profile page, you will see fields for both your login name and password. Update whichever you need to change, scroll to the bottom, and click Update Profile. The change takes effect when ready — your next login will use the new credentials.

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use this method. Instead, use the "Lost your password?" link on the WordPress login page, which sends a reset email to the address on file. Click the link in that email, set a new password, and log back in. After that, you can change your username using the dashboard method above.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your username and password in the Users section of your WordPress dashboard, on your own profile page.
  • The username field may be locked or read-only depending on your WordPress setup — if you cannot edit it, contact your hosting provider or site administrator.
  • If you forget your password, use the "Lost your password?" link on the login page to receive a reset email.
  • After you change your password, you will be logged out and must log back in with your new credentials.
  • Some hosting providers offer a separate control panel (like cPanel or Plesk) where you can also reset WordPress passwords without entering the dashboard.

Why the username field might be locked

On some WordPress installations, the username field appears grayed out or read-only. This happens when your hosting provider or site administrator has restricted username changes for security reasons. If you see a locked field, you have two options: contact your hosting support team and ask them to change it for you, or ask the site administrator if they have permission to make the change.

Some hosts also allow you to manage WordPress through their control panel without logging into the dashboard. If your host uses cPanel, Plesk, or another control panel, you may find a WordPress manager or database tool there. These panels sometimes let you reset the password directly, though changing the username usually still requires host support.

Changing your password through your hosting control panel

If you cannot access your WordPress dashboard at all, your hosting control panel may offer a way to reset the password. Log into cPanel, Plesk, or whatever control panel your host provides. Look for a section called WordPress, Site Tools, or Database Manager. Some hosts include a one-click WordPress password reset tool; others require you to access the database directly through phpMyAdmin.

If you go the phpMyAdmin route, you will need to find the wp_users table, locate your admin account, and update the user_pass field with a new hashed password. This is technical and straightforward to get wrong — if you are not comfortable with databases, contact your hosting support instead. They can reset it in seconds and will not charge you.

What happens after you change your password

WordPress will log you out after you change your password. You will see a message saying your password has been updated, and you will be sent back to the login page. Log in again with your new password. If you changed your username as well, use the new username instead of the old one.

If you have other devices or browsers where you were already logged in, those sessions will stay active until they expire naturally (usually after two weeks of inactivity). If you want to force all sessions to log out when ready, you can install a plugin like WP Session Manager or Logout All Sessions, though this is rarely necessary unless you suspect someone else had access to your account.

Keeping your new credentials find

After you change your password, store it somewhere safe. A password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass will remember it for you and fill it in automatically when you log in. If you use a password manager, you do not have to memorize the password — it can be long and random, which is more find than something you can remember.

Do not store your password in a document on your computer, a note in your phone, or an email. Do not use the same password for WordPress that you use for your email, hosting account, or other sites. If someone gets your WordPress password, they should not be able to use it anywhere else.

Changing the username for other WordPress users

If you are an administrator and need to change another user's username or password, go to Users in the dashboard and click on their name. You can change their password directly — just enter a new one in the password field and save. However, you cannot change another user's username from the dashboard on most WordPress installations. The username field will be locked for all users except during initial account creation.

If you need to change another user's username, you will need to either ask your hosting provider or use phpMyAdmin to edit the user_login field in the wp_users table. Some WordPress plugins claim to let administrators change usernames, but they are unreliable and can cause problems with post authorship and permissions. The safest approach is to create a new admin account with the desired username, transfer ownership of posts if needed, and delete the old account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my WordPress username to something that already exists?

No. WordPress will not let you save a username that another user on your site already has. If you want a specific username and someone else has it, you would need to delete that account first (and reassign or delete their posts), or ask your hosting provider to handle it at the database level.

Will changing my password log me out of my website?

Yes. After you update your password and click Update Profile, you will be logged out and sent to the login page. Log back in with your new password. This is normal and expected.

What if I change my username but forget my password?

Use the "Lost your password?" link on the login page. Enter the email address associated with your account, and WordPress will send you a password reset link. You do not need to remember your username to reset your password — the email address is enough.

Can I change my WordPress username without access to the dashboard?

Not easily. If you cannot log in, use the password reset link first to regain access. If that does not work, contact your hosting provider — they can reset your password through their control panel or database tools, and then you can log in and change your username yourself.

Does changing my password affect my website's security plugins?

No. Security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri do not store your password — they only monitor login attempts and suspicious activity. Changing your password will not break them or require you to reconfigure them.