Where to look for your WordPress username

Your WordPress username is stored in your site's user database, and you can find it in three places without needing to log in: your welcome email from when you first set up WordPress, the WordPress admin URL bar after you type in your email address, or your hosting account's file manager. The fastest route depends on which of these you still have access to.

If you remember the email address you used to create the account, WordPress will show your username on the login screen itself — you just won't see it until you've entered that email. If you don't remember the email either, you'll need to check your hosting account or dig through old emails from when you first installed WordPress.

Key Takeaways

  • WordPress shows your username on the login page after you enter your email address, so if you remember your email, you can find your username without logging in.
  • Your original WordPress welcome email contains your username and is usually the fastest way to locate it if you still have that message.
  • If you have access to your hosting account's control panel, you can view all WordPress usernames through the file manager or database tools.
  • You can reset your password using your email address even if you don't remember your username, then log in and change your username from the user settings.

Using the WordPress login screen to find your username

Go to your WordPress login page — this is usually yoursite.com/wp-login.php or yoursite.com/wp-admin. Type in the email address you used when you created the WordPress account, then click "Lost your password?" or the equivalent button on your login screen.

WordPress will send a password reset link to that email. Before you click the link, look at the page that appears after you submit your email. Many WordPress installations display your username right there, or you'll see it in the password reset email itself. If it doesn't show up, proceed with resetting your password — once you're logged in, you can view your username in the Users section of the WordPress dashboard.

Checking your welcome email from WordPress setup

When you first installed WordPress, your hosting provider or WordPress itself sent you a welcome email that included your username, temporary password, and a link to the login page. Search your email inbox for messages from your hosting company (like Bluehost, SiteGround, or GoDaddy) or from WordPress with subject lines like "Your WordPress Site" or "Welcome to WordPress."

If you're using Gmail, search for "wordpress" or your site's domain name. If you're using Outlook or another email provider, check your spam or promotions folder — these emails sometimes land there. The welcome email usually arrives within minutes of setting up WordPress, so look in the date range when you first created your site.

Finding your username through your hosting account

Log into your hosting account's control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or your host's custom dashboard). Look for a section called "File Manager," "Database," or "MySQL Databases." If your host offers a one-click WordPress installer, there's often a "Manage" or "Info" button next to your WordPress installation that shows the admin username.

If you're using cPanel, you can also access phpMyAdmin to view the WordPress database directly. Open phpMyAdmin, select your WordPress database (usually named something like yoursite_wp or wordpress), then click the "wp_users" table. You'll see a list of all usernames associated with your site. This method requires you to be comfortable navigating a database, but it's reliable if other options aren't available.

What to do if you find your username but forgot your password

Once you've located your username, go to your WordPress login page and enter it along with your password. If you don't remember the password, click "Lost your password?" and enter either your username or your email address. WordPress will send a reset link to the email associated with that account.

Click the link in the email, create a new password, and log in. You'll then have full access to your WordPress dashboard and can change your username if needed — though this requires going to Users > Your Profile and using the "Change username" option if your WordPress version supports it. Some older WordPress versions don't allow username changes after account creation.

Changing your username after you log in

Not all WordPress versions let you change your username after the account is created. If yours does, log in, go to Users > Your Profile, and look for a "Change username" field. If you don't see this option, your WordPress version doesn't support username changes, and you'll need to create a new admin account with the username you want, then delete the old one.

To create a new admin account, go to Users > Add New, fill in the details with your preferred username, set a strong password, and make sure the role is set to "Administrator." Once that account is created and you've logged in with it, you can delete your old account by going back to Users, hovering over the old username, and clicking Delete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my WordPress username if I only remember my email?

Yes. Go to your WordPress login page, enter your email address, and click "Lost your password?" WordPress will either show your username on the next screen or include it in the password reset email it sends you.

What if I don't remember the email address I used to create WordPress?

Check your hosting account's control panel — most hosts display the WordPress admin username in their dashboard or file manager. If that doesn't work, contact your hosting provider's support team with proof of ownership, and they can tell you which email is associated with the account.

Is my WordPress username the same as my site's domain name?

No. Your WordPress username is separate from your domain name. You chose your username when you created the WordPress account, and it's what you type into the login screen — not your site's web address.

Can I have multiple usernames on one WordPress site?

Yes. WordPress sites can have multiple user accounts with different roles — admin, editor, author, and contributor. Each account has its own username and password. You can view all usernames by going to Users in the WordPress dashboard if you're logged in as an admin.

What if my hosting provider won't tell me my username?

Ask them to confirm the email address associated with your WordPress installation instead. Once you know the email, you can use the "Lost your password?" feature on your WordPress login page to reset your password and see your username.