How to Change Your Password in WordPress (Beginner‘s Guide)

Changing your WordPress password regularly is an important security measure. Your password is the first line of defense protecting your site from unauthorized access.

In this beginner‘s guide, we‘ll provide several methods to change your WordPress password, so you‘re prepared for any situation.

Why You Should Change Your WordPress Password

"Your passwords are like your toothbrush. You should change them regularly," says web security expert Mark Wilson.

While it may seem tedious, changing your passwords every 60-90 days is a best practice recommended by WordPress and security professionals. Here are some key reasons to change your WordPress password regularly:

• Prevent unauthorized access: If your password is ever compromised from a data breach, hacking attempt, or password leak, changing it will revoke access to any bad actors. They will be out of luck next time they try logging in with your old password.

• Stay ahead of password cracking: Tools exist which allow hackers to run brute force attacks and crack simple passwords. Regularly changing to new complex passwords makes their efforts pointless.

• Good security hygiene: Getting in the habit of changing passwords will make you more mindful of security in general.

• Compliance: Certain regulated industries like healthcare and finance require regular password changes to meet data security standards.

Now let‘s go over the step-by-step process to change your WordPress password…

How to Change Your WordPress Password Within Dashboard

The easiest way to change your password is by using the Your Profile page within your WordPress dashboard.

Just follow these steps:

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard at www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin

2. Hover over Users in the left menu and click Your Profile

   [Insert screenshot of WordPress dashboard menu highlighting Your Profile link]

3. Scroll down and click the Generate Password button

   [Insert screenshot of Your Profile page highlighting Generate Password button]

4. WordPress will automatically generate a secure, random password for you. You can use this new password or manually type in your own.

5. Scroll down and click the blue Update Profile button to save your new password.

   [Insert screenshot showing Update Profile button]

That‘s it! This will immediately change your current WordPress password.

For even better security, be sure to also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) which adds an extra layer of protection beyond your password.

Now let‘s go over what to do if you get locked out of your WordPress site…

How to Reset Your Forgotten WordPress Password

Sometimes you may find yourself unable to login to WordPress because you forgot your password. Not to worry – WordPress offers a simple password reset option.

Here‘s how to reset your WordPress password if you ever get locked out of your account:

1. Go to your login page at www.yourdomain.com/wp-login.php

2. Click Lost your password? below the password field

   [Insert screenshot highlighting the Lost your password? link]

3. Enter either the username or email address associated with your account

4. Check your email inbox for a WordPress password reset link

5. Click the reset link, create a new password, and you‘re back in business!

This self-service password reset option relies on access to the email address connected to your WordPress user account.

If your registered email is an old one you can no longer access, keep reading for other password reset options.

Reset Your WordPress Password via Database

If the built-in WordPress password reset email fails, the next option is to reset your password directly in the database. Here‘s how:

1. Log into your web hosting account and find the phpMyAdmin tool

   [Insert screenshot showing phpMyAdmin in cPanel]

2. Click your WordPress database name

3. Find and click the wp_users table

4. Click Edit for your user account row

5. Delete the hashed password and replace it with your new password while selecting MD5 from the dropdown

   [Insert animated GIF showing password change in phpMyAdmin]

6. Click Go and your password will be updated in the database

While this method is more technical, it is a foolproof way to reset your password with database access, regardless of email factors.

Up next we‘ll explain how to force all users to change their password which is important after a security incident.

Force Password Change for All WordPress Users

Sometimes you may need to require all users to change their password, for example after cleaning up from a hacking attempt.

The best way to do this is by using a plugin like Force Password Change. The free version can force users to reset their password on next login.

Here is how to configure it to require all users to change their WordPress password:

1. Install and activate the Force Password Change plugin

2. Go to Tools > Force Password Change

3. Check the box for "Force password change on all accounts"

4. Click Save Settings and all users will be required to reset their password upon next login!

Forcing a password reset across all users is an easy way to revamp security after a compromise. You can also use the paid pro version to set password expiration policies.

Signs Your Password is Compromised

As a webmaster for over 15 years, I‘ve seen many disastrous password security breaches that could have been prevented with more proactive password hygiene.

Here are some signs your WordPress password may be compromised and you should change it immediately:

• You notice questionable new users in your WordPress dashboard that you didn‘t create.

• Friends or readers inform you of odd emails they received from your site that you didn‘t send.

• You have trouble logging into your WordPress dashboard and get invalid password errors.

• Your password manager alerts you about a breach involving one of your saved passwords.

• You see a sudden spike in traffic and scrolling through analytics reveals suspicious looking activity.

I‘ll never forget the time one of my client‘s passwords appeared in a massive password dump on the dark web after the popular forum they used was hacked. Thankfully we reset all passwords which rendered the leaked one useless. But it was too close for comfort!

Always be on high alert and ready to immediately change passwords at the slightest suspicion of compromise. It‘s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to password security.

Temporary Access Options

Sometimes you may need to grant temporary access to your WordPress site without handing over your password.

For example, if hiring a contractor for a short 1 week project, you likely don‘t want them to have indefinite access after the job is done.

Here are a couple ways to provide temporary access while keeping your main password unchanged:

• Password protected links – You can use a plugin like Protect Links to password protect a link to view or edit your site. Set an expiration date and the access vanishes.

• Temporary user accounts – Create a new user with an Editor role and limited capabilities. Delete it when work is complete.

The key is evaluating whether permanent credentials are warranted for the situation. Avoid handing out your main admin password which always needs to be closely guarded.

Troubleshooting Password Reset Issues

Hopefully you never find yourself locked out of WordPress. But if you do, the password reset email is your first rescue option.

Sometimes though, the reset email never makes it your inbox. Here are some common reasons and fixes:

• Check your spam folder – overly sensitive filters may bump the email there. Mark it "Not Spam" to train your spam filter.

• Try an alternate email if you have multiple addresses on file for your user.

• Your host may be blocking WordPress from sending password reset emails. Contact them to have it allowed.

• Outdated email settings in wp-config.php could be incorrectly configured and need an update to fix sending.

• Shared hosting resources may be constrained. Upgrading to a semi-dedicated or dedicated server fixes constraints.

• The RESET_EMAIL constant added to wp-config.php overrides the default reset email sender. Remove it to fix.

Don‘t panic if the reset email doesn‘t come through instantly. Work through these debugging tips to identify and resolve the underlying issue.

Enhanced Security Options

Standard WordPress passwords provide a baseline layer of security for your site.

But for enhanced protection, you should also consider adopting some of these security best practices:

• IP Blacklisting – Block login attempts from suspicious foreign IPs to prevent brute force attacks. Limit logins to only your known IP addresses.

• Two-Factor Authentication – Add an extra verification step like Google Authenticator or a U2F security key to strengthen password logins.

• Biometrics – Use your fingerprint or face on compatible devices as the master key instead of memorized passwords.

• Single Sign-On – Shared passwords between apps is risky. Use a central SSO provider like Google to authenticate across multiple sites.

• Passwordless Login – Magic links, QR codes, and push notifications can replace password logins for improved security.

With threats constantly evolving, leaning on just standard WordPress passwords is not enough. Employ these enhanced security options for complete peace of mind.

WordPress Password Best Practices

Here are a few final password tips to keep your WordPress site secure:

• Use unique, randomly-generated passwords for every account. Never reuse the same password.

• Consider using a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to create and store passwords.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of security beyond your password.

• Limit login attempts to block brute force password attacks.

• Use strong password policies requiring a minimum length and complexity.

Changing your WordPress password periodically is an easy step to improve security.

Now you know how to change your password within WordPress, reset a forgotten password, and force password resets for all users.

Stay safe!