WordPress User Management 2025: Add Users, Change Passwords & Recover Logins
Managing users on WordPress can feel confused when you are just starting. But honestly, it’s much easier than it seems. Think about it how to manage a classroom: you are the teacher and each student has his own table. In WordPress, every user has their own account – and you control who gets access, what role they play and how it logs on.
By 2025, WordPress Poliu its user management features, offering softer controls, better password security and even approval systems to filter unwanted inscriptions. Let’s go step by step, just as I would explain to a student sitting in front of me for the first time.
How to Add a New User in WordPress
Imagine that you have just hired a writer or developer. Instead of sharing your own administrator password (which is not big), you can create a new account for them.
See how you do this:
- Login on your WordPress panel as administrator.
- In the left menu, click Users → Add New.
- Fill in the details:
- User Name → Permanent and cannot be changed later.
- Email Address → Used for notifications and recovery.
- First & Last Name → optional but useful for organization.
- Scroll down and set a password. You can use the strong suggestion WordPress gives or type your own.
- Choose the function of correct user (administrator, editor, author, employee, subscriber).
- Click Add New User.
That’s it – your new team member can now login with their details.
👉 Professional Tip: If you prefer to let people register, go to Settings → General and enable the record. For a polished sensation, use a plug -in like WPForms or user registration to create a custom login/registration page.
How to Change the WordPress Admin Password
Passwords are like house keys. If you suspect someone else has copied yours—or if you just want a fresh one—change it right away.
Here’s how:
- Go to Users → Profile.
- Scroll down to Account Management.
- Click Set New Password.
- Enter a strong mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Hit Update Profile.
👉 Don’t try to memorize every password. Use a password manager—it’s safer and saves you from the stress of forgetting.
WordPress New User Registration Setup
Running a membership site or an online course? You’ll probably want people to create their own accounts.
- Go to Settings → General.
- Tick Anyone can register.
- Set the default role to Subscriber (safer than giving too much power).
- Save changes.
Now your visitors can sign up on their own. For branding, design a custom login/signup page using plugins.
Approving New Users Before They Log In
Not every signup should get in automatically. Picture this: you’re running a private school website—you’ll want to approve new students before they enter.
This is where a WordPress user approval plugin helps.
- Install a plugin like New User Approve.
- Every registration request comes to you.
- With one click, you can approve or deny access.
This keeps spam away and gives you total control over who joins.
Resetting a WordPress Password Without Email
Here’s a common nightmare: you’ve lost access to your email, so the password reset link won’t arrive. Don’t panic—you still have options.
Method 1: Reset with phpMyAdmin
- Log in to your hosting cPanel.
- Open phpMyAdmin.
- Select your WordPress database.
- Open the table wp_users.
- Find your username → click Edit.
- In the user_pass field, type your new password.
- From the function dropdown, select MD5.
- Save changes.
Done—you can now log in with your new password.
Method 2: Reset on Localhost
If you’re working locally, you can reset in phpMyAdmin the same way. Or use WP-CLI (a command line tool) to change the password in seconds.
WordPress User Management 2025-26 – Quick Reference Table
| Task | Where to Do It | Steps | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add New User/Customer | Dashboard → Users → Add New | Fill username, email, set password, assign role | When adding team members, writers, or customers |
| Change Admin Password | Dashboard → Users → Profile | Scroll to Account Management → Set New Password → Update Profile | If you suspect your account is compromised or for routine security updates |
| Enable User Registration | Dashboard → Settings → General | Tick “Anyone can register” → Set default role → Save | For membership sites, courses, or allowing public signups |
| Approve New Users/Customer | With Plugin (e.g., New User Approve) | Install plugin → Review requests → Approve/Deny | To filter spam and control who joins your site |
| Reset Password Without Email | phpMyAdmin → wp_users | Edit user_pass → Enter new password → Select MD5 → Save | When email access is lost or reset link fails |
| Recover Username & Email | phpMyAdmin → wp_users | View saved username & email | If you forgot login credentials |
Recovering WordPress Username and Password
Forgot your login? No worries—it happens to everyone.
- Go to your login page → click Lost your password?
- Enter your registered email.
- Open the reset link you’ll get in your inbox.
👉 If you have forgotten your username and email, not stress. Open the PHPMyAdmin table → WP_users. You will see your username and and email saved there.
Best Practices for WordPress User Management in 2025
If you want to keep your site safe and organized, follow these golden rules:
- Create separate accounts for each team member.
- Update passwords every 3 to 6 months.
- Use a security plugin to limit login attempts.
- Approve the registration of new users manually if your site handle confidential information.
- Review your list of users regularly – inactive or suspected accounts granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I change my WordPress administrator password without email?
Using phpmyadmin. Edit the WP_USERS table, update your password and save in MD5 format.
Q2. Can I get my WordPress login details in the database?
Yes. In phpmyadmin → wp_users, you can see user names and and emails. Passwords are encrypted, but you can redefine them there.
Q3. How do I add a login/signup option in WordPress?
Enable the registration in Settings → General. For a custom design, install plugins like WPForms or user record.
Q4. What’s the safest way to approve new users?
Use a user approval plug -in so that each new account needs your approval before logging in.
Final Thoughts
Think of your WordPress website as a community you are managing. Every user has their own role and it is their job to ensure that the right people get the right access. Keeping the passwords strong, approving users carefully and knowing how to recover logins, you are building a safe and well managed site.
Book a few minutes today to review your user settings – this can save it with a lot of stress tomorrow.
✍️ Author’s Note: I helped dozens of customers configure and protect your WordPress sites. Trust me—once you understand user management, everything else feels much easier.
