Admin dashboard (/wp-admin) is not accessible

You’re trying to log in to your WordPress dashboard, but no matter what you do, you can’t access it. The login page might not load, or you might get an error message saying “Invalid username or password”, or simply be redirected back to the login screen without any explanation. This is a common issue, especially when you’re running an outdated WordPress version.

Don’t worry – let’s walk through the steps to regain access.

Step 1: Reset your password

Start by resetting your password to rule out any issues with login credentials:

1. Go to the login page: http://yoursite.com/wp-login.php.
2. Click on “Lost your password?”
3. Enter your username or email, and WordPress will send you a link to reset your password.

If you don’t receive the reset email, double-check your email settings in WordPress or check your spam folder.

Step 2: Deactivate plugins (via FTP or File Manager)

A plugin conflict or malfunction can cause the dashboard to become inaccessible. If you suspect this might be the case:

1. Connect to your site using FTP or File Manager.
2. Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/.
3. Rename the entire plugins folder to plugins-disabled.
4. Try logging in again. If successful, a plugin is likely the culprit.

To identify which plugin is causing the issue, you can rename the plugins folder back and reactivate each plugin one by one.

Step 3: Disable your theme

Sometimes, a theme conflict can block access to the admin panel. To check if this is the problem:

1. Via FTP or File Manager, go to /wp-content/themes/.
2. Rename your active theme’s folder (e.g., mytheme → mytheme-disabled).
3. WordPress will default to a basic theme like Twenty Twenty-One. Try logging in again.

If you regain access, the theme was causing the issue. You can either reinstall the theme or switch to a new one.

Step 4: Check for PHP errors

A common cause of login issues is PHP errors, often caused by outdated WordPress versions, plugins, or themes.

1. Enable debugging by editing the wp-config.php file and adding these lines just before /* That’s all, stop editing! */:
   define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
2. Check the wp-content/debug.log file for any errors that might explain why the dashboard isn’t accessible.

Step 5: Increase PHP memory limit

If your hosting environment is running low on memory, WordPress may fail to load the dashboard properly.

To increase the PHP memory limit:

1. Open your wp-config.php file.
2. Add this line just above the line /* That’s all, stop editing! */:
   define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
3. Save and check if the dashboard loads.

Step 6: Restore from a backup (if needed)

If all else fails and you still can’t access the dashboard, it may be time to restore a recent backup of your site. You may proceed with your own backup or contact our support team to have your website restored.