How to Add an Admin User to WordPress using MySQL

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Introduction to WordPress User Management

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that allows users to easily create and manage websites. One of the most important aspects of administering a WordPress site is user management. Sometimes, it may be necessary to add a new user with administrator privileges. If you can't access the admin panel, an effective way to do this is via MySQL.

Accessing the WordPress Database

To add an admin user via MySQL, you will first need to access the database of your WordPress installation. This can be done through tools such as phpMyAdmin or via the MySQL command line.

Connection to phpMyAdmin

If you decide to use phpMyAdmin, follow these steps:

  • Log in to your hosting control panel.
  • Find the database section and select phpMyAdmin.
  • Select the database associated with your WordPress installation.

Be sure to make a backup copy of your database before making any modifications. This is essential to avoid data loss in case of errors.

New User Creation

Once you are in the correct database, the next step is to add a new user. To do this, you will need to insert a record in the `wp_users` and `wp_usermeta` table.

How to Add an Admin User to WordPress using MySQL
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Note that the table prefix may vary depending on how your WordPress installation was configured.

Insertion in the wp_users Table

Use the following SQL query to insert the new user: 

INSERT INTO wp_users (user_login, user_pass, user_nicename, user_email, user_registered, user_status)
VALUES ('new_user', MD5('secure_password'), 'FriendlyName', 'correo@ejemplo.com', NOW(), 0);

In this code:

  • new_userThe user name you wish to assign.
  • secure_passwordThe password you want the user to have (be sure to use a strong password).
  • Friendly NameA user-friendly name.
  • correo@ejemplo.com: The user's e-mail address.

Insertion in the wp_usermeta Table

After adding the new user, you also need to assign administrator permissions to it. This is done by inserting records in the `wp_usermeta` table: 

INSERT INTO wp_usermeta (user_id, meta_key, meta_value)
VALUES (LAST_INSERT_ID(), 'wp_capabilities', 'a:1:{s:13: "administrator";b:1;}'),
       (LAST_INSERT_ID(), 'wp_user_level', '10');

Here:

  • LAST_INSERT_ID()Used to obtain the ID of the last user that was inserted.
  • wp_capabilitiesThe administrator role is set for the user.
  • wp_user_levelThe user level is indicated (10 is the level for administrators).

New User Verification

Once you have run the above queries, it is important to verify that the user has been created correctly. You can do this in the following ways:

  • Going back to phpMyAdmin and checking the `wp_users` and `wp_usermeta` tables.
  • Trying to log in to your WordPress admin panel with the new user's credentials.

Final Considerations

Adding an admin user via MySQL is a useful technique, especially in situations where access to the WordPress admin panel is restricted. However, it is essential to be careful when making direct modifications to the database, as an error could affect the performance of your website.

Always remember to make backups and, if you are unsure of what you are doing, it is advisable to consult an expert or follow more detailed guidelines.

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