- Find your WordPress login page
- Log in step by step
- What Remember Me does
- Bookmark it once
- If the login address doesn't work
- Fix common login problems
- Forgot your password?
- Keep your login safe
- Logging in from your phone
- Who should have a login
- What you'll see after logging in
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To log into WordPress, go to your site address followed by /wp-login.php, or /wp-admin/, which sends you to the login page when you're logged out. Enter your username or email address and your password, tick Remember Me if you're on your own device, and click Log In.
It's one of the most searched WordPress questions, and for good reason: if someone else built your site, you may never have been told where the login page lives. The good news is that every standard WordPress site uses the same address. Here's how to find it, what each part of the login form does, and how to fix the login problems that trip people up most often.
Find your WordPress login page
The WordPress developer handbook explains that the login page sits at wp-login.php in your site's root directory. So if your site is yourbusiness.com, your login page is:
yourbusiness.com/wp-login.php
There's a shortcut, too. If you visit yourbusiness.com/wp-admin/ while you're logged out, WordPress redirects you to the login page automatically. Once you're logged in, the same address takes you straight to your dashboard.
Log in step by step
- Type your site address followed by /wp-login.php or /wp-admin/ into your browser.
- Enter your username or email address.
- Enter your password. Remember it's case-sensitive.
- Tick Remember Me if you're on your own computer.
- Click Log In. You'll land on your dashboard.
What Remember Me does
| Setting | How long you stay logged in |
|---|---|
| Remember Me unticked | The default session, which the handbook gives as 2 days |
| Remember Me ticked | 14 days |
That's the detail most people never notice. Without Remember Me, you'll be asked to log in again after a couple of days. Tick it on your own laptop and you'll stay logged in for two weeks. Never tick it on a shared or public computer.
Bookmark it once
The simplest fix for forgetting where your login page is: log in once, then bookmark the dashboard. I keep a bookmark folder for every site I manage, so I'm never hunting for an address. If your site was built by an agency, ask them to confirm the login address too, because some security setups move it.
If the login address doesn't work
Some site owners or developers change the login address for security, using a plugin. If /wp-login.php shows a not-found page, that's the most likely reason. Check any handover notes from whoever built your site, or ask your web host, who can see your site's files.
Fix common login problems
| Problem | What to try first |
|---|---|
| Forgotten password | Click Lost your password? on the login page |
| Cookies are blocked or not supported message | Make sure cookies are allowed for your site in your browser |
| Login page keeps reloading | Clear your browser cookies for the site and try again |
| Locked out after a plugin update | Ask your host to deactivate plugins so you can test |
The handbook explains that the cookies message appears when WordPress can't set its test cookie, and lists causes from browser settings and plugin conflicts to server caching of the login page. For a login page that keeps reloading after you enter your details, its first suggestion is simply to clear your browser cookies for the site.
Forgot your password?
Click Lost your password? on the login screen. WordPress emails a password reset link to the address on your account. If the email doesn't arrive, check spam, and make sure you're using the email address that's on your WordPress user profile, which isn't always the one you use day to day.
Keep your login safe
- Use a long, unique password that you don't use anywhere else.
- Store it in a password manager rather than a note or spreadsheet.
- Add two-factor authentication with a reputable security plugin.
- Give each person who works on your site their own login, never a shared one.
- Remove logins for people who no longer work with you.
Your WordPress login is the front door to your business website, so it deserves the same care as your bank login. My guide to securing and protecting your website covers the steps that block most attacks, and if you're moving hosts, my website migration tips explain how to make sure your logins come across safely.
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Logging in from your phone
The same address works in your phone's browser, so you can log in and make quick edits on the go. For anything more than a small text change, though, I'd wait until you're on a laptop, because the editor is much easier to use on a bigger screen.
Who should have a login
Every person who edits your site should have their own account with the right role. WordPress roles range from Administrator, who can change everything, down to roles that can only write or edit posts. A freelance writer doesn't need administrator access, and giving everyone the top role makes mistakes and security problems far more likely. Set people up under Users, give them the lowest role that lets them do their job, and remove accounts as soon as someone stops working with you. It also means you can see exactly who changed what.
What you'll see after logging in
The dashboard is your control room. The left-hand menu holds Posts, Pages, Media, Appearance, Plugins, Users and Settings. The black bar across the top lets you jump back to your live site to check changes, and back into the dashboard again. If your menu looks shorter than you expected, your account may have a limited role, so ask whoever manages the site to check your permissions.
My verdict
Add /wp-login.php or /wp-admin/ to your site address, enter your username or email and password, and tick Remember Me on your own device. Bookmark the dashboard once you're in. If you're stuck, use Lost your password?, clear your cookies, and check whether someone moved your login page for security.
Frequently asked questions
What is the WordPress login URL?
Your site address followed by /wp-login.php, for example yoursite.com/wp-login.php.
Can I log in at /wp-admin?
Yes. Visiting /wp-admin/ while logged out redirects you to the login page.
How long does Remember Me keep me logged in to WordPress?
14 days, compared with the default session of 2 days.
Why does my WordPress login page keep reloading?
Start by clearing your browser cookies for the site, then try logging in again.
Can I log into WordPress with my email address?
Yes. The login form accepts either your username or the email address on your account.
