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How to Recover WordPress Admin Access If You Deleted Your User (via cPanel)

ajith July 3, 2025

Accidentally deleted your WordPress admin account? Don’t worry it happens more often than you think. Whether you were cleaning up old users or troubleshooting roles, losing access to your admin dashboard can be stressful.

But as long as your website files and database are intact, you can easily create a new admin user using phpMyAdmin in cPanel.

In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly how to recover access no need for a plugin or command line.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

Start by logging into your hosting account’s cPanel.

  • Your hosting provider should give you a direct link like:
    https://yourdomain.com/cpanel

  • Enter your cPanel username and password

Once inside, go to the Databases section and click on phpMyAdmin.

Step 2: Open Your WordPress Database

Inside phpMyAdmin:

  1. On the left, click the name of your WordPress database (e.g., wp12345)

  2. Find and click the table ending in _users usually wp_users unless your prefix is customized

This table contains all registered WordPress users.

Step 3: Manually Add a New Admin User

Click the Insert tab at the top to create a new user record.

Fill in the fields as follows:

Field Value
ID Leave blank (auto-increment)
user_login newadmin (or any username you want)
user_pass Choose “MD5” in the Function dropdown, then enter a secure password
user_nicename Any name you prefer (e.g., Admin User)
user_email Your email address (e.g., you@example.com)
user_url Optional — can leave blank
user_registered Current date/time (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS)
user_activation_key Leave blank
user_status 0
display_name Your display name (e.g., Admin)

Then click Go at the bottom to save.

Step 4: Assign Admin Role in wp_usermeta

Now, let’s make this new user an administrator.

  1. Go back to the database list and click on the table ending in _usermeta (e.g., wp_usermeta)

  2. Click the Insert tab

  3. You’ll need to insert two new rows:

Row 1:

Field Value
umeta_id Leave blank
user_id ID of the new user (check wp_users for this)
meta_key wp_capabilities
meta_value a:1:{s:13:"administrator";b:1;}

Row 2:

Field Value
umeta_id Leave blank
user_id Same user ID
meta_key wp_user_level
meta_value 10

Click Go after each insertion.

Tip: If your database prefix is not wp_, use the correct prefix for meta_key (e.g., xyz_capabilities).

Step 5: Log In to WordPress

Now that the new admin user is created:

  1. Visit your WordPress login page:
    https://yourdomain.com/wp-login.php

  2. Enter your new admin username and password

You should now have full access to your dashboard!

Optional Cleanup: Remove Old/Unused Entries

Once you regain access:

  • Double-check your list of users

  • Delete any inactive or test accounts you no longer need

  • Update your new admin’s email and password via WordPress for security

Pro Tips to Avoid This in the Future

  • Don’t delete your only admin always create a backup admin before removing users

  • Regularly back up both your files and database

  • Use cPanel’s Backup Wizard or Softaculous backup options

  • Keep phpMyAdmin access secure (change cPanel passwords periodically)

Final Thoughts

Losing access to your WordPress admin panel may seem scary, but it’s entirely recoverable especially when you have access to cPanel. By using phpMyAdmin, you can create a new admin user in just a few clicks and restore full control of your website.
If you get stuck or feel unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider’s support team they can help validate user roles or walk you through database steps safely.