How to Fix the “Invalid Username” Error in WordPress

Encountering the “Invalid Username” error when trying to log in to your WordPress site can be frustrating. This error prevents you from accessing your admin dashboard, leaving you unable to manage your site. Fortunately, there are several solutions to resolve this issue. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes of the “Invalid Username” error and provide step-by-step instructions to fix it.

Understanding the “Invalid Username” Error

The “Invalid Username” error typically occurs for a few reasons:

• Incorrect Username: The username entered doesn’t match any usernames in the WordPress database.
• Database Issues: There may be problems with your WordPress database, causing it not to recognize the username.
• Corrupted Files: Issues with your WordPress files can also trigger this error.
• Hacked Site: In rare cases, your site may have been compromised, resulting in changed or deleted user information.

Steps to Fix the “Invalid Username” Error

1. Verify Your Username

Before diving into more complex solutions, ensure that you are entering the correct username. WordPress usernames are case-sensitive, so double-check for any typos or incorrect capitalization.

2. Recover Your Username via Email

If you’ve forgotten your username, you can recover it using your registered email address. Here’s how:

1. Go to the WordPress login page.
2. Click on the “Lost your password?” link.
3. Enter your registered email address and click “Get New Password.”
4. Check your email for the password reset link, which will include your username.

3. Check Your Database for the Username

If verifying the username doesn’t solve the problem, check your WordPress database to ensure the username exists. You’ll need access to your hosting account’s control panel (cPanel) or a similar tool.

1. Access phpMyAdmin:
• Log in to your hosting account and navigate to the control panel.
• Open phpMyAdmin.
2. Locate Your WordPress Database:
• In phpMyAdmin, find and select your
• WordPress database from the list on the left.
3. Find the Users Table:
• Locate the wp_users table (prefix might be different if you changed it during installation).
4. Check the Usernames:
• Click on the wp_users table to view its contents.
• Verify that your username is listed under the user_login column.

If your username is missing or incorrect, you can manually add or edit it here.

4. Create a New Admin User via Functions.php

If you’re still unable to log in, you can create a new admin user by adding code to your theme’s functions.php file. Here’s how:

1. Access Your Website Files:
• Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting file manager to access your WordPress files.
2. Locate the functions.php File:
• Navigate to wp-content/themes/your-theme/ and find the functions.php file.
3. Add the Code:
• Add the following code to the end of the functions.php file:function wpb_admin_account(){
  $user = ‘NewAdmin’;
  $pass = ‘password123’;
  $email = ‘your-email@example.com’;

  if ( !username_exists( $user ) && !email_exists( $email ) ) {
  $user_id = wp_create_user( $user, $pass, $email );
  $user = new WP_User( $user_id );
  $user->set_role( ‘administrator’ );
  }
  }
  add_action(‘init’,’wpb_admin_account’);

• Replace ‘NewAdmin’, ‘password123’, and ‘your-email@example.com’ with your desired username, password, and email address.
4. Save and Upload the File:
• Save the functions.php file and upload it back to your server.
5. Log In and Remove the Code:
• Log in to your WordPress site using the new admin credentials.
• Remove the code from the functions.php file after logging in to ensure security.

5. Reset Your Password via phpMyAdmin

If you suspect that the password might be the issue, you can reset it directly in the database.

1. Access phpMyAdmin and Open the wp_users Table:
• Follow the steps mentioned earlier to access phpMyAdmin and open the wp_users table.
2. Edit Your User Record:
• Locate your user record and click “Edit.”
3. Reset the Password:
• In the user_pass field, enter a new password. Make sure to select “MD5” in the Function column to hash the password.
• Click “Go” to save the changes.

6. Scan for Malware

If you suspect your site has been hacked, use a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri to scan for malware and fix any issues found.

Conclusion:

Encountering the “Invalid Username” error in WordPress can be daunting, but with these steps, you should be able to regain access to your site. Start with simple solutions like verifying your username and recovering it via email, then move on to database checks and creating a new admin user if necessary. By following these methods, you’ll ensure that your WordPress site remains secure and accessible.
Contact us to get more information about it.