How to Change WordPress Admin Email?

Changing your WordPress admin email is a crucial task that every website owner should know how to do.

Whether you're updating your contact information, transferring site ownership, or enhancing security, modifying this essential setting is a fundamental skill.

Let's explore various methods to change your WordPress admin email, ranging from simple built-in options to advanced techniques.
We'll start with user-friendly approaches suitable for beginners and progress to more complex solutions for experienced users and developers.

By the end of this post, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to update your admin email using the method that best suits your skill level and specific needs. Let's dive in and explore how to change your WordPress admin email efficiently and securely.

Beginner Friendly Methods

Not everyone who uses WordPress is a code wizard. For most administrative tasks such as changing the WordPress email, there are easy methods available which don’t require you to have exclusive developer knowledge.

Changing Admin Email via WordPress Settings

This method is the simplest and most straightforward way to update your WordPress admin email.

It's suitable for all users, regardless of the fact if you’re hackerman or not! 😂.

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to "Settings" in the left sidebar.
• Click on "General" under the Settings menu.
• Look for the field labeled "Administration Email Address" or "Email Address".
• Enter your new email address in this field.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Save Changes".
• WordPress will send a verification email to the new address you've entered.
• Check your new email inbox for the verification message.
• Click the confirmation link in the email to complete the process.

Important Notes:

• To receive the verification email, SMTP needs to be already set up on your WordPress dashboard.
• If you don't receive the verification email, check your spam folder.
• The change won't take effect until you confirm it through the verification email.
• Ensure you have access to the new email address before making the change.
• This method updates both the admin email and your user account email.

By following these steps, you can easily update your WordPress admin email through the built-in settings. This method is secure and doesn't require any technical knowledge, making it ideal for beginners and casual WordPress users.

Updating Email through User Profile

This method is another user-friendly approach to change your WordPress admin email.

It's particularly useful if you want to update the email for a specific user account, including the admin account.

Steps:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Hover over your username in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Click on "Edit My Profile" from the dropdown menu.
• Alternatively, go to "Users" in the left sidebar and click on "Your Profile".
• Scroll down to the "Contact Info" section.
• Locate the "Email" field.
• Enter your new email address in this field.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Update Profile".
• WordPress will send a verification email to the new address you've entered.
• Check your new email inbox for the verification message.
• Click the confirmation link in the email to complete the process.

Important Notes:

• This method allows you to change the email for any user account you have permission to edit.
• For security reasons, you'll need to confirm the change via the verification email sent to the new address.
• If you're changing the email for the main admin account, ensure you have access to the new email before making the change.
• This method updates both your user profile email and the admin email if you're editing the main administrator account.

Updating your email through the User Profile is a straightforward process that gives you control over individual user accounts. It's an excellent option for WordPress sites with multiple users or for administrators who want to update their personal account information.

Intermediate Methods

We’ve reached the slightly more advanced methods. I say methods but there’s only one method that qualifies really. Here it is:

WordPress Multisite Network Settings

This method is specifically for those running a WordPress Multisite installation.

In a Multisite setup, you have a network of WordPress sites, and changing the Network Admin email is slightly different from changing it on a single site.

Step 1: Access Network Admin Dashboard

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard
• In the top-left corner, you should see "My Sites"
• Click on "My Sites" > "Network Admin" > "Dashboard"

Step 2: Navigate to Network Settings

• In the Network Admin dashboard, go to "Settings" > "Network Settings"

Step 3: Locate Network Admin Email

• Scroll down the Network Settings page until you find the "Network Admin Email" field
• This email is used for administrative purposes across your entire network

Step 4: Change the Email Address

• Enter the new email address in the "Network Admin Email" field

Step 5: Save Changes

• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save Changes"

Step 6: Verify the Change

• Check the new email address for a verification email
• Follow the instructions in the email to confirm the change

Important Considerations:

• Network vs. Individual Site: This change affects the Network Admin email, not individual site admin emails. Each site in your network can still have its own admin email.
• Super Admin Role: Only users with the Super Admin role can make this change.
• Impact on Network Communications: This email will receive network-wide notifications, so ensure it's actively monitored.
• Security: Choose a secure, professional email address for your Network Admin email.

When to Use This Method:

• You're managing a WordPress Multisite network
• You need to update the primary contact email for the entire network
• You want to centralize network-wide communications to a specific email

Potential Issues:

• If you don't receive the verification email, check your spam folder
• Ensure the new email address can receive emails before making the change
• Some hosting environments may restrict email functionality, which could interfere with the verification process

By following these steps, you can successfully update the Network Admin email for your WordPress Multisite installation. This ensures that all important network-level communications are directed to the correct email address.

Advanced Methods

Now’ve reached the top of the dogpile. These methods are reserved for the WordPress connoisseurs, for people who really know what they’re doing. People who eat, sleep, breathe, dream WordPress (Usually developers).

Lets get into it!

Directly Editing the Database via phpMyAdmin

This method involves manually changing the admin email address in your WordPress database. It's considered advanced because it requires direct database access and carries some risks if not done correctly.

Step 1: Access phpMyAdmin

• Log into your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel)
• Locate and click on phpMyAdmin under the databases section

Step 2: Select the correct database

• In phpMyAdmin, find your WordPress database from the list on the left
  Click on it to open the database

Step 3: Locate the users table

• Look for a table named wp_users (note: the prefix "wp_" might be different if you changed it during installation)
• Click on this table

Step 4: Find the admin user

• Click on the "Select data" from the top bar.
• In the wp_users table, locate the row with your admin username
• This row should have a user_id of 1 unless you've made changes

Step 5: Edit the email address

• Find the "user_email" field
• Change the email address to your new desired admin email

• Scroll down and click "Go" to save changes

Step 6: Update user meta (optional but recommended)

• Navigate to the wp_usermeta table (again, the prefix might differ)
• Find entries where user_id = 1 (or your admin user_id) and meta_key = 'wp_capabilities'
• Ensure the meta_value includes "administrator" role

Important Considerations:

• Backup: Always create a full backup of your database before making any direct changes. Check out this WordPress resource if you don’t know how to back up your database.
• No verification: This method bypasses the usual email verification process, so ensure you're entering the correct email address.
• Case sensitivity: Email addresses are case-sensitive in the database, so enter it exactly as you want it to appear.
• Security: Changing the email this way doesn't automatically update passwords or security questions. Consider updating these separately for added security.
• Caching: If you're using a caching plugin, clear the cache after making this change.

Risks and Precautions:

• Incorrect changes can break your WordPress installation
• This method doesn't leave an audit trail
• It bypasses WordPress's built-in security checks
• Always double-check your entries before saving changes
• If possible, have a staging site to test changes before applying them to your live site

When to use this method:

• When other methods aren't working due to technical issues
• If you need to bypass the email verification process
• In emergency situations where you can't access the WordPress admin area

This method should be used as a last resort due to its risks. If you're not comfortable with database management, it's better to seek assistance from a WordPress professional.

Using WordPress CLI

WordPress CLI (WP-CLI) is a command-line interface for WordPress. It allows you to manage many aspects of WordPress installations, including changing the admin email, without using a web browser.

Step 1: Access your server

• Connect to your server via SSH

Step 2: Navigate to your WordPress installation directory

• Use the cd command to move to your WordPress root directory
• Example: cd /var/www/html/yoursite

Step 3: Verify WP-CLI is installed and working

• Run wp --info to check if WP-CLI is installed and functioning

Step 4: Change the admin email

• Use the following command to change the admin email:
• wp user update 1 [email protected]
• Replace [email protected] with the desired email address
• The 1 represents the user ID of the admin (typically 1 for the first user)

Step 5: Verify the change

• You can confirm the change with this command:
• wp user get 1 --field=user_email

Additional WP-CLI commands for user management:

• List all users: wp user list
• Get info for a specific user: wp user get username
• Create a new user: wp user create username [email protected]

When to use this method:

• When you're comfortable with command-line interfaces
• For managing multiple WordPress installations efficiently
• When you need to automate WordPress management tasks
• If you're experiencing issues with the WordPress admin panel

Advantages of using WP-CLI:

• Fast and efficient, especially for bulk operations
• Can be used in scripts for automation
• Doesn't require web browser access to WordPress
• Useful for remote management of WordPress sites

Considerations and precautions:

• Requires SSH access to your server
• No undo feature, so be careful with commands
• May require elevated permissions on your server
• Always backup your site before making significant changes
• Ensure you're using the correct user ID when updating email

This method is particularly useful for developers and system administrators who manage multiple WordPress sites or prefer command-line tools. It's a powerful approach but requires a good understanding of command-line interfaces and WordPress structure.

FTP and wp-config.php Method

This method involves directly editing the wp-config.php file to override the admin email address. It's considered advanced because it requires FTP access and modifying a critical WordPress configuration file.

Step 1: Connect to your server via FTP

• Use an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck
• Enter your FTP credentials to connect to your server

Step 2: Locate wp-config.php

• Navigate to your WordPress root directory
• Find the wp-config.php file

Step 3: Download and backup wp-config.php

• Download a copy of wp-config.php to your local machine
• Keep this as a backup in case anything goes wrong

Step 4: Edit wp-config.php

• Open the wp-config.php file in a text editor
• Add the following line of code just before the line that says "/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */":
• define( 'WP_ADMIN_EMAIL', '[email protected]' );
• Replace '[email protected]' with your desired admin email address

Step 5: Save and upload

• Save the changes to wp-config.php
• Upload the modified file back to your server, overwriting the existing one

Step 6: Verify the change

• Log into your WordPress admin panel
• Check the admin email address to confirm the change

Limitations of this approach:

• This method overrides the admin email globally for your WordPress installation
• It doesn't change the email in the database, only at the configuration level
• Some plugins or functions that directly query the database might not reflect this change

When to use this method:

• When you need to quickly change the admin email without database access
• In situations where you can't access the WordPress admin area
• For temporary email address changes during development or testing

Considerations and precautions:

• Always backup your wp-config.php file before making changes
• Be cautious when editing wp-config.php, as errors can break your site
• This method doesn't update the email address stored in the database
• Remember to remove or update this line if you change the admin email through WordPress settings later

Security note:

• Adding sensitive information like email addresses to wp-config.php can pose a security risk if unauthorized users gain access to this file
• Ensure your server's file permissions are correctly set to protect wp-config.php

This method should be used cautiously and typically as a temporary solution or in specific development scenarios. It's not recommended for permanent changes to the admin email in a production environment.

Developer Approach

This method is primarily reserved for developers(Hackerman) or those comfortable with PHP and WordPress hooks. It involves adding custom code to your WordPress installation to programmatically change the admin email.
Custom function in functions.php:

• Access your theme's functions.php file via FTP or the WordPress theme editor.
• Add the following code snippet:

• Replace '[email protected]' with the desired admin email address.
• Save the file and upload it back to your server.

Example code snippet explanation:

• The function update_admin_email() is defined to change the admin email.
• It checks if the current user is the main admin (typically user ID 1).
• If so, it updates the user's email using wp_update_user().
• The function is hooked to the 'init' action, so it runs on every page load.

Use cases for developers:

• Automated email updates: Useful in development environments where admin email needs to change frequently.
• Multi-environment setups: Automatically set different admin emails for development, staging, and production environments.
• Client handover: Easily update admin email when transferring a site to a client.
• Bulk site management: When managing multiple WordPress installations, this approach can be standardized across sites.

Important considerations:

• Remove or comment out the code after it has served its purpose to avoid unnecessary processing on each page load.
• This method updates the email in the database, unlike the wp-config.php method.
• Be cautious about hard-coding email addresses in your theme files for security reasons.
• Consider using environment variables or constants defined elsewhere for the email address.

Security note: Ensure that only authorized personnel have access to modify theme files, as this code can be used to change critical admin information.

Alternative approach using a plugin: For a more modular solution, you could create a simple plugin instead of adding the code to functions.php. This keeps the functionality separate from the theme and makes it easier to activate/deactivate as needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When changing your WordPress admin email, you might encounter some common problems. Here's how to address them:

Dealing with verification emails

Issue: You don't receive the verification email after changing the admin email.

Solutions:

• Ensure SMTP is configured on your WordPress dashboad
• Check your spam or junk folder
• Ensure the new email address is spelled correctly
• Add the WordPress site's domain to your email's safe senders list
• Use a different email service temporarily to rule out email provider issues
• Check with your host to ensure emails are being sent from your server

If the problem persists:

• Use one of the advanced methods described earlier to bypass email verification
• Temporarily disable any security plugins that might be blocking outgoing emails

Unable to access the admin account

Issue: You've lost access to your admin account and can't change the email.

Solutions:

• Use the "Lost your password?" feature on the login page

If the above doesn't work, try these steps:  

• Access your website via FTP
• Rename the current plugins folder to "plugins_old" 
• Create a new empty "plugins" folder
• Try the password reset feature again
• If successful, delete the new "plugins" folder and rename "plugins_old"
  back to "plugins" 

If still unsuccessful, you may need to reset your password directly in the database, check out the first of the advanced methods: 

Changes not reflecting across the site

Issue: You've changed the admin email, but some parts of the site still show the old email.

Solutions:

• Clear your website cache and browser cache
• If using a caching plugin, purge its cache
• Check for hardcoded email addresses in your theme or plugin files
• Ensure you're not using the wp-config.php method, which doesn't update the database

Conflicts with security plugins

Issue: Security plugins preventing email changes or locking you out after an email change.

Solutions:

• Temporarily deactivate security plugins before changing the email
• Whitelist your new email address in security plugin settings
• If locked out, use FTP to rename the security plugin's folder in wp-content/plugins to deactivate it

Multisite issues

Issue: Email change not propagating across all sites in a multisite network.

Solutions:

• Ensure you're changing the Network Admin email if that's your intention
• Check that you have the necessary permissions (Super Admin) to make network-wide changes
• Verify the change on individual sites and update them separately if needed

Remember, if you're uncomfortable performing any of these troubleshooting steps, it's always best to seek help from a WordPress professional or your hosting provider's support team.

Best Practices and Security Considerations

When it comes to changing your WordPress admin email, it's not just about making the switch – it's about doing it safely and smartly. Let's look at some best practices and security considerations that'll help keep your site secure.

Importance of using a secure email

Think of your admin email as the keys to your WordPress kingdom. You wouldn't use a flimsy lock on your front door, right?

Same goes here. Use a strong, unique password for your admin email account. Consider opting for email providers that take security seriously – Gmail and ProtonMail are solid choices. And please, avoid using public or shared email domains for your admin account. It's like leaving your house key under the doormat – not a great idea.

Two-factor authentication recommendations

Then there’s two-factor authentication (2FA). If you want to know in detail about how 2FA can bolster security for your website check out our detailed blog on how to configure 2FA for your website.

Essentially, It's like adding a second lock to your door. Implement 2FA for your WordPress admin account, and while you're at it, set it up for your email account too.

Authenticator apps are generally more secure than SMS, so go that route if you can. If you want to level up even further, look into security keys like YubiKey. They're the digital equivalent of a high-tech vault lock.

Regular audits and updates

Regular audits and updates are crucial. Think of it as spring cleaning for your WordPress site. Periodically review all admin and user email addresses. Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated – it's like getting your car serviced regularly.

While you're at it, check for any unused or inactive user accounts and remove them. They're like old spare keys you forgot about – best to get rid of them.

Change the WordPress login URL

Changing the default WordPress login URL is indeed another valuable security measure. If you’re wonder "How do I change my WordPress admin login page?" checkout our blog on how to change the WordPress login page to improve security.

The brief explanation is that redirecting your WordPress login URL is like moving your front door to a less obvious location. Instead of the default '/wp-admin', you use a custom URL like '/secret-entrance', making it harder for potential attackers to find your login page. 

You can do this very easily using WP Adminify's URL Redirection feature.

Limit admin accounts or modify access

When it comes to admin accounts, less is more. Minimize the number of accounts with admin privileges. It's like limiting who has a copy of your house key.

For users who don't need full access, consider using editor or author roles instead. You can even look to create custom roles using a plugin like RoleMaster Suite.

RoleMaster Suite allows you to precisely control user role access and capabilities. Create custom user roles, assign specific permissions, and easily manage them all from a user-friendly interface.

Here's what RoleMaster Suite can do for you:

• Granular Control: Fine-tune user roles and capabilities to match your exact needs. No more one-size-fits-all limitations!
• Effortless Role Creation & Editing: Easily create new user roles, customize existing ones, or remove roles that are no longer needed.
• Streamlined Workflow: Assign users to the appropriate level with a single click, and manage capabilities efficiently with one-click selection and denial.
• Enhanced Security: Maintain a secure and organized site structure by meticulously managing user access.
• Perfect for Ecommerce & Membership Sites: RoleMaster Suite is tailor-made for sites with specific user access requirements, like online stores or membership platforms.

Use secure connections

Always use secure connections. Accessing your WordPress admin area should always be done via HTTPS. It's like using a secure phone line instead of shouting your private conversation across a crowded room.

Email change notifications

Setting up email change notifications is a smart move. It's like having a security system that alerts you when someone enters your house. Configure WordPress to send notifications when critical changes occur, including email address updates.

Backup before making changes

Before making any big changes, always create a full backup of your WordPress site. It's your safety net – you hope you never need it, but you'll be glad it's there if you do.

Use unique admin usernames

Choosing a unique admin username is simple but effective. Avoid using "admin" – it's like using "password" as your password. Get creative and choose something that's not obvious.

IP restrictions

If possible, consider restricting WordPress admin access to specific IP addresses. It's like only allowing entry through one specific door of your house. If you need access from various locations, a VPN can be your friend here.

Educate team members

Lastly, if you're working with a team, make sure everyone's on the same page about these security practices.

Develop a clear protocol for requesting and implementing admin email changes. It's like making sure everyone in your household knows how to arm and disarm the security system.

Remember, good security is an ongoing process, not a one-time thing. Stay vigilant, keep learning, and your WordPress site will thank you for it!

Final Thoughts

Changing your WordPress admin email is a simple yet crucial task for maintaining your site's security and functionality.

We've explored various methods, from beginner-friendly to advanced techniques, each suited to different situations and skill levels.

Remember to follow best practices, prioritize security, and choose the method that best fits your needs.

By keeping your admin email up-to-date and secure, you're taking an important step in safeguarding your WordPress site. Stay vigilant, keep learning, and your website will thank you for it.