Create a WordPress Admin via FTP Without Dashboard Access

Lost access to your WordPress dashboard and need to create an admin user? If you can access your files via FTP, there’s a workaround using the wp-config.php file and a small PHP script. Here’s a secure, step-by-step guide to do that.

Step 1: Connect to Your Server via FTP
Use any FTP client (like FileZilla) to access your WordPress installation. In the root directory, locate and download the wp-config.php file—this contains your site’s database configuration.

Step 2: Define Admin Credentials
Open the wp-config.php file in a code editor. Add the following lines before:

/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */
//Add:
define('WP_ADMIN_USERNAME', 'your_admin_username');
define('WP_ADMIN_PASSWORD', 'your_admin_password');
define('WP_ADMIN_EMAIL', 'your_email@example.com');

Replace the values with your desired admin username, password, and email.

Step 3: Upload the File
Save and re-upload the modified wp-config.php to the server, overwriting the old one.

Step 4: Create the Script File
Now, create a file named add_admin_user.php in the same directory. Paste this code:

require_once('wp-config.php');
require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-includes/wp-db.php');

if (!empty(WP_ADMIN_USERNAME) && !empty(WP_ADMIN_PASSWORD) && !empty(WP_ADMIN_EMAIL)) {
    $user_id = username_exists(WP_ADMIN_USERNAME);

    if (!$user_id) {
        $user_id = wp_create_user(WP_ADMIN_USERNAME, WP_ADMIN_PASSWORD, WP_ADMIN_EMAIL);
        if (!is_wp_error($user_id)) {
            $user = new WP_User($user_id);
            $user->set_role('administrator');
            echo 'Admin user created successfully.';
        } else {
            echo 'Error: ' . $user_id->get_error_message();
        }
    } else {
        echo 'User already exists.';
    }
} else {
    echo 'Missing user details in wp-config.php.';
}

Step 5: Execute the Script
Go to https://yourdomain.com/add_admin_user.php in your browser. If everything is set up correctly, your new admin user will be created.

Step 6: Remove the Script Immediately
**Important:** For your site’s safety, delete add_admin_user.php right after running it. Leaving it on your server can pose a serious security risk.

Conclusion
This method is a reliable way to recover WordPress admin access using FTP. Make sure to back up your site beforehand and delete the script after use. If unsure, consult a developer.

Useful Resources:

• WordPress: Administrator Role Explained
• WPBeginner: Adding New Users in WordPress
• FTP Overview – WPBeginner