How to Change Your WordPress Admin Email (Even if it’s Locked)

Your WordPress admin email address serves as the main contact point for your website. It receives important notifications about updates, security alerts, and user registrations. Sometimes you need to change this email address, whether you’re switching to a new email account, updating your business contact information, or taking over a website from someone else.

Changing your WordPress admin email is pretty straightforward once you know the right steps. This guide shows you four different methods to update your admin email address, plus how to handle any problems that might come up.

Before you start

Make sure you have access to your current admin email address before making any changes — you might need access to the old email for verification purposes.

Back up your website before making any changes, especially if you plan to edit files directly. While changing an email address is generally safe, having a backup gives you peace of mind. 

Not sure how or where to back up your site? Jetpack VaultPress Backup automatically saves a copy of your site every time a change is made or an action takes place. This means that you always have a full backup on hand that you can restore in an emergency.

You should also have your WordPress login credentials ready. Depending on the method you choose, you’ll need access to your WordPress dashboard, hosting account, or website files.

Finally, make sure that your new email address is working properly and that you can receive emails. 

Method 1: In the WordPress dashboard

This is the easiest method if you have administrator access to your WordPress site and can receive emails at your current address.

Log into your WordPress dashboard using your username and password. Navigate to Settings → General.

You’ll see a page with various site settings. Find the field labeled Administration Email Address near the top of the page. This field currently shows your existing admin email address.

Delete the current email address and type in your new one. Make sure you spell it correctly, as any typos will cause problems later.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Save Changes button. WordPress will process your request and send a confirmation email to your new address.

Check your new email inbox for a message from WordPress with the subject line asking you to confirm the email change. This message usually arrives within a few minutes, but check your spam folder if you don’t see it right away.

Open the confirmation email and click the link inside to verify the change. You’ll be taken to a page confirming that your admin email has been updated successfully.

Log back into your WordPress dashboard and go to Settings → General again to verify that the new email address appears.

Method 2: Through your hosting control panel

Some hosting providers offer WordPress management tools that allow you to change the admin email without accessing your WordPress dashboard. This method works well if you can’t log in to WordPress for some reason.

Log into your hosting account and look for a section called WordPress Management, One-Click Installs, or something similar. The exact name depends on your hosting provider.

Find your WordPress installation in the list of installed applications. Click on the management or settings icon next to your WordPress installation. This should open a control panel specific to that WordPress site.

Look for an option to change the admin email or administrator settings. Some hosts call this Site Settings or WordPress Configuration.

Enter your new email address in the appropriate field and save the changes. The hosting control panel should update the email address directly in your WordPress database.

You might not receive a confirmation email with this method, since the change happens at the database level.

Method 3: Change the admin email in the database (via phpMyAdmin)

This method involves editing your WordPress database directly through phpMyAdmin. Use this only when other methods fail, as working with databases requires extra caution. One wrong move can break your entire website.

Important warnings

Back up your entire database before starting this process. If you don’t already have a backup solution, try Jetpack VaultPress Backup, an easy-to-use plugin that automatically saves your database and files in real time. 

Never attempt this method unless you’re comfortable working with databases. If you make a mistake, you could damage your website beyond repair. Consider asking a developer for help if you’re not confident.

Only use this method if you have admin access to your hosting account and can access phpMyAdmin. Some hosting providers restrict database access or use different database management tools.

The step-by-step process

Log into your hosting account and find the database management section. Most hosts call this phpMyAdmin, Database Management, or something similar. Click to open phpMyAdmin.

You’ll see a list of databases on the left side of the screen. Click on your WordPress database name. If you’re not sure which database belongs to your WordPress site, check your wp-config.php file.

Look for a table that ends with “_options“. The full name usually looks something like “wp_options” or “yoursite_wp_options.” Click on this table to open it.

Find the Browse tab at the top of the screen and click it if it’s not already open by default. This shows you all the data stored in the table. You’re looking for a row where the option_name column says admin_email.

Click the Edit button next to the admin_email row. 

You’ll see a form with different fields. Find the field labeled option_value and change the email address to your new one. Be very careful to type the email address correctly.

Click Go to apply your changes. phpMyAdmin will update the database with your new email address.

Go back to your WordPress dashboard and check Settings → General to confirm that the new email address appears there. If it doesn’t show up immediately, try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.

Method 4: For developers – Change the admin email with WP-CLI

If you have command-line access to your server, the fastest and most efficient way to change the admin email is with the WordPress Command-Line Interface (WP-CLI). This method bypasses email confirmation entirely.

Connect to your server via SSH.

Navigate to your WordPress root directory.

Run the following command, replacing new-email@example.com with your desired address:

wp option update admin_email 'new-email@example.com'

Verify the change with:

wp option get admin_email

This command directly updates the admin_email option in the wp_options table, making it the preferred method for technical users.

Troubleshooting common issues

Sometimes the email confirmation message doesn’t arrive at your new email address. Check your spam or junk folder first, as automated emails from websites are often filtered incorrectly.

If you still don’t receive the confirmation email after 15-20 minutes, try the process again. Make sure you typed the new email address correctly and that it’s a working email account.

Some email providers block automated messages from certain servers. If you’re switching to a new email provider, try using a different service temporarily to complete the change, then update to your preferred address later.

Plugin conflicts can sometimes interfere with email changes. If you’re having persistent problems, try deactivating all plugins temporarily, making the email change, then reactivating your plugins.

Caching plugins might display the old email address even after you’ve changed it. Clear your website cache and refresh the page to see if the new email appears.

If none of these methods work, contact your hosting provider for assistance. They can change the admin email directly in your database, though this should be a last resort.

Security considerations

Always use a secure email address for your WordPress admin account. Avoid using free email services for business websites if possible, as they offer less control and fewer security features.

Enable two-factor authentication on your new email account if it’s available. This adds a layer of security to protect the email address that receives your important WordPress notifications.

Update your password manager or other records with the new admin email address so you don’t forget which email address is associated with your WordPress account.

Keeping your site running smoothly

After changing your admin email address, monitor your new inbox for the first few days to make sure you’re receiving WordPress notifications properly. You should see emails about plugin updates, security scans, and other routine maintenance messages.

Update any other services or tools that might be connected to your old admin email address. This includes backup services, security plugins, analytics tools, and monitoring services that send notifications.

If you use multiple WordPress sites, make sure to update the admin email for each site separately. 

Your WordPress admin email address is a small, but important, part of keeping your website secure and well-maintained. Taking a few minutes to update it properly now can save you from missing critical notifications later.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my old admin email address is no longer accessible?

You cannot use the standard method to change it if you cannot get into your old email. The simple method inside the WordPress dashboard sends a confirmation link, which you will not receive. Instead, you need to use a more direct way.

You can log into your website’s hosting account and use a tool like phpMyAdmin to change the email address right in the database. This action does not require any email confirmation. It is the best solution when you are locked out of the old email account.

Why did I not receive the admin email change confirmation link?

Your WordPress site is likely having trouble sending emails correctly. This is a very common problem. By default, WordPress uses a basic mail function that many web hosts block or that email providers send to the spam folder.

The best way to fix this is to install an SMTP plugin. This plugin connects your website to a real email service, like Gmail or SendGrid. This makes sure your emails get delivered properly, so you will receive the confirmation link and other important site messages.

Is it safe to change the admin email directly in the database?

Yes, it is safe if you are very careful and only change the correct field. Working in your website’s database can feel a little scary, but it is a standard fix when other methods do not work. The most important thing is to be precise.

You should only edit the admin_email field found inside the wp_options table. Do not change anything else. It is always a good idea to make a full backup of your database before you start. This way, if you make a mistake, you can easily restore your site.

Will changing the site’s admin email affect how I log into WordPress?

No, changing the site’s main admin email will not change your personal login information. Your login is connected to your personal user account, not the site’s general admin email.

The username and password you use to log in will stay the same. The email on your user profile, found under Users → Profile, is the one used for resetting your password. The site’s admin email in Settings → General is just for receiving notifications.

Can two different WordPress sites use the same admin email address?

Yes, you can use the same admin email for multiple WordPress websites. There is no rule against this. It is very common for people who manage many different websites. It helps you keep all important notifications from all your sites in one single inbox.

Just make sure the email account you use is secure and you check it often. This way, you will not miss any important security alerts or update messages from any of your WordPress sites.

What is an SMTP plugin and why would I need one for my site?

An SMTP plugin like MailPoet helps your WordPress site send emails in a more reliable way. You can think of it as a professional postman for your website’s emails. WordPress sometimes has trouble sending emails by itself. They can get lost or marked as spam.

An SMTP plugin connects your website to a real email service, such as Gmail or Outlook. This makes sure that every email your website sends, from password resets to contact form messages, is delivered quickly and correctly.