Why WordPress Admin Password Resets After Site Migration

Daily WordPress Admin Password Reset After Migration to New Hosting

After moving a site to new hosting, the daily reset of the WordPress administrator password is usually associated with PHP version mismatches, database configuration problems, or authentication settings on the new server. This common problem arises due to differences in execution environments between the old and new hosting, which leads to incorrect operation of the password management system and user sessions.

Table of Contents

• Main causes of the problem
• Checking PHP version configuration
• Database analysis and table prefixes
• WordPress configuration file settings
• Solving the problem via phpMyAdmin
• Checking server scripts and cron tasks
• Step-by-step troubleshooting algorithm

Main causes of the problem

The daily reset of the administrator password after migrating a site to new hosting can be caused by several main factors:

1. PHP version mismatch - the new hosting may use a different PHP version that processes password hashing differently
2. Database table prefix problems - during migration, prefixes may have changed, which disrupts the system operation
3. Incorrect wp-config.php configuration - the configuration file after migration may contain incorrect database connection parameters
4. Database access permission problems - the new database user may have limited rights
5. Server scripts or cron tasks - scripts on the new hosting may be automatically resetting passwords

As experts from InMotion Hosting note, after migration, problems with the mail() function often arise, which can affect authentication processes.

Checking PHP version configuration

One of the most common causes of daily password reset is the difference in PHP versions between the old and new hosting:

// Check current PHP version
<?php phpinfo(); ?>

What to check:

• PHP version on the new hosting
• PHP extensions related to security
• session.save_path settings
• upload_max_filesize and post_max_size parameters

According to research on Stack Overflow, after migrating from localhost to commercial hosting, any changes to user passwords can cause recognition errors, especially if PHP versions differ.

Database analysis and table prefixes

Database problems are the second most common cause of your situation:

Checking table prefixes:

-- Show all tables in the database
SHOW TABLES;

Solving prefix problems:

1. Check that table prefixes are correct in the wp-config.php file:
   php

   $table_prefix = 'wp_';
   

2. Make sure all tables use the same prefix
3. Check database integrity after migration

As explained in Kinsta, when working with phpMyAdmin, it’s always recommended to create a database backup before making changes.

WordPress configuration file settings

The wp-config.php file after migration requires special attention:

Key parameters to check:

// Database connection data
define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'your_database_user');  
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
define('DB_CHARSET', 'utf8mb4');
define('DB_COLLATE', '');

Additional security settings:

// Set authentication keys
define('AUTH_KEY',         'put your unique phrase here');
define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY',  'put your unique phrase here');
define('LOGGED_IN_KEY',    'put your unique phrase here');
define('NONCE_KEY',        'put your unique phrase here');
define('AUTH_SALT',        'put your unique phrase here');
define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');
define('LOGGED_IN_SALT',   'put your unique phrase here');
define('NONCE_SALT',       'put your unique phrase here');

Note that when migrating to new hosting, you must update all security keys, as recommended in the official WordPress documentation.

Solving the problem via phpMyAdmin

If the problem isn’t resolved by the checks above, the most reliable method is to reset the password via phpMyAdmin:

Action algorithm:

1. Log in to phpMyAdmin through the hosting control panel
2. Select the WordPress database
3. Find the wp_users table (or with your prefix)
4. Find the administrator user
5. Change the user_pass field

It’s important to use the correct hashing format. As explained in WPBeginner, for WordPress 3.7 and above, the wp_hash_password() algorithm is used:

-- SQL query to reset password
UPDATE wp_users SET user_pass = MD5('new_password') WHERE user_login = 'admin';

For newer WordPress versions, it’s recommended to use the wp_set_password() function through a temporary file:

// Add this code to functions.php or create a temporary file
<?php wp_set_password('my_new_password', 1); ?>

Checking server scripts and cron tasks

Sometimes the problem may be related to automatic scripts on the new hosting:

What to check:

1. Cron tasks in the hosting control panel
2. Automatic maintenance scripts
3. Server security settings
4. PHP error log files

As users note on Reddit, after migration, hidden conflicts with server settings may arise that aren’t visible in the regular admin panel.

Step-by-step troubleshooting algorithm

For a systematic solution to the problem, the following algorithm is recommended:

1. Check PHP version - make sure the versions match on both hostings
2. Database backup - create a complete backup before making changes
3. Update security keys - replace all keys in wp-config.php
4. Reset password via phpMyAdmin - use a reliable reset method
5. Check access permissions - make sure the database user has all necessary rights
6. Clear cache - delete all WordPress cache files
7. Testing - check system operation for several days

If the problem persists, contact hosting support - there may be specific security settings on the server affecting WordPress operation.

Sources

1. How to Reset Your WordPress Admin Password - InMotion Hosting
2. Updating Wordpress Password after migration causes login error - Stack Overflow
3. How to Quickly Change (Or Reset) WordPress Passwords - Kinsta
4. Login and PW reset issues after migration - Reddit
5. Reset WordPress Admin Password - WP Engine
6. How to Reset a WordPress Password from phpMyAdmin - WPBeginner
7. Reset your password - WordPress Documentation

Conclusion

The daily reset of the WordPress administrator password after migration to new hosting is a solvable problem that is usually related to technical aspects of the transfer. Main recommendations:

• Always check the PHP version and matching extensions on the new hosting
• Be sure to update security keys in the wp-config.php file after migration
• When problems arise, use the password reset method via phpMyAdmin
• Create complete database backups before making changes
• If necessary, contact technical support to check specific server settings

A systematic approach to solving this problem will completely eliminate the daily password reset and ensure stable operation of your site on the new hosting.