{"id":97259,"date":"2024-04-24T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crazyegg.com\/blog\/?p=97259"},"modified":"2026-01-06T15:13:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T23:13:49","slug":"how-to-change-your-wordpress-username","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crazyegg.com\/blog\/how-to-change-your-wordpress-username\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change Your WordPress Username When It\u2019s Urgent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’ve noticed suspicious activity in your WordPress account, it’s important to change your sign-in credentials as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the process isn’t intuitive since WordPress doesn\u2019t have any built-in features to allow you to change your username. If you go to \u201cUsers\u201d and then \u201cProfile,\u201d the username field is grayed out with a message that it can\u2019t be changed, which can be super frustrating, especially in urgent situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there are workarounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Change Your WordPress Username When You Need to Do So Quickly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we get to the best way to change your WordPress username quickly, here are some additional options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Option 1: Create a New Username and Delete the Old One<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"WordPress<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Creating a new username is a free and non-technical method for changing your WordPress username, but it involves two lengthy steps and requires that you delete your current WordPress user account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you need to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Navigate to the “Users” section in your WordPress Dashboard<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Select “Add New User” from the drop-down menu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Fill out all of the new user details<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Select “Administrator” for the role, which will give this role all admin privileges, including the ability to delete the old account<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Sign out of your current WordPress admin account<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Log in with the new WordPress account you’ve just created<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Delete the old WordPress account<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    It works, but it\u2019s not ideal during a time crunch because there are several steps. Plus, it\u2019s not really as intuitive as it should be, and if you don’t properly assign the admin roles, you may have issues with the username transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Option 2: Change Your Username through phpMyAdmin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"phpMyAdmin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Editing your WordPress username through phpMyAdmin is a bit like performing surgery on your website\u2019s database for non-coders, and it takes even longer than the above method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you use phpMyAdmin, you dive directly into the control panel provided by your web host to access the database that powers your site. This database is a collection of tables where all your site’s vital data, including user details, is stored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here’s how you would typically go about changing your username via phpMyAdmin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Log into your web hosting control panel and select “phpMyAdmin”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Navigate to the “Database” section and click on the table named “wp_users”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Use the search feature within “wp_users” to locate your existing username<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Replace it with your new desired username in the “user_login” field<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Click “Go” to save the changes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      While this method gives you a high level of control, it\u2019s far more technical than the other options, and any mistakes in the database could lead to website errors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If you don\u2019t have a lot of technical expertise, it\u2019s generally safer to use one of the other methods for changing your username.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Our Recommended Method: Use a Username Changer Plugin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \"WordPress<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Want to avoid adding and deleting accounts and tackling code-based solutions? A username changer plugin is a much simpler, free solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Going with a simple and powerful plugin like Easy Username Updater<\/a> is the best way to change your WordPress username when it\u2019s urgent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s simple and easy to do, just follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Download and install the Easy Username Updater plugin<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Go to \u201cUsers\u201d on the left-hand side of the dashboard and click on \u201cUsername Updater\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Search for your username in the search bar in the upper right-hand corner<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Type the username you want in the \u201cNew Username\u201d field<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Click \u201cUpdate Username\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        As you can see, this clean and simple process requires just one action to change usernames after you’ve installed the plugin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        It’s an open-source plugin, so its functionality is free and complete. With over 10,000 active installations and mostly 5-star ratings, it’s a no-brainer for site managers seeking a quick solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Tips for Choosing a Secure Username<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        There’s a sweet spot to aim for when it comes to choosing a truly secure username. You want something that isn’t too easy for others to guess, but you also want something that you or your team will remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Here are a few best practices to keep in mind when upgrading to a more secure username:<\/p>\n\n\n\n