WordPress Login Troubleshooting: wordpress wont let me log in

If wordpress wont let me log in, it can feel like your whole business just got locked behind a door you don’t have the key for. No wp-admin access means you can’t publish content, check leads, update plugins, review orders, or even confirm what changed. And when wordpress wont let me log in, the panic usually isn’t the error itself—it’s the uncertainty, because the login screen can fail in ways that all look the same from the outside.

Here’s the tricky part: wordpress wont let me log in can be caused by totally different issues that require totally different fixes. A page that refreshes back to the login form might be cookies, caching, or a redirect loop. A sudden “403 Forbidden” or “429 Too Many Requests” is often a firewall, security plugin, or WAF rate-limiting your IP. A blank screen or “500 error” can be a PHP fatal error, memory limit, or plugin conflict that just happens to show up when you try to authenticate.

This guide is built to stop the guessing. If wordpress wont let me log in, you’ll follow a safe, step-by-step checklist that starts with quick wins (no risky changes), then moves into deeper fixes only if you actually need them. We’ll troubleshoot by symptom first, so you’re not randomly reinstalling plugins or changing settings that could make things worse.

Most importantly: don’t start deleting files out of frustration. When wordpress wont let me log in, the fastest path is to identify whether you’re dealing with a browser/session issue, a security block, an HTTPS/URL mismatch, or a plugin/theme/server failure—and then apply the right fix in the right order. By the end, wordpress wont let me log in won’t be a mystery—it’ll be a problem you can diagnose and resolve on purpose.

When wordpress wont let me log in: 5-Minute Triage by Symptom

Before you change anything, take five minutes to identify the exact failure pattern. When wordpress wont let me log in, the fastest fix comes from matching the symptom to the most likely cause—then choosing the lowest-risk test that proves (or rules out) that cause.

1) Match the symptom to the most likely cause

Use this quick map:

• Login page refreshes back to itself (no error): cookies/session issue, caching, or a redirect loop.
• “Too many redirects” / endless loop: HTTP↔HTTPS mismatch, Home URL/Site URL mismatch, proxy/CDN SSL mode conflict.
• “Cookies are blocked” / “Your browser does not support cookies”: browser settings, cookie domain/path mismatch, caching on wp-admin, mixed content.
• 403 Forbidden / 429 Too Many Requests: security plugin, WAF/Cloudflare rule, host firewall, rate limiting, or temporary IP ban.
• Blank screen / 500 error on login: plugin/theme fatal error, PHP memory limit, incompatible PHP version, corrupted core files.
• Password reset email never arrives: email deliverability/SMTP issues (not a login issue, but it blocks recovery).

2) Collect 3 pieces of info (it’ll save you an hour)

Write these down:

1. What changed last? (plugin update, theme change, SSL change, Cloudflare switch, migration, new security settings)
2. What’s the exact behavior? (loop vs error code vs white screen)
3. Is it device-specific? Test on one other browser or incognito.

If wordpress wont let me log in only on one browser/device, you’re probably looking at cookies/extensions/cache—not a server meltdown.

3) Pick the lowest-risk “proof test” first

Do one quick test that can’t break your site:

• Incognito + disable extensions (proves session/extension issues fast)
• Try a different network (mobile hotspot) if you suspect an IP block
• Load the site over both http and https to see if it forces loops
• Check if the front-end works but wp-admin fails (points toward auth/cookies/security layers)

If wordpress wont let me log in, don’t start with “nuke plugins” or “edit config files.” Start with a proof test, then move down the checklist with confidence.

Browser, Cookies, Cache & Session Problems

If the site loads fine but wordpress wont let me log in, there’s a good chance nothing is “broken” on the server at all—your browser session is. WordPress authentication depends on cookies, and when those cookies don’t get set or don’t get respected, you’ll see the classic symptoms: the login page refreshes back to itself, wp-admin bounces you out, or you get messages about cookies even though cookies are enabled.

Test #1: Incognito + a second browser (fastest proof)

Start with the simplest test: open an incognito/private window and try logging in again. If that works, your problem is almost certainly one of these:

• stale cookies
• cached login/admin pages
• a browser extension interfering (privacy blocker, ad blocker, password manager)
• aggressive tracking protection settings

If wordpress wont let me log in in Chrome, try Firefox (or vice versa). If one browser works and the other doesn’t, you’ve just ruled out most server-side causes.

Fix #1: Clear site cookies first (don’t nuke everything yet)

Instead of clearing your entire browser history (which is overkill), clear cookies and site data for just your domain. Then try again.

What you’re trying to eliminate:

• old auth cookies tied to a previous URL (http vs https)
• cookies set on a different subdomain (www vs non-www)
• corrupted session cookies that keep reloading the login form

When wordpress wont let me log in, this one step solves a surprising number of cases—especially after a migration, SSL change, or CDN change.

Fix #2: Remove caching from login + admin paths

Caching and WordPress logins don’t mix. If a cache layer serves a cached version of wp-login.php or wp-admin, your browser can’t complete a clean login handshake.

Common culprits:

• caching plugins misconfigured to cache “everything”
• host-level caching that’s too aggressive
• Cloudflare (or another CDN) caching pages it shouldn’t

Make sure your caching rules exclude:

• /wp-admin/
• /wp-login.php
• any “my account” or dashboard pages for logged-in users

If wordpress wont let me log in only sometimes (works, then suddenly doesn’t), intermittent caching behavior is a big suspect.

Fix #3: Check browser add-ons and privacy settings

Ad blockers and privacy extensions can block scripts or headers involved in login flows—especially if you use security plugins, reCAPTCHA, or Cloudflare Turnstile.

Quick test:

• disable extensions temporarily
• turn off strict tracking protection for your site
• try again

If login suddenly works, re-enable extensions one by one until you find the conflict.

Fix #4: Watch for “www vs non-www” and cookie domain weirdness

If your site sometimes loads as www.example.com but your WordPress settings are example.com (or the reverse), cookies may be set for one hostname while you’re logging in on another.

That can cause the maddening loop where wordpress wont let me log in even though your password is correct—because the cookie is never being recognized on the URL you’re using.

What to do next if none of this works

If you’ve tested incognito, cleared site cookies, disabled extensions, and ensured login/admin pages aren’t cached—and wordpress wont let me log in still happens consistently, move on to the next layer: security blocks (403/429), WAF rules, and login protection.

Security Blocks (403/429), WAFs, and Login Protection

If you’re seeing a 403 Forbidden, 401 Unauthorized, 429 Too Many Requests, or a “you’ve been blocked” style message, that’s a very different situation than a cookie loop. In these cases, wordpress wont let me log in because something is actively denying the request—usually a security plugin, a web application firewall (WAF), Cloudflare, or your host’s firewall.

The key is to figure out where the block is happening, because the fix depends on the layer doing the blocking.

1) Identify the “blocking layer” (plugin vs CDN vs host)

Start by noticing where you see the error:

• Branded block page (Cloudflare, Sucuri, Wordfence, etc.) → likely WAF/CDN or security plugin.
• Instant 403/429 the moment you hit wp-login.php → rate limiting or IP ban is very likely.
• It works on mobile hotspot but not your home/office Wi-Fi → your IP/network got flagged.

A super-fast diagnostic: try logging in from a different network (mobile hotspot) or from a different device. If it works there, wordpress wont let me log in because your original IP is being limited or blocked.

2) Common reasons you get blocked (even if you’re the owner)

Security tools don’t know it’s “you”—they only see patterns. Typical triggers:

• too many failed login attempts (fat-fingered password or saved password mismatch)
• aggressive bot protection
• reCAPTCHA/Turnstile misconfiguration
• custom login URL protection (and the URL changed)
• country blocking, ASN blocking, or “high threat score” rules
• XML-RPC blocks that accidentally spill over into login behavior
• hosting firewall rules that see wp-login hits as suspicious

If wordpress wont let me log in right after installing or updating a security plugin (or after turning on Cloudflare protections), that timing is a strong clue.

3) Safest recovery steps (least risk first)

Work top-down in this order:

1. Wait 10–30 minutes and try again (seriously)
   Some rate limits are temporary. If you keep hammering login attempts, you can extend the block window.
2. Use the correct login URL
   If you (or a plugin) changed the login URL, hitting the default wp-login.php may trigger blocks. Confirm you’re using the right entry point.
3. Whitelist your IP (or temporarily disable the rule)
   If you have access to the security dashboard (Cloudflare or plugin settings from another admin session), whitelist your current IP for login/admin access.
4. Prove it’s the security plugin
   If you have server-level access (file manager/FTP/SSH), the safest test is temporarily disabling only the security plugin to confirm the cause—then re-enabling it with corrected settings. Don’t delete it; you want a reversible change.

If none of that is possible and wordpress wont let me log in due to a hard block, your host support can often confirm an IP block quickly (and remove it) if you provide the exact timestamp and error code.

4) 2FA, lockouts, and “lost device” scenarios

Two-factor issues are sneaky because they can look like “wrong password” or endless loops:

• If your 2FA app changed phones or lost sync, you may need recovery codes.
• Some security plugins lock you out after repeated 2FA failures (not just password failures).
• If email-based 2FA is used and email delivery is broken, you’ll never receive codes.

If wordpress wont let me log in and you suspect 2FA is involved, look for any “verification required” step that’s failing silently (or being blocked by caching/security rules).

5) What to do after you regain access (so it doesn’t happen again)

Once you’re back in:

• lower the sensitivity of rate limiting (especially if you log in from shared networks)
• whitelist trusted IPs (where practical)
• confirm bot protection doesn’t challenge wp-admin for real humans
• make sure login/admin pages are excluded from caching
• save recovery codes for 2FA somewhere safe

If this section didn’t match your symptom (no 403/429, no block page, just redirects), the next likely culprit is the HTTPS/URL layer—redirect loops and SSL mismatches—so that’s where we go next.

Fix Redirect Loops When wordpress wont let me log in (HTTPS/URL)

If you’re stuck in a “too many redirects” loop—or you log in successfully and then get kicked right back out—this is one of the most common reasons wordpress wont let me log in. It’s not that WordPress “forgot” you. It’s that your site can’t agree on the one true URL it’s supposed to use (HTTP vs HTTPS, www vs non-www), so your login cookies keep getting set for the “wrong” version of the site.

1) Confirm the exact symptom (because loops have patterns)

Most redirect-related login failures show up like this:

• You submit the login form → it refreshes back to the login page (no error).
• You see “Too many redirects” in the browser.
• You briefly reach /wp-admin/ and then get bounced out to /wp-login.php.
• It works on one device but fails on another (because cookies are tied to a specific hostname/protocol).

When wordpress wont let me log in with one of these patterns, the goal is to make WordPress, your server, and any proxy/CDN all use the same canonical URL.

2) Check the “canonical URL pair” (Home URL + Site URL)

WordPress has two settings that must match reality:

• WordPress Address (URL) (Site URL)
• Site Address (URL) (Home URL)

If one is http:// and the other is https://, or one uses www and the other doesn’t, you can trigger cookie and redirect chaos that makes wordpress wont let me log in no matter how correct your credentials are.

Quick rule:

• Pick one version of the site (usually https:// + either www or non-www) and make everything consistent.

3) Watch out for “double forcing” HTTPS (the classic loop generator)

Redirect loops often happen when more than one layer is trying to force HTTPS:

• WordPress settings force HTTPS
• Your host forces HTTPS at the server level
• Cloudflare (or another proxy) forces HTTPS too
• A security plugin adds another redirect on top

Individually, any of these can be fine. Together, they can create a circular redirect chain where wordpress wont let me log in because the browser never lands on a stable URL long enough to set valid auth cookies.

What to do:

• Use one source of truth for forcing HTTPS (typically the edge/CDN or the server), then let WordPress simply “live” on that URL cleanly.

4) Cloudflare / reverse proxy SSL mode mistakes (super common)

If you use Cloudflare (or a similar reverse proxy), SSL mode matters a lot:

• Flexible SSL is a frequent cause of wp-admin redirect loops and login failures.
• “Always Use HTTPS” + incorrect origin SSL settings can bounce requests indefinitely.

If wordpress wont let me log in and you’re behind a proxy, the issue is often that WordPress thinks the request is HTTP while the browser sees HTTPS. That mismatch breaks secure cookies and can cause constant redirects.

The fix conceptually:

• Ensure the origin (your server) is actually serving HTTPS correctly, and the proxy is configured to reflect that accurately to WordPress.

5) Verify redirect chain and pick the cleanest fix

Instead of guessing, check the redirect chain:

• Start at your homepage
• Then /wp-login.php
• Then /wp-admin/

If you see it bouncing between:

• http ↔ https or
• www ↔ non-www

…that’s your smoking gun for why wordpress wont let me log in.

Once you know what it’s bouncing between, the clean fix is:

1. Choose the canonical URL (example: https://example.com)
2. Make WordPress settings match it
3. Ensure only one layer enforces it (server OR CDN)
4. Purge cache after changes (because cached redirects can “stick”)

6) One more gotcha: cached redirects and cached login pages

Even after you fix the underlying mismatch, you can still feel “stuck” because:

• your browser cached the redirect chain, or
• a cache layer is still serving an old redirect rule.

So after you make URL/SSL corrections:

• clear your site cookies
• test in incognito
• purge plugin/host/CDN cache

If wordpress wont let me log in and you fixed the canonical URL issue but it still loops, cached redirects are often the last thing keeping the problem alive.

Next up: if you’re not getting redirects or 403/429 errors—but login started failing right after an update—then the most likely cause is a plugin/theme conflict or a fatal error.

Plugin/Theme Conflicts & “It Broke After an Update”

If everything was working and then—right after an update—wordpress wont let me log in, you’re usually dealing with one of two things:

1. a plugin conflict (most common), or
2. a theme or PHP fatal error that’s breaking the login flow (or wp-admin) before it can complete.

The good news: you can test this safely without “deleting your site” energy.

1) Confirm it’s update-related (quick sanity check)

Ask yourself:

• Did you update a plugin/theme today (or auto-updates ran overnight)?
• Did your host change PHP versions?
• Did you enable a new feature like minification, object cache, or security hardening?

If the timing lines up, treat it like a controlled rollback investigation—not a random guessing game.

2) The safest first move: disable plugins without touching content

When wordpress wont let me log in because of a plugin conflict, the goal is to temporarily disable plugins to see if login instantly returns.

Safe approach (conceptual steps, not scary):

• Access your site files using your hosting file manager / SFTP / SSH.
• Temporarily disable plugins all at once by renaming the main plugins folder (WordPress will act like plugins are deactivated).
• Try logging in again.

What this tells you:

• If login works now → it’s almost certainly a plugin conflict.
• If login still fails → it’s more likely a theme/server/PHP issue (or a security/WAF issue you already covered).

Once you can log in again, restore the plugins folder name and then disable plugins one by one inside wp-admin to find the exact culprit.

3) Find the culprit fast (without wasting hours)

After you regain access, use a structured re-enable method:

• Turn plugins back on in small batches (3–5 at a time).
• Re-test login and wp-admin each time.
• The moment it breaks again, you’ve narrowed the suspect list.

High-likelihood offenders in login issues:

• security plugins (firewalls, login protection, 2FA)
• caching/performance plugins (especially with minify/combine, or caching wp-admin)
• redirect/SSL helpers
• “custom login URL” plugins
• plugins that add captchas or challenge forms

If wordpress wont let me log in only after you enable a specific plugin, you’ve got your answer.

4) If plugins aren’t the cause: test the theme

Themes can break wp-admin in surprising ways—especially if they include aggressive functions, outdated code, or require a PHP version you don’t have.

To test safely:

• Temporarily switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-*).
• Re-test login and wp-admin.

If login works on a default theme:

• your theme is causing a fatal error or conflict
• or it’s loading something that breaks authentication/admin pages

This is common after:

• theme updates
• switching PHP versions
• installing a page builder add-on that hooks deep into admin

5) Fatal error signs (and how to confirm without guessing)

When the symptom is a white screen, 500 error, or a login page that loads weirdly (missing styling, broken form), you’re likely hitting a fatal error.

Best places to confirm:

• your hosting error logs
• WordPress debug logs (if enabled)
• security plugin logs (if they block actions during login)

You’re looking for:

• “fatal error”
• “allowed memory size exhausted”
• “undefined function”
• “class not found”
• “cannot redeclare”

If you can pinpoint the plugin/theme file referenced in the error, you can fix the right thing immediately instead of trial-and-error.

6) Rollback strategy that doesn’t create new chaos

If you identify the exact plugin/theme update that caused the issue:

• rollback to the previous version (many plugins provide this, or you can reinstall a prior release from a trusted source)
• disable only the problematic feature (common with caching/minification and security rules)
• then update again later after confirming compatibility

Avoid the trap of “update everything at once” while you’re in recovery mode. One change at a time keeps you from turning one problem into three.

7) If you’re still locked out after plugin/theme testing

If you’ve ruled out cookies, security blocks, redirects, and plugin/theme conflicts—and wordpress wont let me log in consistently—then the next suspects are password/user issues (including reset emails not arriving) or server-level errors that only show up during authentication. That’s where we’ll go next.

Password, Users, and Reset Emails That Never Arrive

If wordpress wont let me log in and you’ve already ruled out cookies, security blocks, redirect loops, and plugin/theme conflicts, the next culprit is usually account recovery: a wrong password (often saved incorrectly), a broken reset flow, or an admin user problem (roles/capabilities).

1) First: eliminate “saved password sabotage”

This is way more common than people admit.

• Manually type the password instead of auto-fill (password managers can keep submitting an old password).
• Try logging in with the exact username (not email) if you’re not sure how the site is configured.
• If you recently changed URLs (http→https or domain change), your browser may be auto-filling credentials tied to the old site.

If you suspect saved credentials are the issue, remove the saved password for that site and try again with a known-good password.

2) If the password reset email never arrives, it’s usually email delivery

Password resets depend on your site being able to send email reliably. When reset emails don’t show up, it’s typically one of these:

• the email is landing in spam/promotions
• your server is sending mail but it’s getting rejected
• your site can’t send mail at all (common on misconfigured hosting)

Quick checks:

• search your inbox for the subject line, and check spam/junk
• try sending a test email from a form on your site (if you have one)
• check whether other WordPress emails (order notifications, form notifications) are also missing

Fix direction: set up SMTP (or a transactional email provider) so WordPress emails authenticate properly. Once email is stable, password resets become reliable again.

3) Confirm the user actually exists (and has admin access)

Sometimes you can log in, but you’re blocked from wp-admin actions because:

• your user got downgraded from admin to editor/subscriber
• capabilities were corrupted by a membership/security plugin
• an old migration/import created duplicate users

If you still have any admin session active on another device (or another admin user), check:

• Users → your account → Role
• whether there are any suspicious new admins you didn’t create

If your admin role is missing and you can’t access the dashboard, you’ll need a recovery method that doesn’t rely on wp-admin.

4) Recovery options when you can’t access wp-admin (use the safest one you have)

Pick the least invasive option available:

• WP-CLI (best if your host supports it): you can reset a user password or add an admin user quickly and cleanly.
• Hosting control panel “WordPress tools”: some hosts have one-click password reset or admin creation.
• Database-level reset (last resort): possible, but do it carefully and only after a backup.

Important safety note: don’t start editing random database fields unless you’re sure what you’re changing. A small mistake can lock you out harder.

5) If login works but you’re blocked inside wp-admin

That points to permission/capability issues rather than authentication.

Common signs:

• “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page.”
• menus missing that should be there
• admin toolbar absent even though you’re “admin”

Fix direction:

• verify your role is Administrator
• disable role/capability-related plugins temporarily (membership, LMS, security hardening tools)
• check if a security plugin is restricting wp-admin by IP or country

Next up: if you’re seeing 500 errors, white screens, or timeouts during login/recovery, the problem may be server/PHP/database-related—issues that masquerade as “login problems.”

Server/PHP/Database Failures That Look Like Login Problems

Sometimes wordpress wont let me log in not because the login system is “wrong,” but because your server can’t reliably complete the request. WordPress login isn’t just a form—it triggers PHP execution, database reads/writes, cookies, redirects, and plugin hooks. If any part of that stack is failing, the symptom can look like a login issue even when your credentials are fine.

1) Spot the server-level red flags

These symptoms strongly suggest a server/PHP/database issue:

• 500 Internal Server Error when submitting the login form
• White screen (blank page) after clicking Log In
• Gateway timeout / 504 or “This site can’t be reached” intermittently
• wp-admin loads sometimes, then hangs or crashes
• login works on some attempts but fails randomly (especially under load)

When wordpress wont let me log in intermittently, that’s often resource pressure (CPU/RAM), a noisy plugin, or unstable caching/object cache.

2) PHP fatals and memory limits (classic “wp-admin broke” scenario)

Login requests can trigger code paths that the front-end doesn’t hit. A plugin might only load on admin pages—or only during authentication—so you don’t see the problem until you try to log in.

Common underlying causes:

• Allowed memory size exhausted (PHP memory limit too low)
• incompatible plugin/theme code with your PHP version
• missing PHP extensions
• corrupted plugin/core files after an incomplete update

If you have access to logs, look for:

• “PHP Fatal error”
• “Allowed memory size… exhausted”
• “Uncaught Error”
• “Call to undefined function”
• “Class not found”

If logs point to a specific plugin or theme file, that’s your shortcut: disable/rollback that component instead of guessing.

3) Database issues that break sessions and auth

Authentication relies on the database. If the DB is slow or unstable, you can get:

• logins that “seem” to succeed but bounce you out
• slow spinning, then redirect back to login
• admin pages timing out

Common DB-level culprits:

• overloaded shared database server
• bloated options/autoload data
• broken/corrupted tables (less common, but possible)
• too many background processes (cron, backups, scans) hitting the DB at once

If wordpress wont let me log in and you also notice slow site response time (high TTFB), wp-admin slowness, or frequent timeouts, treat it as performance + stability, not just “login.”

4) Object cache / Redis / caching layers gone wrong

Object caching is great—until it isn’t.

If Redis/Memcached is misconfigured or corrupted, WordPress can behave unpredictably:

• login cookies set, then immediately invalidated
• dashboard loads partially, then errors
• “random” logouts

If this started right after enabling an object cache plugin or server-level cache, test by temporarily disabling that cache layer.

5) Cron overload and security scans (the hidden resource hogs)

Background tasks can starve the server:

• backup plugins running during peak traffic
• security scans (Wordfence-style) consuming CPU
• image optimization queues
• WooCommerce scheduled actions piling up

If these run at the wrong time, wordpress wont let me log in because the server is too busy to complete authentication requests quickly.

6) What to do next (practical path)

If you suspect server/PHP/DB issues:

1. Check your host/server error logs around the exact timestamp.
2. Increase stability first (resources, PHP memory, stop heavy background tasks).
3. Then re-test login in an incognito window.
4. If the error points to a plugin/theme, disable/rollback that component.

Next section: once you regain access, we’ll lock in the “prevention” checklist—so wordpress wont let me log in doesn’t come back the next time auto-updates run or security rules change.

Prevent It From Happening Again (Without Over-Plugining)

Once you’re back in, the goal isn’t just “it works right now.” It’s making sure wordpress wont let me log in doesn’t come back the next time something updates, a firewall rule changes, or caching gets too aggressive. The trick is to tighten your workflow and settings without turning your site into a fragile stack of plugins that all fight each other.

1) Use a simple update workflow that prevents lockouts

Most login disasters happen right after changes. A safer routine looks like this:

• Back up before updates (and confirm the backup actually exists).
• Update in this order: plugins → theme → WordPress core (not all at once).
• Make one change, then do a quick check: homepage loads, login works, wp-admin loads.
• If possible, test updates on a staging site first—especially for security, caching, and WooCommerce-related plugins.

This sounds basic, but it’s the difference between a 5-minute fix and a 5-hour recovery when wordpress wont let me log in happens again.

2) Harden login safely (security that doesn’t block you)

Security plugins and WAF rules help—until they treat you like an attacker. Use protection that’s predictable:

• Enable 2FA, but store recovery codes somewhere safe.
• Set reasonable login attempt limits (avoid “lockout after 2 tries”).
• If you regularly log in from a stable location, whitelist your IP carefully (and only if your IP is stable).
• Avoid stacking multiple tools that do the same job (e.g., two firewalls + a WAF + a login limiter).

If a security tool is the reason wordpress wont let me log in, it’s almost always because the sensitivity is too high or the rules are overlapping.

3) Cache/CDN “logged-in safe” settings checklist

Caching is a top cause of login loops and random logouts. Your baseline rules should be:

• Never cache:
  • /wp-admin/
  • /wp-login.php
  • pages for logged-in users (account/dashboards)
• Don’t minify/combine scripts blindly on admin/login pages.
• If using Cloudflare or a CDN, confirm you’re not caching HTML for authenticated routes.

A good cache setup makes the site fast and stable. A bad one is how you end up back at “why wordpress wont let me log in?” every couple weeks.

4) Make your site URL/SSL setup boring and consistent

Redirect loops love inconsistency. Keep it clean:

• Choose one canonical URL (HTTPS + www or non-www).
• Ensure WordPress “Home URL” and “Site URL” match that canonical URL.
• Use one layer to force HTTPS (server or CDN, not three).

When the URL/SSL setup is boring, authentication becomes boring too—which is what you want.

5) Keep a “break-glass” access plan

This is the part everyone skips until they need it.

Have at least one of these ready:

• hosting/SFTP access confirmed
• a second admin user (kept secure)
• WP-CLI access (if available)
• a documented recovery note: where backups are, where logs are, what security plugin/WAF is active

If wordpress wont let me log in ever happens at the worst possible time (it will), this plan prevents panic and prevents risky “random fixes.”

Next up is the conclusion recap checklist—so you can scan the fix order in 30 seconds and know exactly where to start when login breaks again.

Conclusion

If wordpress wont let me log in, the worst thing you can do is start making big, irreversible changes while you’re stressed. The fastest fix is almost always a sequence—start with the lowest-risk tests, confirm the symptom, then move down the stack only as needed.

Here’s the quick “start here” order:

1. Incognito + different browser/device (rules out cookies/extensions fast)
2. Clear site cookies + confirm login/admin pages aren’t cached
3. Check for 403/429 blocks (security plugin, WAF, IP rate limit)
4. Confirm HTTPS + URL consistency (http/https, www/non-www, proxy SSL mode)
5. Test plugin/theme conflicts after updates (disable plugins safely, then theme)
6. Password reset + email delivery (SMTP if reset emails don’t arrive)
7. Server/PHP/DB stability (fatals, memory limits, timeouts, object cache issues)

If you work that list top-to-bottom, wordpress wont let me log in stops being a mystery and becomes a problem you can diagnose on purpose.

And if you need to escalate, don’t just say “login is broken.” Send concrete info so whoever helps you can act immediately: the exact error code or behavior, the URL you’re using, whether it works on a different network, what changed right before it started, and any relevant log entries around the timestamp. With that context, most login lockouts get resolved quickly—without guesswork, without breaking the site, and without reliving the same headache next month when updates run again.