How to Change WordPress Username

Change WordPress username quickly and safely with this step-by-step guide so you can update your login name without losing posts or breaking your site.

Maybe you used “admin” when you first installed WordPress, or your old username no longer matches your brand and you want something more professional.

By default, WordPress does not let you edit usernames directly in the profile screen. To change WordPress username, you need to use one of the safe methods in this tutorial instead of editing the field manually.

This guide walks you through several ways to change a username, from beginner-friendly options (creating a new admin or using a plugin) to advanced methods (phpMyAdmin or SEO and UX, and where you will see it in daily work.”>WP-CLI).

What You Need Before Changing a Username

• Administrator access to your WordPress site (or hosting control panel).
• Access to the email address used for your WordPress account (recommended).
• Login details for your hosting control panel if you plan to use phpMyAdmin.
• SSH access if you want to use WP-CLI.
• A fresh backup of your site and database before making account-level changes.

Step 1: Understand Username vs Display Name

Before you change anything, it helps to understand the difference between your username and your display name:

• Username: Used to log in to WordPress. This is what we’ll change using one of the methods below.
• Display Name: The name shown publicly on posts and author archives. You can change this any time from your profile.

How to Change Your Display Name Only

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Users » Profile (or Users » All Users then click your user).
3. In the Name section, fill in your First Name, Last Name, and Nickname.
4. Use the Display name publicly as dropdown to choose how your name appears.
5. Scroll down and click Update Profile.

This does not change how you log in, but it hides an ugly or insecure username from public view.

Step 2: Choose How You Want to Change the Username

Because WordPress doesn’t allow direct username editing in the profile screen, you must use one of these methods. The table below shows where you use each method and what it’s best for.

Step 3: Change WordPress Username by Creating a New Admin

This is the simplest way to replace a username (for example, changing “admin” to your real name) without touching the database.

3.1 Add a New Admin User

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Users » Add New.
3. Enter a new Username (this will be your new login name).
4. Fill in the Email, First Name, and Last Name fields.
5. Set a strong Password and store it somewhere safe.
6. From the Role dropdown, select Administrator.
7. Click Add New User.

3.2 Log In as the New Admin and Delete the Old User

1. Log out of the current account (click your name at the top right » Log Out).
2. Log back in using the new username you just created.
3. Go to Users » All Users.
4. Hover over the old username you want to replace and click Delete.
5. On the confirmation screen, choose Attribute all content to and select your new admin user.
6. Click Confirm Deletion.

All posts, pages, and other content owned by the old user will now belong to the new username.

Step 4: Change WordPress Username Using a Plugin

If you prefer not to create a new account, you can use a dedicated plugin that lets you rename a username directly from the dashboard.

4.1 Install a Username Change Plugin

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard as an administrator.
2. Go to Plugins » Add New Plugin.
3. Search for terms like “username changer” or “change username”.
4. Choose a plugin with good ratings and recent updates.
5. Click Install Now, then Activate.

4.2 Rename the Username

The exact steps vary by plugin, but usually you will:

• Go to Users » All Users.
• Click Edit on the user whose username you want to change.
• Use the new Change Username field added by the plugin.
• Enter the new username and save your changes.
• Log out and log back in with the new username.

Step 5: Change Username via phpMyAdmin (Database Edit)

This method edits the username directly in the WordPress database. Only use it if you’re comfortable working in phpMyAdmin and you have a full backup.

5.1 Open phpMyAdmin and Find the Users Table

1. Log in to your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or your host’s custom panel).
2. Open phpMyAdmin.
3. In the left sidebar, click your WordPress database name.
4. Find the table ending in _users (often wp_users) and click it.

5.2 Edit the Username Field

1. Locate the row for the user you want to change (check the user_email column to be sure).
2. Click Edit for that row.
3. In the user_login field, replace the old username with your new username.
4. Click Go or Save at the bottom to update the row.

Now go back to your WordPress login page and sign in with the new username and the same password.

Step 6: Change Username Using WP-CLI

If your host supports WP-CLI, you can change a username with a single command. This is ideal for developers or power users managing multiple sites.

6.1 Connect and List Users

1. Connect to your server via SSH.
2. Navigate to your WordPress installation directory (where wp-config.php lives).
3. Run the following to list users:

   wp user list

6.2 Run the Rename Command

Once you know the current username and desired new username, run:

wp user update current_username --user_login=new_username

Replace current_username and new_username with your values. After this, log in to WordPress using the new username.

Step 7: Clean Up and Secure Your Account

After you change a WordPress username, it’s a great time to tighten security on that account:

• Use a strong password with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) via a security or 2FA plugin.
• Review user roles under Users » All Users and remove any accounts you no longer need.
• Log out other sessions from your profile screen if available.
• Update your email address in your profile if it’s outdated.

Conclusion: You Can Safely Change Your WordPress Username

Although WordPress doesn’t let you rename usernames directly in the profile screen, you now know several reliable ways to change WordPress username without losing content:

• Create a new admin user and delete the old one, attributing content.
• Use a username-changer plugin from the dashboard.
• Edit the username directly in the database via phpMyAdmin.
• Run a quick WP-CLI command if you have SSH access.

Pick the method that matches your comfort level, keep good backups, and lock down your account afterward with a strong password and 2FA. You’ll have a safer, more professional username in just a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions