If you find yourself locked out of your WordPress admin after activating the Simple SSL plugin, don’t worry—there are steps you can take to regain access. Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:
1. Verify HTTPS Configuration:
Ensure that your website is running with proper HTTPS. Although you mentioned it seems to be working, double-check to confirm there are no mixed content issues. You can use online tools like WhyNoPadlock (https://www.whynopadlock.com/) to analyze your SSL configuration.
2. Check .htaccess File:
The Simple SSL plugin may have made changes to your .htaccess file. Access your website’s files using FTP or cPanel File Manager and examine the .htaccess file. If there are issues, you can restore a backup or make necessary adjustments.
3. Deactivate Simple SSL Plugin:
If you suspect the Simple SSL plugin is causing the login issue, try deactivating it. You can do this by accessing your website files via FTP or cPanel and navigating to the wp-content/plugins folder. Locate the Simple SSL plugin folder and rename it to something else temporarily. This will deactivate the plugin.
4. Resetting Password via Database:
Since the standard password reset isn’t working, you can try resetting the password directly in the database. Access your website’s database using phpMyAdmin or a similar tool provided by your hosting provider. Locate the wp_users table, find your user, and update the password field using a secure password hash. Ensure that the user_login and user_email fields are correct.
UPDATE wp_users SET user_pass = MD5('new_password') WHERE user_login = 'your_username';5. WordPress Config File Check:
Check your wp-config.php file for any unusual configurations. Make sure that the database credentials are correct. Incorrect settings here can lead to login issues.
6. Disable All Plugins:
Temporarily deactivate all plugins by renaming the plugins folder to something else. If this resolves the issue, reactivate each plugin one by one to identify the problematic one.
7. Theme Check:
Switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One) to rule out any theme-related issues.
8. Contact Hosting Support:
If none of the above steps work, reach out to your hosting provider’s support. They may assist in checking server logs or other settings specific to your hosting environment.
By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and resolve the issue that is preventing you from accessing the WordPress admin panel. If the problem persists, seeking professional assistance or contacting the plugin developer may be necessary.