The WordPress Password Hash Generator produces WordPress-compatible password hashes using the phpass algorithm — the same hashing scheme WordPress uses to store passwords in the wp_users table. Use it to manually reset a WordPress user password directly in the database when you cannot access the admin panel, or to generate test password hashes for WordPress development and migration work.
$P$).user_pass column in the wp_users table for the target user.When the admin panel is inaccessible (locked out, forgotten password, broken email), update the password directly in the database:
SELECT ID, user_login, user_pass FROM wp_users; to identify the user.UPDATE wp_users SET user_pass = '[generated hash]' WHERE user_login = 'your_username';DELETE FROM wp_usermeta WHERE meta_key = 'session_tokens' AND user_id = [user ID];phpass (Portable PHP password hashing framework) is the password hashing library used by WordPress since version 2.5. It predates modern password hashing algorithms and was a significant security improvement over the plain MD5 hashes WordPress used before it.
$P$B for WordPress (or $H$9 for phpBB).$P$B[22 characters]. The B encodes the iteration count (210 = 1,024 iterations). The following 8 characters are the random salt. The remaining 22 characters are the Base64-encoded hash output.$P$B prefix.$2y$ prefix). Existing phpass hashes continue to work and are upgraded to bcrypt on next login.$P$B + 8-character salt + 22-character hash). Also confirm you are updating the correct wp_users row (check the ID or user_login). Some database tools add invisible whitespace — use a SQL UPDATE with the hash in quotes rather than copy-pasting into a GUI field.$P$ prefix) and upgrades them automatically on first login. This means setting a plain MD5 hash will work as a temporary measure, but it is insecure. Always use a phpass or bcrypt hash for any password that will be used in production.wp_set_password( $password, $user_id ) is the WordPress function for changing a user password programmatically from within WordPress (e.g., in a plugin, functions.php, or WP-CLI). It handles hashing internally and is the preferred method over direct SQL updates when WordPress is accessible. This tool is for when WordPress itself is inaccessible.wp user update [user_id] --user_pass="newpassword". WP-CLI handles phpass/bcrypt hashing correctly and is safer than direct database manipulation. This tool is useful when neither the admin panel nor WP-CLI is accessible.wp_users table (shared across all sites). Update the user_pass field in that shared table. The network admin account is also in this table.When to use iterative development? You should use iterative development only on projects that you want to succeed.