How to change your Magento 1.x admin password

Key takeaways

• You can change your Magento 1.x admin password from the admin panel if you know your current password.
• If you’re locked out, use the Forgot your password? link first.
• Another admin user may be able to reset your password from System > Permissions > Users.
• Use database password resets carefully and back up the database first.

Learn how to reset or change your Magento 1.x admin password, recover access when you’re locked out, and take the next steps to keep your admin account secure.

Best method by situation

Choose the password reset method based on the access you still have.

Method 1: Reset your password by email

This method requires access to the email address assigned to the admin account.

To reset your password by email:

1. Go to your Magento 1.x admin login page.
2. Click Forgot your password?
3. Enter the email address tied to your admin account.
4. Click Retrieve Password.
5. Check your inbox for the password reset email.
6. Follow the link, create a new password, and save the change.

If the email doesn’t arrive, check the spam folder, confirm the admin account email address, and review Magento email settings or SMTP configuration.

Method 2: Change your Magento 1.x admin password from the admin panel

Use this method if you can still log in and know your current password.

If you know the current username and password, but don’t have access to the email account, you may use this method to change your password from within the Magento Admin Panel.

1. Log in to your Magento Admin Panel.
2. Select System > My Account.
3. In the Account Information section, if the email address is no longer valid or accessible, then you may update it in the Email field. Next, fill the Current Admin Password, New Password, and Password Confirmation fields.
4. Click Save Account.

This method is helpful when you still have admin access but need to update the password or email address tied to the account.

Method 3: Have another admin reset the password

If another Magento admin still has access, they may be able to reset your password without using the database.

To reset another admin user’s password:

1. Ask another active admin user to log in.
2. Go to System > Permissions > Users.
3. Select the admin user account.
4. Enter a new password.
5. Confirm the password.
6. Save the user.

The admin should confirm they selected the correct user account and avoid changing roles or permissions unless needed.

Method 4: Reset the Magento 1.x admin password in phpMyAdmin

Use this method only if safer options are unavailable. Database changes can affect the wrong user or break access if you edit the wrong table, database, or value.

Before making changes:

• Back up the database
• Confirm you are editing the correct Magento database
• Confirm the table prefix, if the store uses one
• Confirm the correct admin username
• Ask a developer or hosting support team for help if you’re unsure

To reset the password in phpMyAdmin:

1. Log in to your hosting control panel.
2. Open phpMyAdmin.
3. Select your Magento database.
4. Find the admin_user table, or the prefixed version, such as prefix_admin_user.
5. Locate the admin user.
6. Update the password carefully.
7. Confirm the user is active.
8. Test the login.

Some older Magento 1.x reset instructions use direct SQL updates. Treat that as an advanced recovery option and avoid it unless you understand the database change being made.

Method 5: Reset the admin password with Magerun if available

Some Magento 1.x environments use Magerun to manage admin users from the command line. If Magerun is installed and you have SSH access, a developer or hosting support team may be able to use it to reset the admin password without manually editing the database.

This can be cleaner than phpMyAdmin for teams that already use command-line tools. If you’re not comfortable with SSH, get help before making changes.

What to do after changing your Magento 1.x admin password

A password reset is a good time to review admin access and account security.

After changing the password, check:

• Admin users
• User roles and permissions
• Inactive accounts
• Shared admin accounts
• Suspicious recent logins
• Store email settings if reset emails didn’t arrive
• Password strength
• Backup and recovery access
• Magento 1.x security and hosting support

Password security tips for Magento 1.x admin users

A strong password is only the beginning of store security.

Use these admin password best practices:

• Use a long, unique password
• Avoid reusing passwords from other accounts
• Use a password manager
• Limit permissions based on role
• Review account lockout and password settings when available

Troubleshooting Magento 1.x admin password changes

If the new password doesn’t work, start with the most likely issue.

If you’re locked out after trying multiple methods, contact your hosting provider or Magento developer before making more changes.

Magento 1.x support note

Magento 1.x is no longer the current Magento release line. Stores still running Magento 1.x should be careful with admin access, security patches, hosting, and account management.

Keep admin accounts clean, remove users who no longer need access, and review security settings regularly.

Magento 1.x admin password FAQs

Changing your Magento 1.x admin password next steps

Magento 1.x admin password changes are simple when you can still log in. If you’re locked out, start with the forgot-password link or another admin account before moving to database recovery.

Choose the method that matches your access level, reset the password, and review admin users and permissions afterward.

Magento 1.x admin access is only one part of store security. Liquid Web Magento hosting gives store owners the performance, support, and reliability they need to manage Magento stores with confidence. Explore Liquid Web Magento hosting to find the right fit.