How To Fix WP-Admin Redirects to Homepage Issue [5 Easy Ways]

You log into your WordPress and abruptly find yourself on your website’s homepage. This issue when wp-admin redirects to the homepage can be very frustrating. But you do not have to worry!

This issue is easily fixable, and since you have landed on this article, you are already halfway through fixing the problem.

This issue can occur for various reasons, including plugin or theme incompatibility, .htaccess file corruption, or any other problem. Before jumping all in, you should understand how and why this issue occurs in the first place.

This article will list all the reasons why this problem arises and how to get rid of it. Without further ado, let’s jump in.

Why Does WP-admin Redirects to Homepage Issue Occur

By default, you can access a WordPress website by adding /wp-login.php/ or /wp-admin/ in front of any website’s domain. Unless changed, the destination takes you to the website’s login page, from where you can log in to your website using the login credentials.

Sometimes, instead of the login page, wp-admin redirects to the homepage. This issue can be deadly, as it traps you out of your website, preventing you from making further changes. 

Fortunately, fixing the WordPress login redirect loop requires just a few changes. But before that, let’s understand the potential causes of the issue.

• Browsing Cookies or Cache

This issue can also occur because of cookies stored on your website. These cookies help search engines personalize your experience, such as displaying ads of stuff that you are likely interested in—eventually helping businesses increase their click-through rates and potential sales.

Cache plugins can also cause such problems. Although these plugins help with website speed, they can also store old redirect rules or cache pages improperly, causing wp-admin to redirect to the homepage. 

• Changed URL

If your WordPress has multiple admins, one of the admins might have changed the default login URL due to password-guessing attack vulnerabilities. 

Also, some security plugins like All-in-One Login automatically change the login URL upon activation. If any of the admins have downloaded such a plugin, then you will have to enter that new login URL in order to access the login page.

• Plugin or Theme Conflicts

WordPress plugins enhance WordPress’s functionalities but also cause compatibility problems, including redirection errors. If any plugin or theme is incompatible with a plugin that can change the login URL, such as All-in-One Login, redirection issues can occur. 

Moreover, custom code in the theme’s `functions.php` file can interfere with wp-admin access. Some themes add redirects or modify login URLs for added security, which can break if there’s a typo or logic error, causing redirection issues.

• Corrupted .htaccess

.htaccess is one of the main files WordPress uses to function. The file: 

• Creates custom error pages
• Redirects visitors to other pages
• Blocks IP addresses
• Manages cache
• Controls SSL connections
• And more

Many plugins, including caching and security plugins, modify the .htaccess file to add redirects or security rules. Misconfigurations here can cause redirection errors, including the wp-admin redirects to the homepage error.

• Unauthorized Access

Lastly, if your WordPress doesn’t have multiple admins and yet your login page has been changed, that could be a sign of a hack. A study done on weak passwords revealed that a lot of users online still use weak passwords.

Password-guessing attacks like brute force and credential stuffing can occur on the WordPress login page. These attacks use trial and error to crack a user’s sensitive information. For example, the hacker will try the most common password on your login page. 

Alternatively, cyberattackers also use passwords obtained from previous data breaches. This practice can significantly harm users who use similar passwords for multiple accounts. 

05 Easy Ways to Fix WP-admin Redirects to Homepage

As we said earlier, the “wp-admin redirects to the homepage” issue is easily fixable. Here are four actionable ways to regain access to your WordPress login page:

#1: Clear Browsing Cookies and Cache

The easiest solution is to clear your browsing cookies. Web browsers store outdated and problematic cookies that prevent you from entering your website. The process varies depending on the browser you use. If you use Chrome, here is how to clean them up.

Go to the top left corner of your Chrome and click the “View site information” button.

Select the Cookies and site data >> Manage on-device site data, and you will find such options.

Clear cookies using the delete icon and press done. 

Alternatively, you can press CTRL + Shift + Delete, and you will be redirected to the delete browsing data settings.

Changing your web browser can also help. If you are unsure if it is a cache issue, you can try another browser that you don’t usually use. Try logging into your website there. If you can enter without any problems, that confirms it was indeed a cache issue.

#2: Change SiteURL Settings

The solution to this issue is chasing down the one that changed your login URL. If you do find one, simply asking them should work fine. However, if you are the only owner of your WordPress, then the best bet would be to speak to your hosting providers. 

Simply create a ticket and explain how you ended up in this situation. They can restore your default login URL, which can solve your problem. If you don’t want to talk to your hosting provider for some reason, you will have to access your website through MySQL Database.

Log into your database, and navigate to wp_options >> Select data. Once there, look for “siteurl” and “home” and make sure the login URL is exactly what you want. If it doesn’t, you can change it using “edit.” 

#3: Rename Plugins and Theme Folder

If a plugin is causing the issue, you can disable the plugins one by one to find the problematic plugin. This method can be time-consuming but is very effective. To speed up the process, you can disable those plugins related to the admin URL, such as cache plugins, login security plugins, etc.

To do so, log in to your file manager and navigate to the wp-content >> plugins. Afterward, disable the plugins that you think might be causing the problem. 

Alternatively, rename the plugins folder to something else like “plugins-old,” which will make the folder unreadable to WordPress, causing all the plugins to be disabled. Now, create a new folder and name it “plugins.”

Login to your WordPress again, and if the issue is fixed, move the plugins one by one from the “plugins-old” folder to the new “plugins” folder. That way, you can easily find the problematic plugin. 

If the issue is with your theme, use an FTP client to connect to your site. You’ll need your FTP credentials. If you don’t have them, reach out to your hosting provider.

After a successful connection, navigate to wp-content >> themes and rename the folder to something like “themes-old.” Again, the point is to make the file unreadable for WordPress, which would cause it to load a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One.

#4: Create a New “.htaccess” File

We already discussed how important the .htaccess file is, and if it has been corrupted, WordPress can not function without it. So, you can either create a new .htaccess file or delete it; once you return, WordPress will create a .htaccess file automatically. 

⚠️Editing the .htaccess file can completely break your website. You must create a backup before making any changes. Proceed at your own risk!

Access your site via FTP or Cpanel, often accessible at yourdomain.com/cpanel.

Afterward, navigate to the root directory and go to the “wp-config” settings. These settings are usually under the “public_html” folder. Once inside, locate the .htaccess file and rename it to something else.

Ⓘ If you can’t find the file, ensure your hidden files are visible. 

Return to your WordPress if the wp-admin redirects you to the login page. You can simply log in, and WordPress will automatically create a new .htaccess file with basic rules. 

If wp-admin is still redirecting to the wrong URL, you must create a new .htaccess file. 

To do so, create a new folder and name it ‘.htaccess.’

Go to the WordPress Developer Resources and copy the default .htaccess code. 

Paste the code in Notepad (or any plain text editor) and save it inside your newly created “.htaccess” file. 

That should be enough to help you get rid of the wp redirection issue. If it’s still not working, the issue might be more complex.

#5: Leverage the Best Cybersecurity Practices

To prevent unauthorized access to WordPress, you must secure your login page. According to a study of April 2023, there were 11,000 brute-force attacks every second. 

Thus, protecting your login page is not only a choice but a necessity. To protect your login page, download the All-in-One Login plugin. It’s a complete and reliable solution for WordPress login security.

Here’s how you can protect your login page using All-in-One Login:

• Mask Your Login URL — The default WordPress login is highly vulnerable. Anyone, including cyber attackers, can access your login page by adding /wp-login.php in front of your domain. With All-in-One Login, you can effortlessly change your login URL. Just navigate to the Login Protection tab >> Change Login URL subtab >> and enable the toggle button before entering your new login URL in the login URL input box.

• Limit Login Attempts — Automated machines do most brute-force attacks. A typical machine can make a few hundred guesses per second. You can prevent such attacks by implementing limit login attempts. That traps the attempts after a certain amount of guesses. 
• Implement Two-factor Authentication — Enabling two-factor authentication for WordPress can help protect it from cyber-attacks, even if your password is hacked or leaked. The security system requires the user to authenticate their login attempt using another factor, usually through the website owner’s mobile device or email.
• Implement reCAPTCHA — All-in-One Login allows users to add reCAPTCHA to WordPress. The feature prevents automated bot attacks by implementing (mostly) a visual test requiring the choice of specific objects from a set of images. 

💡 You might want to read this 👉 04 Actionable Ways To Fix reCAPTCHA Not Working in WordPress.

Wrapping Up: WP-Admin Redirects to Homepage

In the article, you’ve learned that the wp-admin redirects to the homepage issue can occur due to various reasons, including outdated browser cookies, changed URL, plugin conflict and issues, corrupted .htaccess file, or you might be hacked.

To fix this issue, you must clear your browsing cookies, change your site URL settings, rename plugins, themes, and .htaccess file to make it inaccessible for WordPress, and finally leverage strong protocols to protect your WordPress login page using All-in-One Login.

If you want us to take care of your redirection errors, contact our support team.

Lastly, for strong login page security, try All-in-One Login today!

Frequently Asked Questions