How to Change the WordPress Admin Email (3 Methods)

The admin email is a crucial component of a WordPress website, as it serves as the primary point of contact for important notifications, password resets, and other critical information.

However, there may come a time when you need to change the admin email associated with your WordPress site.

In this guide, we will explore three different methods to change the WordPress admin email and provide step-by-step instructions for each method.

3 Ways to Change WordPress Admin Email

Changing the admin email in WordPress can be done using various methods. Here are three commonly used methods to change the WordPress admin email:

1. Change Admin Email through WordPress Dashboard

The simplest way to change the admin email is through the WordPress dashboard. Here’s how you can do it:

• Log in to your WordPress admin area using your existing admin credentials.
• From the dashboard, navigate to “Settings” and click on “General.”
• Locate the “Email Address” field and update it with the new admin email you want to use.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Save Changes” button.

By following these steps, you can easily change the admin email without any technical knowledge.

Note: After changing the admin email, you will need to confirm the new email as an admin email by clicking on the confirmation link received on the new admin email.

2. Change Admin Email via phpMyAdmin

If you have access to the web hosting control panel, you can use phpMyAdmin to change the admin email. Here’s how:

1. Access your web hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel) and locate the phpMyAdmin tool.
2. Open phpMyAdmin and select the database associated with your WordPress installation.
3. In the database, find and click on the table named “wp_options” (the table prefix “wp_” may vary).
4. Look for the row with the option_name “admin_email” and click on the “Edit” button (pencil icon) next to it.
5. In the “option_value” field, replace the existing email address with the new admin email.
6. Click on the “Go” or “Save” button to save the changes. By following these steps, you can directly modify the admin email in the WordPress database.

3. Change Admin Email via Functions.php File

For more advanced users comfortable with editing WordPress files, this method involves modifying the “functions.php” file. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Login to your WordPress website
2. Click on Appearance > Editor (Theme File Editor)
3. Locate and edit the “functions.php” file
4. Add the following code snippet at the end of the file:

update_option('admin_email', 'your-new-email@example.com');

5. Replace ‘your-new-email@example.com‘ with the new admin email you want to use.
6. Save the changes to the “functions.php” file.

By following these steps, you can modify the admin email by directly editing the WordPress files.

Best Practices for Changing Admin Email

When changing the admin email in WordPress, consider the following best practices:

1. Use a valid and active email address as the admin email to ensure you receive important notifications.
2. Ensure that the new email address is accessible and regularly checked.
3. Test the new admin email to verify functionality by triggering password reset emails or other notifications.
4. Consider setting up email forwarding or additional notifications to ensure you never miss important messages.

Conclusion

Changing the admin email in WordPress is a straightforward process that can be accomplished through different methods.

In this blog post, we explored three methods: changing the email through the WordPress dashboard, modifying the email via phpMyAdmin, and updating the admin email in the “functions.php” file.

By following the step-by-step instructions, you can easily change the admin email and ensure you receive crucial notifications and updates for your WordPress website.