How to Fix WordPress Login Page Refreshing and Redirecting Issue – 8 Methods

Key Takeaways

• The WordPress login loop locks you out of your dashboard and can expose the login area to security risks.
• Corrupted browser cookies and cached login data are the most common and easiest cause to fix.
• Plugin and theme conflicts can be isolated via FTP without requiring admin dashboard access.
• A corrupted .htaccess file or incorrect site URL causes persistent redirect loops that cache clearing alone will not fix.

If you’ve ever struggled to log in to your WordPress site only to find yourself stuck in a never-ending loop of page refreshes or redirects, you’re not alone.

This issue can be annoying, especially when you’re trying to update content, manage plugins, or simply access your dashboard. But don’t worry, you’re in the right place!

Let’s dive into why this problem happens and, more importantly, how to fix it. I’ll share with you 8 easy methods with screenshots to fix this issue.

Let’s get started…

Understanding the WordPress Login Page Issue: Why It’s Important to Fix?

The WordPress login page issue is a common problem. Users find themselves unable to access their admin dashboard because the login page continuously refreshes or redirects in a loop.

This issue effectively locks users out of their own websites, preventing them from updating content, managing plugins, or performing any critical administrative tasks.

These issues can significantly impact productivity and site management, leaving you locked out of your own website at the most inconvenient times.

More importantly, a malfunctioning login page can also leave your site vulnerable to security risks, as hackers often target the login area to gain unauthorized access.

Fixing this issue isn’t just about regaining access—it’s more about ensuring your WordPress site’s overall stability and performance. Regular maintenance and quick resolutions to such errors help keep your site running smoothly.

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Common Causes of the Refreshing and Redirecting Problem

Here are some common causes of the WordPress login page refreshing and redirecting issue, along with detailed explanations:

1. Corrupted Cookies and Browser Cache: WordPress uses cookies for user authentication. If cookies or the cache stored in your browser are outdated or corrupted, it can result in a login loop. Clearing the browser’s cookies and cache often resolves this issue. After clearing, restart your browser before attempting to log in again.

• Plugins Conflict: Plugins can sometimes conflict with each other or with WordPress updates, causing login issues. If this is suspected, you can deactivate all plugins via an FTP client or hosting file manager by renaming the plugins directory. Once the issue is resolved, reactivate plugins one at a time to identify the culprit.
• Outdated Themes: An outdated theme or improperly coded files may interfere with the login process. To check this, switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty-Three). This can be done by renaming the active theme folder via FTP, which temporarily forces WordPress to use a default theme.
• Corrupted .htaccess File: The .htaccess file is crucial for WordPress configuration. Corruption or incorrect rules within this file can cause redirection problems. Deleting the .htaccess file and regenerating it by saving the permalink settings in the WordPress admin dashboard often fixes this issue.
• Incorrect Site URL: Incorrectly set WordPress Address (URL) or Site Address (URL) can lead to login page loops. These can be corrected via the WordPress dashboard (if accessible) or by editing the wp-config.php file using FTP to manually set the correct URLs.

How to Fix the “WordPress Login Page Refreshing and Redirecting” Error (8 Methods)

The WordPress login page refreshing or redirecting issue is a surprisingly common headache that many users encounter, often without warning. Understanding the root causes of this problem is the first step to resolving it effectively.

Method 1: Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

One of the most common reasons is corrupted cookies or browser cache. WordPress relies on cookies for user authentication, but if these cookies become outdated or corrupted, they can prevent you from successfully logging in.

By clearing the cookies, you’re essentially resetting this data, which can often resolve login problems.

• Click the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and select Settings.

• Select Clear browsing data.
• In the pop-up window, check the boxes for cookies, other site data, and cached images and files.
• Click delete data to confirm.

Once you’ve cleared your cookies, close and reopen your browser. Then, try logging into your WordPress site again.

Method 2: Disable All WordPress Plugins

Another common cause is plugin conflicts. WordPress plugins are great for adding functionality to your site, but they don’t always work well together.

An outdated, incompatible, or poorly coded plugin can interfere with the login process, causing it to refresh or redirect indefinitely.

To easily deactivate all your WordPress plugins, connect to your website using an FTP client or the File Manager app in your web hosting account dashboard.

Once connected, go to the /wp-content/ directory. Inside it, you will see a folder named ‘plugins.’ This is where WordPress installs all your plugins.

• In the wp-content folder, you should see a folder called plugins.
• Right-click on this folder and rename it to plugins_old or old_Plugins

This will deactivate all WordPress plugins installed on your website.

Method 3: Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

Sometimes, the WordPress login page refreshing and redirecting issue can be linked to a conflict with your current theme.

Custom themes, especially those that haven’t been updated in a while or contain complex scripts, may interfere with the login process, causing endless refreshes or redirects.

To rule out your theme as the source of the problem, you can temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three.

Here’s how to switch your theme safely, even if you can’t access the WordPress dashboard:

• Access your website’s files using an FTP client like FileZilla or your web hosting’s File Manager.

• Navigate to the /wp-content/themes directory.

• Locate your active theme’s folder and rename it.

This will force WordPress to revert to a default theme, such as Twenty Twenty-Three, which should already be installed.

Method 4: Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins

Outdated WordPress core files, themes, or plugins are often the root cause of many site issues, Regular updates are crucial to keep your site secure, stable, and compatible.

However, updating without proper preparation can sometimes lead to unexpected errors or even site crashes, which is why using a managed hosting platform like Cloudways can help you update safely.

Cloudways SafeUpdates feature makes the process of updating your WordPress site, themes, and plugins more reliable and stress-free.

Cloudways Safe Update ensures that your WordPress, themes, and plugins are up-to-date but also secures your website from potential risks associated with updates.

Here’s how Cloudways’ SafeUpdate works:

Step #1 — Activate SafeUpdates

• Log in to your Cloudways Platform using your credentials.
• From the top menu bar, open Servers.
• Next, choose the server where your desired application is deployed.

• Under Application Management, select SafeUpdates.
• Next, click Activate SafeUpdates.

Step #2 — Configure SafeUpdates

You have the flexibility to either schedule updates at your convenience or run them on-demand whenever you’re ready.

1. On-Demand Updates

• Under the On-Demand tab, select the items you wish to update.
• Next, click Update.

2. Schedule Updates

• Navigate to the Schedule tab and Enable Automatic Updates.

Method 5: Delete the .htaccess File in WordPress

To edit the .htaccess file in WordPress, go to your root directory using the file manager provided by your WordPress hosting provider. You may also use an FTP client like FileZilla.

• Log in to your FTP client.
• Navigate to the ‘public_html’ folder and look for the .htaccess file.

• Right-click and click on the ‘View/Edit’ option to open it in your preferred text editor.

Once you delete or rename the .htaccess file and save the changes, WordPress will regenerate a fresh .htaccess file. This can resolve the login page refreshing and redirecting issues by clearing any misconfigured rules that were causing the problem.

Method 6: Reset Admin Password Using phpMyAdmin

This method is useful when you’re locked out of your WordPress admin panel and cannot reset your password through the usual methods. Using phpMyAdmin to modify the database allows you to regain access to your site by directly updating user credentials.

Step 1: Access the wp_user Table

• Go to your WordPress database and find the wp_users table.

• Click Browse to view the users.
• Find your username and click Edit.
• Change the user_pass value to your new password and set the function to MD5.
• Click Go to save the changes & your password will be updated.

Step 2: Changing the Username:

• Click Browse in the wp_users table.
• Select the user you want to modify by clicking on the Edit option next to the username.
• Enter your new username in the user_login field.
• Click Go to save the changes.

Step 3: Adding a New User:

• Click Insert in the wp_users table.
• Enter the new user’s details (username, email, etc.).
• After completing the form, click Go to add the new user to the database.

Method 7: Check Your Site’s URL

The simplest and most common approach is to update your WordPress URL directly through the admin dashboard.

Just navigate to Settings > General in the admin menu. Here, you can easily modify the following fields:

If you can’t access the WordPress admin area, you’ll need to resolve this issue by editing the wp-config.php file directly.

• Access your website files using an FTP client (like FileZilla) or through your web hosting’s File Manager.
• Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation, which is public_html.
• Locate the wp-config.php file and open it for editing.

• Add the following lines to the file, replacing ‘https://newurl.com’ with your site’s URL

define('WP_HOME', 'https://newurl.com');
define('WP_SITEURL', 'https://newurl.com');

Method 8: Temporarily Deactivate Security Plugins

Another easy way to fix this issue is to try to deactivate security plugins. If you have access to your WordPress admin dashboard, you can easily deactivate security plugins directly from there.

Here’s how to deactivate security plugins:

• Log In to the WordPress Admin dashboard,
• From the WordPress sidebar, click on Plugins > Installed Plugins.

• You will find the security plugins Sucuri and iThemes Security in the list. Click on the Deactivate link below the plugin’s name.

Open a new browser tab or window and try accessing the login page again. If the issue is resolved, the security plugin is likely causing the problem.

Final Words

We hope this guide has helped you fix the WordPress login page issue and made managing your website easier.

The WordPress login page refreshing and redirecting issue can be frustrating. However, by following the methods outlined in this guide, such as clearing your browser cache, deactivating plugins, checking for theme conflicts, and updating URLs, you are likely to restore your access to the WordPress admin dashboard.