Most problems have a quick fix. If yours is not here, see the end of this article.
"Not saved:" when I save my address Your address broke one of the rules, and the message says which. Nothing on the form was saved, so fix the address and press Save settings again.
- Use at least 4 characters: make it longer.
- WordPress already uses that address: pick another word; the full list is in Choosing Your Secret Login Address.
- A page or post on your site already has that address: pick another, or change that page's address.
- That is the address of the "email me my login address" page: pick another.
- That is one of the first addresses a robot tries: pick something only you would think of.
- The login address cannot be empty while Hide my login is on: to use the normal login again, switch Hide my login off instead. See The Hide My Login Switch.
- No published page or post on your site is at that address: the page you typed in the Anyone who tries box does not exist or is not published. Type another page, or 404.
My secret address shows "page not found"
- Check the spelling against the Dashboard tab, or your latest login address email.
- If your permalinks are set to Plain, your address is yoursite.com/?your-address, with the question mark.
- If the emergency switch is on in wp-config.php, your secret address does not answer: wp-login.php does. Take the line out when you are finished.
- A page cache may be serving an old copy. Clear the cache and add your login address to its never-cache list.
- Another plugin that moves the login may be fighting with Login Guard. Check the Other login plugins section on the Diagnostics tab.
I have forgotten my address:
Follow Forgot Your Login Address? Every Way Back In. There are four ways back.
The login address email never arrived:
Check your spam folder, then press Email it to every administrator again on the Dashboard tab. If it says The email could not be sent from this site, or the email still does not arrive, your site's email sending needs fixing. See The Emails Login Guard Sends.
The help page says "Too many requests from here" Each visitor gets three tries an hour. Wait an hour and try again, or use another way back.
The help page says "That form had expired" Reload the page and try again.
The help page says the address is on its way, but nothing came:
The page gives the same answer whatever is typed, on purpose. Check that you typed the email of an administrator account on this site, and check your spam folder. Also check that the help page is switched on in Settings.
The Login Guard menu only shows the free key screen:
Your free key is not active on this site. Your login stays hidden and your address keeps working. Press Get my free key and activate, or paste your key, to open the other screens. See Updates And Your Free Key.
Another hide-login plugin is active again:
The Dashboard tab warns you, with a link to the Plugins screen. Deactivate the other plugin: your address has already come across.
/wp-admin/ shows one of my pages instead of "page not found" You have chosen a page for blocked visitors. Type 404 in the Anyone who tries wp-login.php or /wp-admin/ without signing in sees box, and press Save settings, to show your site's own "page not found" instead.
My login is not hidden any more
- Is Hide my login switched off? The Dashboard tab says so, and the Settings tab shows the switch. Tick it and press Save settings.
- Is the emergency switch on in wp-config.php? Take the line out.
- Has another plugin taken over the login? Check the Other login plugins section on the Diagnostics tab.
Visitors can still see my address in a login link:
Your theme or a widget shows a login link. See Working With Your Theme, Other Plugins And Page Caches.
Still stuck?
Open the Diagnostics tab and press Copy Report for Support. The report never includes your login address, a password or a key. Then contact support at https://kevinfahey.org/contact-support/ and paste the report into your ticket.