By mistake I just ran this query: (note the extra ;)

DELETE FROM wp_users; WHERE ID = 321;

How can I add a user through SQL?

I searched around but couldn't find a proper answer to this fairly simple question.

More info about the situation I was in when I asked this:

• Can't use wp-cli on this shared hosting environment and it's way easier to launch mysql than to figure out how to run some PHP.
• I was not logged into the site (so I can't log in anymore).

By mistake I just ran this query: (note the extra ;)

DELETE FROM wp_users; WHERE ID = 321;

How can I add a user through SQL?

I searched around but couldn't find a proper answer to this fairly simple question.

More info about the situation I was in when I asked this:

• Can't use wp-cli on this shared hosting environment and it's way easier to launch mysql than to figure out how to run some PHP.
• I was not logged into the site (so I can't log in anymore).

• users
• mysql

Share Improve this question edited Nov 4, 2014 at 17:29 the asked Nov 4, 2014 at 13:40 thethe 1,56822 gold badges1313 silver badges3232 bronze badges

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2 Answers 2

Sorted by: Reset to default 9

This will create a new admin user called username with password: password in a database called DATABASE with table prefix wp_

Change the two accordingly to your own database name and table prefix.

Try this:

First create a row in wp_users. Replace DATABASE with your database name, username with your choosen username, password with your password of choice.

INSERT INTO `DATABASE`.`wp_users` (`ID`, `user_login`, `user_pass`, 
`user_nicename`, `user_email`, `user_url`, `user_registered`,
`user_activation_key`, `user_status`, `display_name`) VALUES ('9999', 
'username', MD5('password'), 'nickname', '[email protected]', '', 
'2014-11-04 00:00:00', '', '0', 'username');

Next insert two rows into wp_usermeta. Replace DATABASE with your database.

INSERT INTO `DATABASE`.`wp_usermeta` (`umeta_id`, `user_id`, `meta_key`,
`meta_value`) VALUES (NULL, '9999', 'wp_capabilities', 
'a:1:{s:13:"administrator";s:1:"1";}'), (NULL, '9999', 'wp_user_level', '10');

The key 9999 is a unique ID number so choose something that is not used.

Generally, WordPress has functions to handle what you want, it is much preferable to use them. For example, because it isn't a complete list, some of those are:

• wp_delete_user()
• wp_create_user()
• wp_insert_user()
• wp_update_user()

The class behind (most of) it is:

• WP_User

If you really need to know the SQL that is used, I would suggest you read the according source files. But as I said, it is much preferable to use the possibilities WordPress already offers, instead of doing your own custom SQL.