How to Reset WordPress Admin Password on Azure App Service Using SSH and WP-CLI

2 minute read | By Loai Al-Shakhshir

Overview

This article provides the steps to reset a WordPress admin password for a site hosted on Azure App Service using SSH and WP-CLI.

This method is particularly useful when access to the WordPress admin portal (/wp-admin) is not available, or you do not have access to the MySQL database.

Scope

  • Azure App Service (Linux) hosting WordPress
  • WordPress deployments with WP-CLI available
  • Scenarios where password reset via email or UI is not possible

Prerequisites

  • Access to the Azure Portal
  • Sufficient permissions to the target Web App
  • SSH access enabled on the App Service
  • Basic familiarity with command-line usage

Procedure

1. Access Azure Portal

  • Sign in to the Azure Portal: https://portal.azure.com
  • Navigate to your WordPress Web App

2. Open SSH Console

  • In the left-hand menu, select:
    Development Tools → SSH
  • Click Go to open the SSH session

3. Navigate to WordPress Root Directory

Run the following command:

cd /home/site/wwwroot

4. List WordPress Users

To identify the user account:

wp user list --allow-root

This will display:

  • User ID
  • Username(user_login)
  • Display name
  • Email(user_email)
  • date of registration(user_registered)
  • Roles

List User Result

5. Reset the Password

wp user update <USER_ID> --user_pass='<NEW_PASSWORD>' --allow-root

Example:

wp user update 1 --user_pass='P@ssw0rd123!' --allow-root

List User Result

Expected Result

  • The password is updated immediately
  • No restart of the App Service is required

Verification Steps

  1. Navigate to: 
    https://<your-site>/wp-admin
  2. Log in using:
    • Username
    • New password

Important Notes

  • The –allow-root flag is required in Azure App Service environments
  • Always use a strong and secure password:
    • At least 12 characters recommended
    • Combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
  • Avoid sharing credentials in plain text

Troubleshooting

Issue: wp: command not found

  • WP-CLI may not be installed or available in the environment
  • Verify your WordPress image or installation

    Issue: Permission errors

  • Ensure you are in the correct directory: 
    cd /home/site/wwwroot

    Issue: Unable to identify correct user

  • Re-run: 
    wp user list --allow-root
  • Verify the correct Id before updating

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