Are you looking to expand your team and need to add an admin user to your WordPress site? Whether you’re a skilled webmaster or a newcomer to the WordPress platform, this guide will walk you through the process of adding an admin user to your WordPress database via MySQL, troubleshooting common issues like “WordPress add new user not working,” and more.

Understanding User Roles in WordPress

Before we dive into the “how-to,” it’s essential to understand the different user roles in WordPress. An admin user has full control over the site, including the ability to add new users, change themes, and edit code. It’s a powerful role that should be assigned carefully.

You can anytime create roles with less power than an admin, to help you with your website tasks.

Add an Admin User to WordPress Using Admin Dashboard

The simplest way to create a new user in WordPress is through the WordPress admin dashboard. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
   Navigate to your WordPress site and log in with your admin credentials.
2. Access the ‘Users’ Section.
   On the dashboard, find the ‘Users’ tab on the left-hand side menu and click on ‘Add New.’
3. Fill in the New User Details.
   You’ll be prompted to fill in the new user’s information, including username, email, first and last name, website, and password. Make sure to select ‘Administrator’ from the ‘Role’ dropdown menu.
4. Add the New User.
   Once you’ve filled in all the details, click the ‘Add New User’ button at the bottom of the page.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully added a new admin user to your WordPress site.

Add an Admin User to WordPress via MySQL

Sometimes, you might need to add an admin user directly to your WordPress database, especially if you’re troubleshooting the “WordPress add new user not working” issue. Here’s how to do it via MySQL:

Access cPanel and Open phpMyAdmin.
Log into your hosting account’s cPanel and look for the ‘Databases’ section. Click on ‘phpMyAdmin.’

Navigate to Your WordPress Database.
In phpMyAdmin, you’ll see a list of databases on the left. Click on your WordPress database.

Open the wp_users Table.
Find and click on the ‘wp_users’ table. Then click on ‘Insert’ to add a new row.

Enter User Details.
You’ll need to enter the following details:

• user_login: The new admin’s username.
• user_pass: The password (make sure to select MD5 in the functions menu).
• user_email: The admin’s email address.
• user_registered: The date/time of registration.
• user_status: Set this to 0.
• display_name: The admin’s display name.

Add a New Row to wp_usermeta Table.
After adding the user, you need to assign the admin role. Go to the ‘wp_usermeta’ table and click ‘Insert.’

Configure the Admin Role.
You’ll need to add the following information:

• umeta_id: Leave this blank (it will auto-generate).
• user_id: The ID of the user you just created.
• meta_key: This should be ‘wp_capabilities’.
• meta_value: Insert this serialized value: a:1:{s:13:”administrator”;s:1:”1″;} to grant admin privileges.

Set the Admin User Level.
Add another row with the same user_id, and for meta_key, use ‘wp_user_level’, and for meta_value, enter 10.

Save Your Changes.
Click ‘Go’ to save each new row you’ve inserted.

Now, you should be able to log in to your WordPress dashboard with the new admin credentials you’ve created.

Troubleshooting: WordPress Add New User Not Working

If you’re facing issues with adding new users, here are a few things to check:

• Check User Registration Settings:
  Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ and ensure that the ‘Anyone can register‘ checkbox is ticked.
• Plugin Conflicts:
  Sometimes, plugins can conflict with user registration. Try deactivating all plugins and then reactivating them one by one.
• Theme Issues:
  A theme might also cause issues. Switch to a default WordPress theme to see if that resolves the problem.
• Corrupted Core Files:
  If all else fails, re-upload the wp-admin and wp-includes folders from a fresh WordPress install.

Adding users to your WordPress site, whether through the dashboard or directly into the database, is a straightforward process.

However, it’s crucial to ensure that you’re granting admin access to trustworthy individuals due to the level of access this role provides. With this guide, you’re well-equipped to expand your team and keep your WordPress site growing and thriving.