Title: Lost admin access
Last modified: August 22, 2016

---

# Lost admin access

 *  Resolved [seanchk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/seanchk/)
 * (@seanchk)
 * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/)
 * I created a super admin level so that I could have higher (and hidden) access
   than my client.
 * But made the mistake of lowering my level to test something and now I cannot 
   access the plugin to change anything.
 * I still have admin access but its not high enough to see the user role editor
   plugin settings.
 * I’ve removed the plugin via ftp which sort of fixes things but when I reinstall
   it the settings are still there (must be in the database I suppose) and I still
   can’t see the plugin.
 * Can you please explain how I can fix this.
 * Thanks
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-role-editor/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-role-editor/)

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Vladimir Garagulya](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shinephp/)
 * (@shinephp)
 * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400239)
 * By default URE is available for the ‘administrator’ role at WP single and for
   user with ‘manage_network_users’ capability at WP multisite.
    You may replace‘
   administrator’ to any other role – change URE_KEY_CAPABILITY constant at ./includes/
   define-constants.php file.
 *  Thread Starter [seanchk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/seanchk/)
 * (@seanchk)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400333)
 * Hi Vladimir,
 * When I re-install the plugin because I now don’t have the top admin level, I 
   can no longer access the plugin (it doesn’t show in the installed plugins for
   my access level).
 * I checked the file includes/define-constants.php file but cannot see anything
   in there relating to user roles.
 * How do I completely clear the plugin and its settings so that when I re-install
   the wrong settings don’t get reapplied?
 * Or how do I edit my user role and raise it to super admin?
 * Thanks
 *  Plugin Author [Vladimir Garagulya](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shinephp/)
 * (@shinephp)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400334)
 * Hi,
 * If you work with single site WordPress
    open ./includes/define-constants.php 
   file, find line #15 there:
 *     ```
       define('URE_KEY_CAPABILITY', 'administrator');
       ```
   
 * and replace ‘administrator’ with your new role. Only after that you may get back
   access to the “User Role Editor”.
 * For WordPress multisite you need superadmin flag at your global user profile,
   look on the 1st screenshot from this post:
    [https://www.role-editor.com/wordpress-multisite-super-admin-privilege/](https://www.role-editor.com/wordpress-multisite-super-admin-privilege/)
   It shows capabilities required to raise a role up to the superadmin too.
 * In order to fully remove changes made by URE plugin (it is related to the options
   only as changes made to the roles are unrevertable) you need to delete URE via
   WordPress plugins menu, or manually fulfill modifications listed at uninstall.
   php file.
 *  Thread Starter [seanchk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/seanchk/)
 * (@seanchk)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400335)
 * Hi Vladimir,
 * Thanks.
 * I created a user level with the displayed name = Super Administrator with the
   system name administrator
 * I also renamed the original administrator account to basic_admin with the displayed
   name Administrator
 * My user level is just plain administrator and I cannot see anything above that
   level….
 * I am using Single Site WordPress.
 * I’ve tried putting
 * define(‘URE_KEY_CAPABILITY’, ‘Super Administrator’);
 * But that doesn’t give me the Super Admin access I need to see the plugin settings.
 * Here is the content of wp_user_roles in the database
 * –start–
 * a:11:{s:11:”basic_admin”;a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:13:”Administrator”;s:12:”capabilities”;
   a:63:{s:16:”activate_plugins”;b:1;s:9:”add_users”;b:1;s:12:”create_users”;b:1;
   s:19:”delete_others_pages”;b:1;s:19:”delete_others_posts”;b:1;s:12:”delete_pages”;
   b:1;s:14:”delete_plugins”;b:1;s:12:”delete_posts”;b:1;s:20:”delete_private_pages”;
   b:1;s:20:”delete_private_posts”;b:1;s:22:”delete_published_pages”;b:1;s:22:”delete_published_posts”;
   b:1;s:13:”delete_themes”;b:1;s:12:”delete_users”;b:1;s:14:”edit_dashboard”;b:
   1;s:10:”edit_files”;b:1;s:17:”edit_others_pages”;b:1;s:17:”edit_others_posts”;
   b:1;s:10:”edit_pages”;b:1;s:12:”edit_plugins”;b:1;s:10:”edit_posts”;b:1;s:18:”
   edit_private_pages”;b:1;s:18:”edit_private_posts”;b:1;s:20:”edit_published_pages”;
   b:1;s:20:”edit_published_posts”;b:1;s:18:”edit_theme_options”;b:1;s:11:”edit_themes”;
   b:1;s:10:”edit_users”;b:1;s:6:”export”;b:1;s:6:”import”;b:1;s:15:”install_plugins”;
   b:1;s:14:”install_themes”;b:1;s:7:”level_0″;b:1;s:7:”level_1″;b:1;s:8:”level_10″;
   b:1;s:7:”level_2″;b:1;s:7:”level_3″;b:1;s:7:”level_4″;b:1;s:7:”level_5″;b:1;s:
   7:”level_6″;b:1;s:7:”level_7″;b:1;s:7:”level_8″;b:1;s:7:”level_9″;b:1;s:10:”list_users”;
   b:1;s:17:”manage_categories”;b:1;s:12:”manage_links”;b:1;s:14:”manage_options”;
   b:1;s:17:”moderate_comments”;b:1;s:13:”promote_users”;b:1;s:13:”publish_pages”;
   b:1;s:13:”publish_posts”;b:1;s:4:”read”;b:1;s:18:”read_private_pages”;b:1;s:18:”
   read_private_posts”;b:1;s:12:”remove_users”;b:1;s:13:”switch_themes”;b:1;s:15:”
   unfiltered_html”;b:1;s:17:”unfiltered_upload”;b:1;s:11:”update_core”;b:1;s:14:”
   update_plugins”;b:1;s:13:”update_themes”;b:1;s:12:”upload_files”;b:1;s:15:”wpseo_bulk_edit”;
   b:1;}}s:6:”author”;a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:6:”Author”;s:12:”capabilities”;a:11:{s:12:”
   upload_files”;b:1;s:10:”edit_posts”;b:1;s:20:”edit_published_posts”;b:1;s:13:”
   publish_posts”;b:1;s:4:”read”;b:1;s:7:”level_2″;b:1;s:7:”level_1″;b:1;s:7:”level_0″;
   b:1;s:12:”delete_posts”;b:1;s:22:”delete_published_posts”;b:1;s:15:”wpseo_bulk_edit”;
   b:1;}}s:11:”bbp_blocked”;a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:7:”Blocked”;s:12:”capabilities”;a:
   0:{}}s:11:”contributor”;a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:11:”Contributor”;s:12:”capabilities”;
   a:5:{s:10:”edit_posts”;b:1;s:4:”read”;b:1;s:7:”level_1″;b:1;s:7:”level_0″;b:1;
   s:12:”delete_posts”;b:1;}}s:6:”editor”;a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:6:”Editor”;s:12:”capabilities”;
   a:35:{s:17:”moderate_comments”;b:1;s:17:”manage_categories”;b:1;s:12:”manage_links”;
   b:1;s:12:”upload_files”;b:1;s:15:”unfiltered_html”;b:1;s:10:”edit_posts”;b:1;
   s:17:”edit_others_posts”;b:1;s:20:”edit_published_posts”;b:1;s:13:”publish_posts”;
   b:1;s:10:”edit_pages”;b:1;s:4:”read”;b:1;s:7:”level_7″;b:1;s:7:”level_6″;b:1;
   s:7:”level_5″;b:1;s:7:”level_4″;b:1;s:7:”level_3″;b:1;s:7:”level_2″;b:1;s:7:”
   level_1″;b:1;s:7:”level_0″;b:1;s:17:”edit_others_pages”;b:1;s:20:”edit_published_pages”;
   b:1;s:13:”publish_pages”;b:1;s:12:”delete_pages”;b:1;s:19:”delete_others_pages”;
   b:1;s:22:”delete_published_pages”;b:1;s:12:”delete_posts”;b:1;s:19:”delete_others_posts”;
   b:1;s:22:”delete_published_posts”;b:1;s:20:”delete_private_posts”;b:1;s:18:”edit_private_posts”;
   b:1;s:18:”read_private_posts”;b:1;s:20:”delete_private_pages”;b:1;s:18:”edit_private_pages”;
   b:1;s:18:”read_private_pages”;b:1;s:15:”wpseo_bulk_edit”;b:1;}}s:13:”bbp_keymaster”;
   a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:9:”Keymaster”;s:12:”capabilities”;a:0:{}}s:13:”bbp_moderator”;
   a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:9:”Moderator”;s:12:”capabilities”;a:0:{}}s:15:”bbp_participant”;
   a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:11:”Participant”;s:12:”capabilities”;a:0:{}}s:13:”bbp_spectator”;
   a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:9:”Spectator”;s:12:”capabilities”;a:0:{}}s:10:”subscriber”;
   a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:10:”Subscriber”;s:12:”capabilities”;a:2:{s:4:”read”;b:1;s:7:”
   level_0″;b:1;}}s:13:”administrator”;a:2:{s:4:”name”;s:19:”Super Administrator”;
   s:12:”capabilities”;a:63:{s:13:”switch_themes”;b:1;s:11:”edit_themes”;b:1;s:16:”
   activate_plugins”;b:1;s:12:”edit_plugins”;b:1;s:10:”edit_users”;b:1;s:10:”edit_files”;
   b:1;s:14:”manage_options”;b:1;s:17:”moderate_comments”;b:1;s:17:”manage_categories”;
   b:1;s:12:”manage_links”;b:1;s:12:”upload_files”;b:1;s:6:”import”;b:1;s:15:”unfiltered_html”;
   b:1;s:10:”edit_posts”;b:1;s:17:”edit_others_posts”;b:1;s:20:”edit_published_posts”;
   b:1;s:13:”publish_posts”;b:1;s:10:”edit_pages”;b:1;s:4:”read”;b:1;s:8:”level_10″;
   b:1;s:7:”level_9″;b:1;s:7:”level_8″;b:1;s:7:”level_7″;b:1;s:7:”level_6″;b:1;s:
   7:”level_5″;b:1;s:7:”level_4″;b:1;s:7:”level_3″;b:1;s:7:”level_2″;b:1;s:7:”level_1″;
   b:1;s:7:”level_0″;b:1;s:17:”edit_others_pages”;b:1;s:20:”edit_published_pages”;
   b:1;s:13:”publish_pages”;b:1;s:12:”delete_pages”;b:1;s:19:”delete_others_pages”;
   b:1;s:22:”delete_published_pages”;b:1;s:12:”delete_posts”;b:1;s:19:”delete_others_posts”;
   b:1;s:22:”delete_published_posts”;b:1;s:20:”delete_private_posts”;b:1;s:18:”edit_private_posts”;
   b:1;s:18:”read_private_posts”;b:1;s:20:”delete_private_pages”;b:1;s:18:”edit_private_pages”;
   b:1;s:18:”read_private_pages”;b:1;s:12:”delete_users”;b:1;s:12:”create_users”;
   b:1;s:17:”unfiltered_upload”;b:1;s:14:”edit_dashboard”;b:1;s:14:”update_plugins”;
   b:1;s:14:”delete_plugins”;b:1;s:15:”install_plugins”;b:1;s:13:”update_themes”;
   b:1;s:14:”install_themes”;b:1;s:11:”update_core”;b:1;s:10:”list_users”;b:1;s:
   12:”remove_users”;b:1;s:9:”add_users”;b:1;s:13:”promote_users”;b:1;s:18:”edit_theme_options”;
   b:1;s:13:”delete_themes”;b:1;s:6:”export”;b:1;s:15:”wpseo_bulk_edit”;b:1;}}}
 * –end–
 * Is the problem that my ‘new’ role is called administrator? and my original admistrator
   was renamed to ‘basic_admin’ ?
 * Thanks for your help!
 *  Plugin Author [Vladimir Garagulya](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shinephp/)
 * (@shinephp)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400337)
 * >  define(‘URE_KEY_CAPABILITY’, ‘Super Administrator’);
 * This constant should use role ID, not the role name. That is for your ‘Super 
   Administrator’ role you may input ‘administrator’, for the “Administrator” role–“
   basic_admin”.
 * I don’t understand why do you need to rename standard WordPress role. In case
   you follow some of general WordPress security recommendations about renaming 
   built-in ‘administrator’ user, it is about the ‘admin’ user login, not about 
   his “Administrator” role. It is right thing, as a lot of bots tries to login 
   with ‘admin’ user. But there is no need to rename the built-in WordPress roles.
   Finally it could lead to the mess or confusion during site support, update or
   with some WordPress theme or plugin.
 *  [BizE](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bize/)
 * (@bize)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400350)
 * Hi
 * Can I jump in on this as I’m having similar kind of issue, except on a multisite.
 * I have installed & network activated URE, but am unable to create Site Admin 
   roles for the network sites – the only roles that appear to be available are 
   Customer, Shop Manager and Email Manager?
 * I also tried just activating it on the single site I need the extra Admin, but
   still didn’t show the capability.
 * Hope you can help on this.
 *  Plugin Author [Vladimir Garagulya](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shinephp/)
 * (@shinephp)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400351)
 * I wonder why you don’t see the standard WordPress roles like: editor, author,
   subscriber?
    Some other plugin may hide roles from you…
 * In order to see ‘Administrator’ role, excluded by default from URE dropdown roles
   list, go to the URE Settings page and turn on “Show Administrator at User Role
   Editor” role checkbox there
 *  [BizE](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bize/)
 * (@bize)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400352)
 * Thanks for getting back.
 * I had already set that, just checked again and it is set as you have suggested,
   but still no Admin role option showing, hence my query.
 *  Plugin Author [Vladimir Garagulya](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shinephp/)
 * (@shinephp)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400354)
 * Do you see built-in WordPress roles: editor, author, subscriber?
 *  [BizE](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bize/)
 * (@bize)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400355)
 * No, I remember seeing them in WP a while back when first putting the site together,
   but the’re not there now. It doesn’t change either even if I deactivate URE ...
   so that’s the strange thing?
 *  Plugin Author [Vladimir Garagulya](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shinephp/)
 * (@shinephp)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400356)
 * Yes, quite strange. Try to deactivate all plugins, activate built-in theme like
   2014. Will you see any changes in the roles list?
 *  [BizE](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bize/)
 * (@bize)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400357)
 * Thought I wold have a look at the db tables first. Think I have the correct ones
   here;
 * Main site is on “wrdp1”.
    In the “wp_options” table is “wp_user_roles” which 
   does only contain the roles I previously outlined – Customer, Shop Manager, Email
   Manager, even if I deactivate theme & plugins etc, isn’t this table going to 
   stay the same?
 * I happen to have an old install on “wrdp2” (several months old, so not current)
   and checked the same table there where I can see all the roles we are looking
   for – Admin, Editor etc.
 * So question I guess is has the data really has gone missing – as opposed to it
   being blocked by a plugin conflict? And if it has gone missing, can I repair 
   the table by just adding the data from that the old wrdp2 table?
 * What do you think . . ?
 *  Plugin Author [Vladimir Garagulya](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shinephp/)
 * (@shinephp)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400360)
 * You are right. The value of this record is a serialized PHP array. Any correct
   changes there will be reflected in WordPress:
    [http://shinephp.com/how-to-change-wordpress-user-role-capabilities/](http://shinephp.com/how-to-change-wordpress-user-role-capabilities/)
 * Just check that you will not lose ‘Customer’, ‘Shop Manager’, ‘Email Manager’.
   In case you did not have those role in the older copy of the database you may
   add them manually.
 *  [BizE](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bize/)
 * (@bize)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400361)
 * Great – copied the old user role data in that did it, all roles are now showing
   again!
 * Now resolved, so thanks for your help on this.

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

The topic ‘Lost admin access’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/user-role-editor/assets/icon-256x256.jpg?rev=1020390)
 * [User Role Editor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-role-editor/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-role-editor/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/user-role-editor/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/user-role-editor/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/user-role-editor/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/user-role-editor/reviews/)

 * 14 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [BizE](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bize/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lost-admin-access-6/#post-5400361)
 * Status: resolved