Title: Scan Stage Failed
Last modified: May 11, 2026

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# Scan Stage Failed

 *  [evastream1022](https://wordpress.org/support/users/evastream1022/)
 * (@evastream1022)
 * [5 days, 9 hours ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/scan-stage-failed-37/)
 * Hi! This morning I got a message that someone had login to my e-commerce with
   my administrator login and had deactivated my Wordfence pro. Panic! I made a 
   backup, changed every significant admin passwords and installed 2 factor Authenticator
   login. NOW Wordfence cannot scan the site. When I check Wordfence Troubleshooting
   it says; *Make sure you have not set up a secondary password to protect access
   to the “wp-admin” directory. This will break Wordfence scanning along with any
   public AJAX functionality in WordPress. Read more about this in [this blog entry](https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2014/05/please-stop-password-protecting-your-wp-admin-folder-because-it-breaks-public-ajax-for-wordpress/).’
   How can I make Wordfence scan work? I need to have a stronger admin login. A 
   Yellow warning appears that says
 * Scan Stage Failed
 * A scan stage has failed to start. This is often because the site either cannot
   make outbound requests or is blocked from connecting to itself. Wordfence will
   make up to 2 attempts to resume each failed scan stage. This scan may recover
   if one of these attempts is successful. [Click here for steps you can try.](https://www.wordfence.com/help/?query=scan-failed-start&utm_source=plugin&utm_medium=pluginUI&utm_campaign=docsIcon)
    -  This topic was modified 5 days, 9 hours ago by [evastream1022](https://wordpress.org/support/users/evastream1022/).
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fscan-stage-failed-37%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

 *  Plugin Support [wfpeter](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wfpeter/)
 * (@wfpeter)
 * [4 days ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/scan-stage-failed-37/#post-18906324)
 * Hi [@evastream1022](https://wordpress.org/support/users/evastream1022/), thanks
   for getting in touch!
 * I’d just like to double-check as you mentioned Wordfence Pro whether you’re a
   Premium customer? Due to wordpress.org rules, we can only support the free version
   here. You’re best logging into your [Premium Support](https://support.wordfence.com/)
   account so we can help you ASAP. Simply pasting the above post should be enough
   to get started.
 * If I’ve misunderstood and you need assistance for the free plugin here, just 
   let me know.
 * Peter.

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

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## Tags

 * [login](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/login/)
 * [scan](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/scan/)

 * 1 reply
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [wfpeter](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wfpeter/)
 * Last activity: [4 days ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/scan-stage-failed-37/#post-18906324)
 * Status: not resolved