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How to Fix 'Sorry, You Are Not Allowed to Access This Page' in Admin Menu Editor

16 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Admin menu editor

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One of the most common issues users encounter with the Admin Menu Editor plugin is the frustrating “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error. This problem can lock you out of the plugin's settings, preventing you from managing your admin menus. This guide will explain why this happens and walk you through the most reliable solutions to regain access.

Why This Error Occurs

Based on common support threads, this error is almost always caused by a specific plugin setting. The Admin Menu Editor includes an option to restrict access to its own settings page. This is typically found under “Settings > who can access this plugin”.

The most likely scenario is that another administrator or a developer working on the site changed this setting to “Only the current user”. This means that once they log out, no other user—not even those with an Administrator role—can access the plugin's menu. This is a security feature that can accidentally lock out other legitimate admins.

How to Regain Access to Admin Menu Editor

If you find yourself locked out, here are the most effective solutions, starting with the simplest.

Solution 1: Rename the Plugin Folder (Most Effective)

This method forces WordPress to deactivate the plugin, which will reset all its settings to default. Once you reactivate it, the access restrictions will be cleared.

  1. Access your website's files using an FTP client or your web hosting provider's file manager.
  2. Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  3. Find the folder named admin-menu-editor.
  4. Rename this folder to something else, like admin-menu-editor-deactivated.
  5. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard. You should now have access to the Plugins page.
  6. On the Plugins page, deactivate and then delete the now-missing “Admin Menu Editor” plugin. Don't worry; this will not delete your menu settings.
  7. Reinstall and activate the Admin Menu Editor plugin from the WordPress repository. Your custom menu settings will be preserved, but the access permission will be reset to the default, allowing all admins in.

Solution 2: Manually Edit the Database (Advanced)

For advanced users comfortable with database management, you can directly change the setting. This method is more complex but avoids reinstalling the plugin.

  1. Access your website's database through a tool like phpMyAdmin, usually provided by your web host.
  2. Find the wp_options table (the prefix wp_ may be different on your site).
  3. Look for the option named ws_menu_editor_access.
  4. Edit this option's value and change it to super_admin to allow all admins, or simply delete the row to revert to the default setting.

Warning: Always back up your database before making any direct changes.

How to Prevent This Issue in the Future

To avoid accidentally locking yourself or other admins out again, be cautious when changing the “who can access this plugin” setting. It is generally recommended to keep it set to the default (“Super Admin” on multisite networks or “Anyone with the ‘manage_options’ capability” on single sites) unless you have a specific reason to restrict access to a single user.

Conclusion

Being locked out of the Admin Menu Editor can be a stressful experience, but it's usually easy to fix. The most straightforward solution is to rename the plugin folder to trigger a reset. By understanding how the access control setting works, you can prevent this issue from happening again and continue customizing your WordPress admin experience without interruption.

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