Troubleshooting WPS Hide Login: Fixing Common 404 and Access Issues
Content
WPS Hide Login is a popular plugin for securing WordPress sites by changing the default login URL. However, users sometimes encounter 404 errors or login access problems after installation. This guide covers the most common causes and their solutions, based on community reports.
Common Causes of 404 Errors and Login Issues
Several factors can interfere with WPS Hide Login's functionality:
- Caching Issues: Server, plugin, or browser cache may serve old login URLs.
- Plugin Conflicts: Other plugins, especially security or caching plugins, can override URL changes.
- Incorrect Server Configuration: Nginx or Apache settings may not properly handle URL rewrites.
- Conflicting Redirections: Custom redirection rules in .htaccess or other plugins can conflict.
- Multisite or Complex Setups: Some configurations require additional adjustments.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Clear All Caches
Clear your browser cache, then any server-side caching (e.g., LiteSpeed Cache, Fastest Cache) or CDN (e.g., Cloudflare). Cached pages might still reference the old wp-login.php URL.
2. Check for Plugin Conflicts
Temporarily deactivate other plugins, especially security plugins (like Wordfence) or other login-related plugins. Reactivate them one by one to identify the conflict. Some plugins, like 'Minimal Coming Soon', are known to be incompatible.
3. Verify Server Configuration
For Nginx users: Ensure your configuration includes the proper try_files directive:
location / { try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args; }
An incorrect rule can cause 404 errors in the admin area.
For Apache users: Check your .htaccess file for custom redirection rules that might conflict with WPS Hide Login's rewrites.
4. Flush Permalinks
Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and simply click "Save Changes" to flush the rewrite rules. This often resolves 404 issues.
5. Exclude Login Pages from Caching
If login attempts fail intermittently, exclude wp-login.php and your custom login slug from any caching mechanisms in your caching plugin or service (like Cloudflare).
6. Check for XML-RPC and User Registration
Even with a hidden login URL, attacks might target xmlrpc.php or other endpoints. Disable XML-RPC if not needed and ensure user registration is disabled if your site doesn't require it.
What to Do If You're Locked Out
If you cannot access your login page at all:
- Rename the Plugin Folder: Use FTP or your host's file manager to rename the
wps-hide-loginfolder (insidewp-content/plugins) to something likewps-hide-login.old. This will deactivate the plugin and restore access to/wp-admin/. - Database Check (Advanced): If you renamed the folder but still can't log in, the issue might be another plugin. Via phpMyAdmin, check the
wp_optionstable for thewhl_pagevalue to see your custom slug.
When the Login URL is Found by Attackers
If security plugins still report login attempts on your hidden URL:
- Ensure XML-RPC is disabled.
- Check that your custom login URL is not exposed in sitemaps, theme files, or comment author links.
- Change the custom login slug to a new, unique value.
Conclusion
Most issues with WPS Hide Login are resolvable by clearing cache, checking for conflicts, and ensuring proper server configuration. The plugin effectively hides the login URL when these factors are correctly managed. For persistent problems, testing with a default theme and minimal plugins can help identify the root cause.
Related Support Threads Support
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Login attempthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/login-attempt/
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Ne fonctionne pas avec Chrome | Does not work with Chromehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/ne-fonctionne-pas-avec-chrome-does-not-work-with-chrome/
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Possible bug. Redirection to /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/https://wordpress.org/support/topic/possible-bug-redirection-to/
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Impossible de me connecter dorénavanthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/impossible-de-me-connecter-dorenavant/
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URL detecté après changementhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/url-detecte-apres-changement/
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404 systématiquehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-systematique/
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Problème avec Minimal Coming soon and …https://wordpress.org/support/topic/probleme-avec-minima-coming-soon-and/
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Cache la Admin Tool barhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cache-la-admin-tool-bar/
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Ça marche mais problèmehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/ca-marche-mais-probleme/
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probleme redirectionhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/probleme-redirection-3/
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404 Not Foundhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/404-not-found-158/
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erreur de connexion 404https://wordpress.org/support/topic/erreur-de-connexion-404/
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bug ne parvient plus à se connecterhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/bug-ne-parvient-plus-a-se-connecter/
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Impossible de se connecter au back-officehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/impossible-de-se-connecter-au-back-office/
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Astuce nginx + WPS Hide Loginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/astuce-nginx-wps-hide-login/
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probleme avec l’url de connexionhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/probleme-avec-lurl-de-connexion/
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compatibilité avec WC et WPMLhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/compatibilite-avec-wc-et-wpml/
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Cela a été désactivéhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cela-a-ete-desactive/
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Problemhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-337/
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WPS Hide mis en place, je n’ai plus accès à mon tableau de bordhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wps-hide-mis-en-place-je-nai-plus-acces-a-mon-tableau-de-bord/
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Tentative d’accès loginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/tentative-dacces-login/
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Cannot Loginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-login-111/
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Problème de 404https://wordpress.org/support/topic/probleme-de-404/
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No more access to my sitehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/no-more-access-to-my-site/
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le lien mot de passe oublié ne fonctionne pashttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/le-lien-mot-de-passe-oublie-ne-fonctionne-pas/
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Buen complemento!https://wordpress.org/support/topic/buen-complemento-15/