How do I provide admin access?

Why do you need admin access?

When you report a bug, the first thing we do is try to reproduce the issue on our testing site. If we can replicate the issue, then we solve the problem and update the plugin.

Now if we can’t replicate the bug you’re reporting, then it’s impossible for us to fix it.

You’re probably wondering, why can’t these smart developers replicate the problem that you’re having?

Well that’s because each site is different. There are different web hosting environment and different combination of plugins/themes. One or more of these variables can be causing the issue.

When we are testing our plugins, we usually don’t have any other plugins activated, and we are using a default WordPress theme.

This is why sometimes the bug that you encounter is specific to your site. Maybe it’s a bug with a theme that you’re using or with a combination of other plugins that you have installed.

In order for us to fix the bug, we must know what’s causing the issue. This is why we may ask for your WordPress admin access, so we can have all the same variables.

Should I give you admin access?

Well… yes, you need to give admin access to us if you want the bug fixed. But wait, you don’t have to give us admin access to your live site!

What we need is the same environment as your live site (i.e same host, same plugins installed, same themes, and same settings). So if you have a staging or test site, it is preferable for both of us you to give access to that.

How do I add a new WordPress admin user?

Adding a user with administrator rights in your self-hosted WordPress site is fairly easy.

1. Log in to your WordPress website. When you’re logged in, you will be in your ‘Dashboard’.
2. Click on ‘Users’. On the left-hand side, you will see a menu. In that menu, click on ‘Users’.
3. Click ‘Add New’. Across the top, click the ‘Add New’ button.
4. Fill out the form and set the role to Administrator. If you’re creating the account for us, please DO NOT check ‘Send User Notification’.
5. If your site is not in English, please define English as the user language.
6. Click ‘Add New User’. At the bottom of the form, click the ‘Add New User’ button.

If your site is hosted at WordPress.com, adding a user with administrator rights is just as easy.

1. Log in to the WordPress.com website.
2. Click on ‘Settings’. On the left-hand side, you will see a menu. In that menu, click on ‘Settings’.
3. Click on ‘Security’ across the top.
4. Turn off ‘Allow sign in using WordPress.com accounts’. Scroll down to the ‘WordPress.com sign in’ section and turn off the ‘Allow sign in using WordPress.com accounts’.
5. Click on ‘WP Admin’. You will be sent to your WordPress ‘Dashboard’.
6. Click on ‘Users’. On the left-hand side, you will see a menu. In that menu, click on ‘Users’.
7. Click ‘Add New’. Across the top, click the ‘Add New’ button.
8. Fill out the form and set the role to Administrator. If you’re creating the account for us, please DO NOT check ‘Send User Notification’.
9. If your site is not in English, please define English as the user language.
10. Click ‘Add New User’. At the bottom of the form, click the ‘Add New User’ button.

If you want us to be able to log in to your website, please copy the link to your admin login URL and the username in your email to us. Please do not include the password in your email to us. We will use the password reset feature to generate a password for our use.

Oh, and don’t forget to delete the account after your question has been answered!

Providing admin access without creating a user account

You can also provide us admin access without adding a new user account. That might be convenient for many reasons. Maybe the ability to create self-expiring access being the main one.

For that you can install the Temporary Login Without Password plugin. This plugin allows you to create a self-expiring account for someone and give them a special link with which they can login to your WordPress without needing a username and password. You can also choose when the login expires, as well as the role of the temporary account.