How to Change the Default Login URL in WordPress for Better Security

Why Change the Default WordPress Login URL?

By default, every WordPress site’s login page is located at:

• yourdomain.com/wp-login.php
• or yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Unfortunately, bots and hackers know this too. They frequently target these URLs with brute-force attacks, trying thousands of username/password combinations.

Changing the login URL doesn’t make your site 100% secure, but it adds an effective layer of protection. Let’s see how to do it.

Method 1: Change Login URL Using a Lightweight Plugin

While we aim to avoid bloated plugins, a small security-focused plugin is often the best way to safely rename the login page.

✅ Recommended Plugin: WPS Hide Login

1. Install and activate the plugin from Plugins → Add New
2. Go to Settings → General
3. Scroll to the bottom to find “Login URL”
4. Set your custom login path (e.g., /secure-login)
5. Save changes — and you’re done!

After setup, the old URLs (like /wp-login.php) will return a 404 error, making your login page nearly invisible to bots.

Method 2: Manual Approach with Custom Rewrite Rules (Advanced)

This is a risky method and requires in-depth knowledge of .htaccess and WordPress internals — not generally recommended unless you’re experienced.

However, if you want to explore it, you’d need to:

• Set up a custom rewrite rule in .htaccess
• Redirect it to wp-login.php internally
• Block direct access to the default login path

Note: Manual rewrites may break WordPress core updates or functionality. Proceed with caution and always back up your site first.

Bonus: Extra Tips to Harden Your Login Page

Changing the URL is just one part of login security. You can also:

• Limit login attempts: Use plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
• Use 2FA: Enable Two-Factor Authentication via plugins like Two-Factor
• Disable XML-RPC: Block unused remote login endpoints via code or security plugins

What to Do If You Forget Your Custom Login URL

Don’t panic! You can restore access by:

1. Logging into your hosting file manager or FTP
2. Renaming or deleting the plugin folder /wp-content/plugins/wps-hide-login
3. This reverts the login path to the default /wp-login.php

Conclusion

Changing your default WordPress login URL is a quick win for site security. It doesn’t replace strong passwords or firewalls, but it reduces exposure to automated attacks.

With a simple plugin like WPS Hide Login, you can make this change in under a minute — and sleep a little better at night.