Hey fellow WordPress maintainers! After dealing with countless broken WordPress sites and locked-out admin panels over the years, I finally decided to create something that would make my life (and hopefully yours) easier. Enter WP Recovery Tools – a single-file emergency toolkit that might just save your bacon when everything goes sideways.
What is WP Recovery Tools?
It’s a standalone PHP script that helps you recover access and fix common WordPress issues without needing to access wp-admin or rely on working WordPress functions. Think of it as your emergency backdoor when the front door is jammed.
How to Use
- Download the PHP script
- (If not already, rename it from wp-recovery-tools.php to something like wp-recovery-tools_[random-string].php)
- Upload it to your WordPress root directory (where /wp-config.php is)
- Access it through your browser: Example: https://exmaple.com/wp-recovery-tools-0727248cdf916d5f.php
- Delete it when you’re done!
Key Features
1. Recovery Mode Management
- Generate and manage recovery mode links
- Clear all existing recovery links if needed
- No need to mess with database queries or code snippets
2. User Management
- View all WordPress users and their roles
- Reset user passwords with a single click
- Create new admin users when you’re locked out
- Perfect for when you can’t access wp-admin or forgot credentials
3. Plugin Management
- See all installed plugins and their status
- Activate/deactivate plugins without accessing wp-admin
- Super helpful when a plugin breaks your site or causes the white screen of death
4. Theme Tools
- List all installed themes
- Check current active theme
- Switch themes when wp-admin is inaccessible
- Great for fixing broken themes or theme-related issues
5. Database & System Tools
- Database repair and optimization
- Clear cache and transients
- Reset permalinks
- View detailed system information
️ Security First
The script has several security features built-in:
- If no suffix found, forces you to rename the file with a unique suffix before using
- Provides recovery links that expire and have limited use
- Uses secure password generation
- Implements proper SQL escaping and input validation
⚠️ Important Warnings and Disclaimers
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY
- Backup Your Site First!
- Seriously, don’t skip this. Take a full backup of your files and database before using any recovery tools
- If something goes wrong, you’ll thank me later
- No Warranty
- This tool is provided as-is, without any warranty
- While I use it regularly on production sites, your mileage may vary
- Test it on a staging environment first if possible
- Security Considerations
- Don’t leave this file on your server after you’re done
- Always make sure the file has random suffix (wp-recovery-tools-c60f10ea67c4db3d.php)
- Keep the renamed filename secret – it’s your emergency access key
When to Use This Tool
This toolkit is perfect for when:
- You’re locked out of wp-admin
- A plugin or theme update broke your site
- You need to quickly add an admin user
- WordPress recovery mode isn’t working
- You need to deactivate a problematic plugin
- Database needs quick repairs
- You need system information for debugging
When Not to Use
- Don’t use it for regular WordPress maintenance
- Don’t leave it on your server permanently
- Not meant for regular user management
- Don’t use it if WordPress is working normally
Pro Tips
- Keep a copy in your emergency toolkit
- Test it on a development site first to get familiar with the features
- Document the filename you choose – you don’t want to forget it during an emergency
- Consider creating a separate backup admin user while everything is working
- Bookmark this article for future reference
Technical Requirements
- WordPress 5.2 or higher
- PHP 7.0 or higher
- MySQL/MariaDB
- File access to your WordPress root directory
Final Thoughts
As someone who manages multiple WordPress sites, having this tool in my arsenal has saved me countless hours of troubleshooting and recovery work. Just remember – with great power comes great responsibility. Use it wisely, keep it secure, and always, ALWAYS have backups!
Happy recovering!
P.S. I’m actively maintaining this tool and adding new features. If you have suggestions or run into any issues, feel free to reach out!
Disclaimer: This tool is provided as-is without any warranties or guarantees. Always backup your site before using any recovery tools.