WordPress Login Page 404 Error – Step-by-Step Fix Guide (wp-admin Not Opening)

If you are facing a WordPress login page 404 error, don’t worry, this issue is usually caused by a corrupted .htaccess file, plugin conflict, broken permalinks, or migration-related rewrite problems.

In most cases, you can fix the wp-admin 404 error or wp-login.php not working issue by resetting the .htaccess file and temporarily disabling plugins.

This guide will show you exactly how to fix WordPress login 404 error step-by-step even if you are not a developer.

Why WordPress Login Page Shows 404 Error?

When your login URLs like:

• yoursite.com/wp-admin
• yoursite.com/wp-login.php

show 404, it usually means WordPress rewrite rules are broken.

Common causes:

• Corrupted .htaccess file
• WordPress plugin conflict
• WordPress permalinks 404 error
• Login URL changed by security plugin
• Fix WordPress 404 error after migration issue
• Server rewrite module disabled

Let’s fix it properly.

How to Fix WordPress Login 404 Error (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Reset .htaccess File (Most Common Fix)

This fixes majority of WordPress login 404 fix cases.

1. Open your hosting File Manager or FTP
2. Go to WordPress root directory
3. Find .htaccess file
4. Rename it to .htaccess-old

Now try accessing:

yoursite.com/wp-admin

If login works → issue solved.

Now regenerate fresh file:

• Go to Settings → Permalinks
• Click “Save Changes”

This recreates a clean .htaccess file.

This method works in most .htaccess WordPress fix cases.

Default WordPress .htaccess Code (Quick Copy & Paste Fix)

If your .htaccess file is corrupted, missing, or causing the WordPress login page 404 error, you can manually recreate it using the default WordPress rewrite rules.

Copy and paste the following code into a new .htaccess file:

# BEGIN WordPress

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

# END WordPress

How to Add the .htaccess File

Follow these steps carefully:

1. Log in to your hosting control panel.
2. Open File Manager or connect via FTP.
3. Navigate to your WordPress root directory (usually public_html).
4. If .htaccess exists, rename it to .htaccess-old.
5. Create a new file named exactly:

.htaccess

6. Paste the code above.
7. Save the file.
8. Try accessing:

yoursite.com/wp-admin

In most cases, this immediately fixes the WordPress login page 404 error and restores access to wp-admin.

Important Notes

• Make sure the file name is exactly .htaccess (not htaccess.txt).
• File permissions should typically be set to 644.
• This solution works only if your server has mod_rewrite enabled (common on Apache servers).
• If you are using Nginx, rewrite rules are handled differently.

Step 2: Disable All Plugins (Plugin Conflict Check)

If login still shows 404:

1. Go to wp-content folder
2. Rename “plugins” folder to “plugins-disabled”

Now try opening WordPress admin page.

If it works → you had a WordPress plugin conflict fix situation.

Rename folder back and activate plugins one by one to find the problematic plugin.

Common causes:

• Security plugins
• Login URL changer plugins
• Cache plugins

Step 3: Check If Login URL Was Changed

If you installed:

• WPS Hide Login
• Security plugin

Your login URL might be different.

Instead of:

/wp-admin

It may be:

/custom-login-url

This is a common reason behind WordPress login redirect 404.

Step 4: Fix WordPress 404 Error After Migration

If the issue started after migrating hosting:

• Re-save permalinks
• Check if domain DNS updated correctly
• Check SSL redirection
• Confirm database URL matches domain

Migration often breaks rewrite rules.

Step 5: Refresh Permalinks

If dashboard is accessible:

• Go to Settings → Permalinks
• Select “Plain”
• Save
• Switch back to “Post Name”
• Save again

This fixes WordPress permalinks 404 error issues.

Plugin Conflict vs .htaccess Issue (Comparison)

Most WordPress login page not working problems are plugin or rewrite-related not core WordPress bugs.

Pros & Cons of Each Fix Method

Resetting .htaccess

Pros

✔ Quick solution
✔ Safe
✔ No data loss
✔ Works in most WordPress 404 error solution cases

Cons

✖ Custom rewrite rules may be removed

Disabling Plugins

Pros

✔ Identifies WordPress plugin conflict
✔ Safe troubleshooting
✔ No database changes

Cons

✖ Temporarily disables features
✖ Takes time to isolate issue

Migration Fix

Pros

✔ Fixes domain mismatch issues
✔ Corrects SSL redirect conflicts

Cons

✖ Requires basic technical knowledge

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When Should You Contact Hosting Support?

Contact hosting if:

• Entire website shows 404
• Even homepage not loading
• mod_rewrite disabled
• Server-level configuration issue

Otherwise, most WordPress login page 404 error problems are DIY fixable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my WordPress login page 404 error appearing?

It usually happens due to corrupted .htaccess file, plugin conflict, or broken permalinks.

How do I fix wp-admin 404 error?

Rename the .htaccess file and regenerate it from permalink settings. If that doesn’t work, disable plugins to identify conflicts.

Why is wp-login.php not working?

It may be caused by security plugin changing login URL or server rewrite issue.

Can migration cause WordPress login error?

Yes, fix WordPress 404 error after migration by refreshing permalinks and checking domain configuration.

Is it safe to delete .htaccess file?

Yes, WordPress automatically creates a new .htaccess file when you save permalink settings.

Final Verdict

If you are facing WordPress login page 404 error:

1. Reset .htaccess
2. Disable plugins
3. Check login URL
4. Refresh permalinks
5. Verify migration settings

In 90% of cases, the issue is solved without needing a developer.

As a WordPress developer, knowing these troubleshooting steps builds trust and authority and saves hours of panic.