How to programmatically add a WordPress admin user using functions.php
Step 1:
Open your theme’s functions.php using a editor.
Step 2:
Paste the following code at the bottom of the functions.php (need to remove once the user is added)
add_action('init', 'create_my_custom_admin_user');
function create_my_custom_admin_user() {
$username = 'username123';
$password = 'pasword123';
$email = 'newadmin@example.com';
if (username_exists($username) == null && email_exists($email) == false) {
// Create the new user
$user_id = wp_create_user($username, $password, $email);
// Get current user object
$user = get_user_by('id', $user_id);
// Remove role
$user->remove_role('subscriber');
// Add role
$user->add_role('administrator');
}
}
Step 3:
Save the functions.php file and run the site once.
Step 4:
Go to the site’s login page (wp-login.php) and login with the username and password that are used on the functions.php. You should be able to login and see the dashboard.
Note: If the username or email already exists in the dashboard, you will not be able to login and in that case you may have to username and/or password.
Step 5:
Please remove the code block and save the functions.php once the user is added.