Create an admin user programmatically in WordPress

Question

This is a Q&A:

Recently I had a client come to me to build a new website. They had also forgotten all their login details, but they did have FTP access.

So, how do you create an admin user via code?

Answer 1

This will create an admin user if placed in a themes functions.php file. Please change the first three variables as needed.

/* 
* Create an admin user silently
*/

add_action('init', 'add_user');

function add_user() {
    $username = 'username123';
    $password = 'pasword123';
    $email = '[email protected]';

    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');
    }
}