Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Fix WordPress Login Page Refreshing and Redirecting Issue (Quick Steps)

 












🔐 What is the WordPress Login Redirect/Refresh Loop?

Sometimes when a user tries to log in to WordPress, the login page just refreshes or redirects back to itself, preventing access to the dashboard. This can happen due to:

  • Corrupt cookies

  • Plugin conflicts

  • Incorrect URL settings

  • Corrupted .htaccess file

  • Theme issues

✅ Step-by-Step Troubleshooting (Third Person View)

🔹 Step 1: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

The first thing to check is the user’s browser:

  1. Open the login page in incognito/private mode.

  2. Or manually clear cookies and site cache from the browser settings.

  3. Try logging in again.

If the issue persists, it’s likely server-side.

🔹 Step 2: Check WordPress Site URL Settings

Sometimes siteurl and home values don’t match.

  1. Access the site’s wp-config.php file.

  2. Add these two lines (adjust your actual domain):

    php
    define('WP_HOME','https://yourdomain.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','https://yourdomain.com');

  3. Save the file and try logging in again.

✅ This forces WordPress to use the correct login path.

🔹 Step 3: Rename the Plugins Folder

This helps identify if a plugin is causing the redirect loop.

  1. Connect via FTP or File Manager.

  2. Go to wp-content/.

  3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins-disabled.

  4. Reload the login page.

If login works, rename the folder back and disable plugins one by one.

🔹 Step 4: Switch to Default Theme

A faulty theme may cause redirection loops.

  1. Rename the current theme folder in wp-content/themes.

  2. WordPress will automatically fall back to a default theme like twentytwentyfour.

Then test login again.

🔹 Step 5: Reset the .htaccess File

  1. Go to the root directory of your WordPress site.

  2. Rename the .htaccess file to .htaccess-backup.

  3. Now log in again.

  4. Once logged in, go to:

    • Settings > Permalinks

    • Click Save Changes to regenerate .htaccess.

🔹 Step 6: Check File Permissions

Incorrect permissions can block sessions:

  • Use FTP or cPanel

  • Make sure files are 644 and folders are 755

  • Especially check wp-login.php, wp-config.php, and wp-content

📌 Conclusion

The login redirect or refresh loop is frustrating but fixable. It’s usually caused by cookies, plugins, or URL mismatches. Clearing the cache, disabling plugins, or resetting .htaccess often resolves the problem.

By following these steps, WordPress users can regain access to their dashboard quickly and safely.