WordPress Admin Login Redirect Loop

Warning Frequency: Common

Error message: wp-login.php keeps redirecting back to itself after entering correct credentials

This frustrating issue occurs when you enter correct login credentials but keep getting sent back to the login page. The login actually succeeds, but the authentication cookie isn’t being properly set or read, so WordPress thinks you’re not logged in.

Common Causes

Cookies not being set (browser blocking, wrong domain, HTTPS mismatch)
WordPress Address and Site Address mismatch (www vs non-www, HTTP vs HTTPS)
Plugin conflict affecting authentication cookies
Incorrect COOKIE_DOMAIN or COOKIEPATH in wp-config.php
Server time/timezone mismatch causing cookie expiration issues

How to Fix It

Clear all cookies for your domain in your browser
Verify siteurl and home match: wp option get siteurl and wp option get home should return the same URL
Try defining cookie constants in wp-config.php: define('COOKIE_DOMAIN', 'yourdomain.com'); define('COOKIEPATH', '/');
Disable plugins via FTP (rename plugins folder) to check for conflicts
Check server time: date via SSH u2014 if it's way off, cookies will expire immediately

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does WordPress keep redirecting me to the login page?

Your authentication cookie isn't being set or read properly. The most common causes are domain mismatches (www vs non-www), HTTPS issues, or browser cookie settings.

How do I access wp-admin if I'm stuck in a login loop?

Try clearing browser cookies, using incognito mode, or a different browser. If that doesn't work, use FTP to disable all plugins by renaming the plugins folder, then try logging in again.