HELP! I’m locked out of WordPress

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  staylor487679b2b1 · Member · Jun 22, 2026 at 3:11 pm

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  I’m in a really unique situation and need to know if there is anything anyone can help with to recover my account. When I try to access WordPress I get an error with a message stating to check my email as a recovery link has been sent. My website was unfortunately set up by a Developer who has unexpectantly passed away and therefore cant get access to WordPress nor recover anything to regain access. We have also looked to recover the site through WordPress however we cant get proof of ownership as we paid the developer who dealt with the payments side and he is the super admin so cant get any recovery keys / 2 factor authentication.
  
  Is there anything that can be done?

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  aazam0067 · Member · Jul 16, 2026 at 12:09 am

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  Hi @staylor487679b2b1

  I’m sorry, that’s a really difficult situation on both fronts, losing the person who set things up, and being locked out on top of it.

  Because the account was under the developer’s super-admin access with recovery tied to their email and 2FA, regaining access will need to go through WordPress.com’s official account recovery process, as they’re the only ones who can verify ownership and restore access in a case like this. The good news is that being able to show proof of payment/ownership will help support that verification.

  I’d recommend starting the account recovery process here:

  • Account recovery: https://wordpress.com/wp-login.php?action=recovery

  And reaching out to support directly to explain the circumstances, so a Happiness Engineer can guide you through verifying ownership:

  • Contact support: https://wordpress.com/help/contact

  Given the unusual situation, contacting support directly and explaining everything (including the proof of payment) is likely your best path. I hope they’re able to get you back in.

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  staff-louise · Staff · Jul 21, 2026 at 2:33 pm

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  Hello @staylor487679b2b1,

  I understand this is an incredibly difficult situation, and I’m incredibly sorry for your loss.

  Because the account was set up under the developer’s credentials, the standard account recovery form won’t help here since it sends a reset link to the email on file, which you wouldn’t have access to.

  For cases involving a deceased account holder, we do have a process that can help, but it requires specific documentation. You’ll need to provide:

  1. A copy of the developer’s death certificate.
  2. One of the following:

  • A legal document showing your authority to act on behalf of the deceased (requirements vary by region).
  • A signed, notarized statement that includes your full name, your relationship to the deceased, the specific action you’re requesting (e.g., “transfer site ownership to me”), and your contact information.

  The best next step is to contact our support team directly at https://wordpress.com/help/contact and explain the situation there. A Happiness Engineer can walk you through the verification process and work with you once the documents are ready.

  Scanned copies sent by email are fine, so there’s no need to mail physical documents. Please let me know if you have any questions.