Based on the description provided, it seems there might be multiple issues at play affecting your ability to access the WordPress admin screen. Let’s address each potential cause and provide solutions:
- User Role and Capabilities Issues
It sounds like there might be an issue with user roles and capabilities.
Solution:
Check User Role: Ensure that the user you are logging in with has the administrator role.
In phpMyAdmin, run the following query to check the role:
sqlSELECT * FROM wp_usermeta WHERE user_id = YOUR_USER_ID AND meta_key = 'wp_capabilities';
You should see something like a:1:{s:13:”administrator”;b:1;}. If not, update it accordingly.
Update User Role:
If the role is incorrect, you can update it:
sqlUPDATE wp_usermeta SET meta_value = 'a:1:{s:13:"administrator";b:1;}' WHERE user_id = YOUR_USER_ID AND meta_key = 'wp_capabilities';
- Plugin or Theme Conflicts
Since you mentioned disabling plugins from the database and renaming plugin folders, it’s possible a plugin or theme is still causing issues.
Solution:
Disable All Plugins: Ensure all plugins are disabled by renaming the plugins folder temporarily:
Access your site via FTP or file manager and rename wp-content/plugins to wp-content/plugins-disabled.
If you can access the admin screen, there is a plugin conflict. Rename the folder back and reactivate plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
Switch to Default Theme:
Temporarily switch to a default theme like twentytwentyone by renaming your active theme folder in wp-content/themes.
- Cache Issues
Even though you cleared the Chrome cache, there might be other caching layers involved.
Solution:
Server-Side Caching: Clear any server-side cache if you are using caching solutions like Varnish, NGINX, or hosting provider caching.
Browser Cache: Clear all browser caches, including cookies and site data.
- Database Corruption or Misconfiguration
There might be an issue with your WordPress database settings or tables.
Solution:
Repair Database:
Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:
phpdefine('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);
Navigate to https://yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php and follow the instructions to repair and optimize the database. Remove the line from wp-config.php after completing the repair.
- External User Interference
An external user might have made changes that are affecting your site.
Solution:
Review Changes: If possible, review the changes made by the external user. Check for any custom code or changes in the functions.php file, plugins, or settings they might have altered.
Restore Backup: If you have a recent backup before the issue started, consider restoring your site to that point.
Additional Steps
Check Debug Logs:
Enable debugging in wp-config.php to capture any errors:
phpdefine('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
Check the wp-content/debug.log file for any error messages.
Update WordPress: Ensure that your WordPress installation, themes, and plugins are up to date.
By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and resolve the issues preventing access to your WordPress admin screen. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to a WordPress specialist who can provide more in-depth assistance.