How to Make a Subscriber an Admin on WordPress

WordPress has a robust user role system to give different levels of access based on the user’s responsibilities. Before you upgrade any user, you should know these roles as giving full administrative access to someone can affect your entire website.

The standard WordPress roles include:

• Administrator – Full control of the website. Administrators can install themes and plugins, manage users and change core settings.
• Editor – Can publish and manage posts including posts of other users.
• Author – Can write, edit and publish their own posts.
• Contributor – Can write and edit their posts but cannot publish.
• Subscriber – Can manage their profile and read content but has no publishing or site management privileges.

Sometimes you need to upgrade a Subscriber to an Administrator. This usually happens when a team member needs full access to manage your website or troubleshoot issues.

Upgrading a user to Administrator gives them full access to your website. Only assign this role to users you trust completely to avoid accidental changes or security risks.

This post will guide you through three ways to make a Subscriber an Administrator: using the WordPress dashboard, phpMyAdmin and a plugin along with best practices and troubleshooting tips to make it safe and smooth.

You may want to upgrade a WordPress Subscriber to an Admin for several reasons. Knowing the purpose behind this will help you assign administrative privileges responsibly.

Why Make a Subscriber an Admin in WordPress?

1. Working with Trusted Team Members

New users start as Subscribers but need full access to manage the site. Making them an Admin allows them to manage plugins, themes and settings.

2. Site Troubleshooting and Development

Developers or technical team members need Admin access to fix issues, install plugins or perform updates that a Subscriber can’t.

3. Managing Multiple User Roles

On membership or community sites, upgrading trusted Subscribers can simplify management tasks and reduce the workload for the primary site owner.

4. Temporary Access for a Specific Task

You may grant Admin rights temporarily for a specific project or maintenance task and then revert back once the work is done.

Admin access gives full control of your site. Only assign this role to users you trust completely. Having too many Admins can increase the risk of accidental changes or security breaches.

For most WordPress users, the dashboard method is the easiest and safest way to upgrade a Subscriber to an Administrator. No coding or plugin installation is required, and the process can be completed in just a few clicks.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard

   • Use your admin credentials to access the backend of your WordPress site.

2. Navigate to Users > All Users

   • On the left-hand sidebar, hover over Users and click All Users.
   • This page displays a list of all users registered on your website.

3. Locate the Subscriber Account

   • Find the Subscriber you want to upgrade.
   • You can use the search bar if you have many users.

4. Edit the User Profile

   • Click Edit under the username to access the user’s profile settings.

5. Change the Role to Administrator

   • Scroll down to the Role dropdown menu.
   • Select Administrator from the list of roles.

6. Save Changes

   • Click the Update User button at the bottom of the page to apply the new role.

7. Confirm the Change

   • Ask the upgraded user to log out and log back in.
   • Verify that they now have access to administrative features.

Sometimes, you may not have access to the WordPress dashboard due to plugin conflicts, login issues, or other technical reasons. In such cases, you can upgrade a Subscriber to an Administrator directly through the database using phpMyAdmin.

This method is for advanced users. Always create a full database backup before making any changes. Editing the database incorrectly can break your website.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Access phpMyAdmin
   

   • Log in to your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel, Plesk).
   • Open phpMyAdmin and select your WordPress database.
     

2. Locate the Subscriber Account in wp_users Table
   

   • Click the wp_users table to view all users.
   • Identify the Subscriber you want to upgrade by their user_login or ID.
     

3. Note the User ID
   

   • Each user has a unique ID. You’ll need this for the next step.
     

4. Navigate to wp_usermeta Table
   

   • In wp_usermeta, find the row with meta_key = wp_capabilities and user_id matching the subscriber.
     

5. Edit the Capabilities
   

   • Change the meta_value to: a:1:{s:13:”administrator”;b:1;}
   • This change assigns the Administrator role to the selected user.
     

6. Save Changes
   

   • Click Go or Save to apply the changes.
     

7. Verify the Upgrade
   

   • Log in as the upgraded user to confirm access to the admin dashboard and all administrative features.

For users who prefer a visual and safe approach, the User Role Editor plugin makes upgrading a Subscriber to an Administrator simple. It eliminates the need to touch the database and reduces the risk of errors, making it ideal for beginners and agencies managing multiple users.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Install and Activate the Plugin

   • Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New, and search for User Role Editor.
   • Click Install Now and then Activate.

2. Access the User Role Editor

   • Once activated, go to Users > User Role Editor in your dashboard.

3. Select the Subscriber User

   • From the list of users, select the Subscriber you want to upgrade.

4. Assign the Administrator Role

   • Check the Administrator role in the plugin interface.
   • Ensure no other unnecessary roles are selected.

5. Save Changes

   • Click Update or Save to apply the new role.

6. Confirm the Upgrade

   • Have the user log out and log back in to verify they now have full administrative access.

Upgrading a Subscriber to an Administrator gives them full control over your WordPress site. While this is sometimes necessary, following best practices ensures your website remains secure and manageable.

1. Limit the Number of Administrators

• Only grant administrative access to users who truly need it.
• Too many Administrators can increase the risk of accidental changes, conflicts, or even malicious activity.
• Consider creating a policy that regularly audits admin accounts.

2. Monitor User Activity

• Track what administrators are doing on your site using plugins like WP Activity Log or Simple History.
• Monitoring changes helps catch accidental mistakes or unauthorized actions early.
• Logging activities also provides accountability in multi-admin environments.

3. Implement Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• Require Administrators to use strong passwords.
• Enable 2FA for extra security to prevent unauthorized logins, especially for high-traffic or multi-user sites.

4. Regularly Audit User Roles

• Review user roles periodically to ensure no inactive or untrusted users retain Administrator access.
• Downgrade users who no longer need admin privileges to reduce risk.

5. Educate New Administrators

• Provide guidance on WordPress best practices, such as plugin management, updates, and security.
• Ensure new admins understand the impact of changes on the website.

6. Backup Your Site

• Before and after any role change, maintain regular site backups.
• This ensures you can recover quickly if something goes wrong during administrative tasks.

Pro Tip: Combining role management with monitoring, backups, and security protocols creates a bulletproof system for safe WordPress administration.

Even when following the correct steps, some users may experience issues after upgrading a subscriber to an Administrator. Understanding and resolving these problems quickly ensures smooth site management.

1. User Cannot Log In After Upgrade

• Cause: Browser cache or cookies may be preventing new permissions from applying.
• Solution:
  • Ask the user to clear their browser cache and cookies.
  • Have them log out and log back in to refresh their session.

2. Dashboard Access Issues

• Cause: Plugin conflicts or permission errors.
• Solution:
  • Temporarily deactivate plugins to identify conflicts.
  • Check user roles using the User Role Editor plugin.
  • Ensure the wp_usermeta table in the database correctly reflects the Administrator role.

3. Role Change Not Reflected

• Cause: Caching issues or incorrect database edits.
• Solution:
  • Clear site cache if using caching plugins or CDN.
  • Verify the role in wp_usermeta table (meta_key = wp_capabilities) is correct.

4. Multiple Users with Wrong Roles

• Cause: Bulk changes or plugin misconfiguration.
• Solution:
  • Use User Role Editor to check and correct multiple users at once.
  • Limit bulk role changes to trusted admins only.

5. Security Concerns

• Cause: Too many users with Administrator access increases vulnerability.
• Solution:
  • Reduce the number of Administrators.
  • Enforce strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
  • Monitor activity logs for unusual changes.

Pro Tip: Regularly auditing user roles and activity can prevent most common issues. Combining these checks with proper backups ensures you can recover quickly from unexpected errors.

Upgrading a Subscriber to an Administrator in WordPress is easy when done right but comes with great power. By understanding WordPress user roles, using the right methods (dashboard, phpMyAdmin, or plugin) and best practices you can manage access to your site.

Key points to remember:

• Only assign Administrator roles to trusted users.
• Always back up your site before making changes.
• Monitor user activity and audit roles periodically.
• Use User Role Editor for safer, bulk or visual management.

By following this guide you can give trusted users admin access and keep your site safe, stable and fast.