Imagine a thief repeatedly trying different keys to break into your home. That is like a brute force attack where hackers try thousands of password combinations to gain access to your site.
That sounds scary, but luckily you can easily defend your website like we do by limiting login attempts. This places a limit on how many times someone can try to log in before getting locked out, giving hackers almost no chance of breaking in.
This article will guide you through the process of setting up login attempt limits on your WordPress site. We will explore why it is important for your website’s security and walk you through the steps, even if you are not a tech expert.
Why Should You Limit Login Attempts in WordPress?
A brute force attack is a method that uses trial and error to hack into your WordPress website.
The most common type of brute force attack is password guessing. Hackers use automated software to keep guessing your login information so that they can gain access to your website.
By default, WordPress allows users to enter passwords as many times as they want. Hackers may try to exploit this by using scripts that enter different combinations until they guess the right login.
You can prevent brute force attacks by limiting the number of failed login attempts per user. For example, you could temporarily lockout a user after 5 failed login attempts.
Unfortunately, some users find themselves locked out of their own WordPress website after typing their password incorrectly a number of times. If you find yourself in that situation, then you should follow the steps in our guide on how to unblock Limit Login Attempts in WordPress.
That being said, let’s take a look at how to limit the number of login attempts in WordPress.
Video Tutorial
If you prefer written instructions, then just keep reading.
How to Limit Login Attempts in WordPress
The first thing you need to do is install and activate the Limit Login Attempts Reloaded plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
The free version is all you need for this tutorial. Upon activation, you should visit the Settings » Limit Login Attempts page and then click on the ‘Settings’ tab at the top.
The default settings will work for most websites, but we will walk you through how you can configure the security plugin’s settings for your site.
To be compliant with GDPR laws, you can click the ‘GDPR compliance’ checkbox to show a message on your login page. You can learn more about the GDPR in our guide on WordPress and GDPR compliance.
Next, you will choose whether to be notified when someone has been locked out. You can change the email address where the notification is sent if you wish. By default, you will be notified the third time the user is locked out.
After that, you should scroll down to the Local App section, where you can define how many login attempt retries can be made and the lockout time a user will have to wait before they can try again.
First, you need to define how many login attempts can be made. After that, choose how many minutes a user will have to wait if they exceed that number of failed attempts. The default value is 20 minutes.
You can also increase the wait time once the user has been locked out a specified number of times. For example, the default settings will not allow the user to attempt to log in for 24 hours once they have been locked out 4 times.
We recommend that you do not change the ‘Trusted IP Origins’ setting for security reasons.
Don’t forget to click the ‘Save Settings’ button at the bottom of the screen to store your changes.
Related: For more details about this plugin, see our complete Limit Login Attempts review.
Pro Tips for How to Protect Your WordPress Website
Limiting login attempts is just one way to keep your WordPress site secure.
The first layer of protection for your WordPress website is your passwords. You should always use strong passwords on your WordPress site.
Strong passwords can be difficult to remember, but you can use a password manager to make it easy. If you run a multi-author WordPress site, then see how you can force strong passwords on users in WordPress.
If your WordPress login page is still being attacked, then another layer of protection you can add is Google reCAPTCHA for WordPress login. This will further help reduce DDoS attacks.
No website is 100% safe because hackers always find new ways to get around the system. That’s why it is crucial to keep complete backups of your WordPress site at all times. We recommend using Duplicator or another popular WordPress backup plugin.
If you have a business website, then we strongly recommend that you add a firewall that takes care of brute force attacks and more. We use Sucuri to guarantee our safety, and if anything happens to our site, then their team is responsible for fixing it at no additional charge.
For more website security tips, be sure to see our ultimate WordPress security guide.
We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to limit login attempts in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide on how to add security questions to the WordPress login screen or our expert pick of the best login page plugins.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Syed Balkhi
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Dennis Muthomi
One additional thing I’d suggest is to use two-factor authentication alongside limited login attempts. This combination provides an extra layer of security, making it even more challenging for potential hackers to gain unauthorized access to your WordPress site.
Jiří Vaněk
Is there another way than a plugin? E.g. using htaccess or similar component? I have my own server and would like to have this limit on my site. However, I already have relatively enough plugins and would not like to add more. So I’m looking for a way to do it without a plugin.
WPBeginner Support
We do not have a recommended way without a plugin, a snippet would be fairly complex which is why we recommend the plugin. We also recommend taking a look at our list of how many plugins can be installed on a site to help remove your fear of having too many plugins
https://www.wpbeginner.com/opinion/how-many-wordpress-plugins-should-you-install-on-your-site/
Admin
Jiří Vaněk
Thank you for your response. I was searching for a snippet elsewhere as well, but you’re right — the whole process would have been quite complicated, and practically none of the snippets I found worked. I ended up using your solution, and it works flawlessly. So, for me, the issue is resolved, and I appreciate your great tip for improving website security.
Linda Willis
Thanks so much for this very helpful article on a plugin to stop the huge number of brute force attacks our site has endured recently. I’ve just installed it, using your easy to follow step by step guide to its settings. Can’t wait to see how it works!
Also followed the link to password managers. Thanks to your comments, I’m going to try LastPass again. We’ve been using Dashlane (free version) for a few years, but are frustrated by some of its rules. LastPass paid version sounds like a much better deal. Now to determine how to make the switch … easily!
Thanks again!
Linda
WPBeginner Support
Glad our article and recommendations could help
Admin
Adil
The outstanding article of website security. I have used this plugin in our many websites.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad you found the plugin helpful
Admin
kristyburkholder
Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any tips or suggestions? With thanks
WPBeginner Support
It is not overly difficult to start a blog, we have a guide on how to start one here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/start-a-wordpress-blog/
Admin
Paul Gent
I have Limit Login Attempts (yes, I need to update to something newer) and am being attacked all the time. I have added a new user as an administrator in an attempt to be able to access my own website without having to wait. But even then I have been kicked out before I can create any posts.
Does anyone have any advice please?
Shyam Chathuranga
Yep, you’re right. I’ve been using the Limit Login Attempts plugin for this whole time and recently, it started blocking all users instead of blocking the attacker based on his IP.
So, I guess I’ve to say bye for that plugin and use something else now.
Miguel
I recently installed WordFence to monitor my website security. It offers a feature for limiting login attempts. Consequently, I deactivated and deleted Limit Login Attempts Reloaded.
However, within WP Admin> Settings, there remains Limit Login Attempts. Do you know if that is installed by default with WP and regardless, how I can get rid of it.?
I believe that it’s overriding the settings in WordFence.
Thanks for your time,
Miguel
erlindawva
Howdy this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
WPBeginner Support
WordPress comes with a WYSIWYG editor. It also allows you to add HTML to write posts.
Admin
Jorge Manuel
I received the ‘exceeded maximum retries’ message today – but with an absolute correct password!
How can this be?
I just started setting up this WP site two days ago, it has no content aside from a free theme and a title. I installed login lockdown, but it is NOT activated.
it baffles me why there would be a BF attack on an obscure site name with barely 90 MB content…
Alam Khan
Hi WPBginner’s Team,
Thanks a lot for creating such a huge and useful content for WordPress users like us. I always search for solutions at your website and also get the solution every time since last 2-3 years.
Today is the first time I am posting a comment for the above issue, I am using Limit Login Attempts plugin and it really helps me in keeping my website secure as per day I see 10-15 failed login attempts, but sometimes it is locked for 24 hours, which restrict us also. Is it possible to use Login LockDown also and block wrong attempts by IP, so that our genuine users are not blocked.
Is it possible to use Limit Login Attempts plugin and Login LockDown plugin at the same time on the same website?
Thanks
Alam Khan
Founder
WPBeginner Support
Hi Alam,
We recommend using Login LockDown alone and not with limit login attempts.
Admin
cheryleduryea
Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any points for beginner blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
agustinpenny920
Hi, of course this article is genuinely good and I have learned lot of things from it regarding blogging. thanks.
adelaida5489
With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright violation? My blog has a lot of unique content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement. Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being stolen? I’d certainly appreciate it.
WPBeginner Support
Please see our guide on preventing blog content scraping in WordPress.
Admin
Suji
Hi
Thanks 4 d article. Informative.
Is there any option to limit the login attempts without using any plugins?
YNS
Hi,
With the a bundle of trusted plugins (which at the same time offer multiple other security feature), It’s no longer that hard to protect WordPress sites from attacks like login attempt.
Those complaining about the feature not being in-built should realize the functionality extensions are meant to serve. The WordPress ecosystem is just scalable, I really like it. But need more partnership with powerful CDN provider. In countries like China, a good plugin like JetPack becomes useless because all the IPs it connects to are malicious to the Great Firewall.
This Blog is very useful, especially when promoting successful open source WordPress projects.
Brad
One of my sites get’s nearly 100 login attempts per month. Like many of you, I find it odd since it’s not an ecommerce site and we gather no user information. I installed Wordfence Security plugin which offers lock out options for any incorrect username as well as by IP and even entire countries.
It also has several other defenses which have proved to be invaluable. The web isn’t safe without some sort of protection. If you any of you know of a better one, please share.
Safe Programming!
Brad
Ed Dogan
I like this better
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-limit-access-by-ip-to-your-wp-login-php-file-in-wordpress/
marian chapa
hey.. i forgot my admin password for my website.. how can i get access to edit my site
WPBeginner Support
Please see our guide what to do when locked out of WordPress admin area.
Admin
Steve
No one has mentioned Jetpack, which has a module called Brute Protect. This blocks users from suspicious IP addresses automatically. It is based on a global network that can track spammers from all over the web.
Pete
Thank you for another the tip. I use BackupBuddy and I love that it automatically runs my backups but it also enables users to easily migrate sites to other servers. Especially going from a local host to a live server.
Donna
Its funny I get this email b/c I work up to 27 attempts at my site over night from all over the world.. I mean really what do they want I have a sewing and fashion blog? What they attempt to gain from this taking over my site and pay them?? I just changed my settings a few days ago prior to this article because I was getting quite a few hacks.. Now this am over 27 which is the most I have ever seen.
Connor Rickett
Is that a question that really needs an answer? Because it prevents brute force hacking (or at least slows it way down).
Why WP doesn’t come with limited login attempts out of the box, now THAT’S a question that I’d like to see a blog post addressing.
Iza
I am using Limit Login Attempts in combination with another great safety plug-in called WP-Ban. The Limit Login Attempts plug-in sends me an e-mail after second I believe unsuccessful login attempt with the IP of the user. I paste this user into Ban plug-in and next time, the user will not be able to try log-in at all. Just another layer of security against trolls.
Nika
Limit Login Attempts hasn’t been updated in over 3 years. It’s outdated. Login LockDown has poor functionality and why it’s recommended here I don’t know.
A few weeks ago I’ve installed WP Cerber instead.
It looks like a strong solution. It does all the things as expected.
WPBeginner Support
We do not agree that Login Lockdown has poor functionality. It does exactly what it says. We haven’t tested WP Cerber yet so we cannot comment on that.
Admin
Joris Heyndrickx
I think it’s time WordPress should have configurable paths so that we finally can het rid of example.com/wp-admin. I saw requests for this, 8 years ago.
Jon Schear
I’ve used this a couple times. Brought the usual load of 50 emails an hour about lockout notifications down to 0.
Recaptcha is another good one, but much more difficult to implement.
Han Balk
I switched from LLA to Wordfence, because of all the extra security features it’s got.
Every Operating System has a feature to limit login attempts. I know WordPress is a CMS and not an OS, But it is a mature CMS and the WordPress community would greatly benefit of a buitlin login limitation that’s enabled by default. A lot of WordPress sites are “vulnerable” for unlimited login attempts, because they’re not properly protected and the owners are not security aware.
It can’t be that difficult to built in a login limitation and enable it by default in one of the forthcoming WordPress versions?
Howard
Limit Login Attempts has not been updated in a couple of years, and has some “holes” in it. I discovered this in my logs, where I found nearly 100 “lockouts” in a 10-minute period from the same IP. The lockouts were activated after the 2nd unsuccessful attempts, and were supposed to be for 72 hours. They were coming so fast that it was an effective DoS, and required some effort to get it stopped. It’s fairly obvious that the script kiddie has bypassed the lockout. The attacks from that IP address stopped when I was finally able to add it to the deny list in .htaccess.
.
I still use LLA for the limited but useful information and notifications, but I don’t rely on it to keep my site secure.
FranE
I notice this functionality on some of my sites, even though they don’t have the plugin installed. Is it included in certain themes? Maybe Genesis?
WPBeginner Staff
We are not aware of any themes including this functionality. Remember themes are not supposed to add functionality to your WordPress site. Functionality comes under plugins. May be it is something added by your web host?
Grayhambo
There appear to be some compatibility issues with this plugin with WP 4.0, as it hasn’t been updated in over 2 years. Can lock you out of the admin panel. If this happens, then you need to disable the plugin in the usual way, using something like cPanel access.
Joe
Seems to still work fine on all 10 of my wp sites
Torben Heikel Vinther
Sounds like a good and simple plugin, but why not use Better WP Security instead? BWS has a whole section about Limit Login Attempts AND many other security issues in one single plugin! In addition BWS was last updated 2013-8-24. Limit Login Attempts hasn’t been updated since 2012-6-1!
Editorial Staff
Torben, there are a lot of plugins that offers this functionality. Limit Login Attempts is a simple plugin that does one thing and does it real well. That’s not to say that BWS is a bad solution. It’s a very good solution (over 1 million downloads on the plugin already proves that).
Admin
Nika
I’ve been using the Limit Login Attempts plugin for my sites for a while. Now this plugin is outdated. Be honest. Did you use Limit Login Attempts on your site?
WPBeginner Support
Since it has expired we have updated the article and replaced it with login lockdown plugin.
abdelhafidcom
what about login lookdown plugin ? is it useful ? should i replace with this plugin ?
wpbeginner
@abdelhafidcom That’s also good. It does the same thing. It just hasn’t been updated in a while.
AlbertAlbs
Thanks for sharing this WordPress security information.
ColeRuddick
Excellent tip! As WordPress is the most widely used platform out there now, site security should be something all users are taking seriously and this plugin is a great help. Thanks for sharing!
namaserajesh
Agree with you, Limit Login Attempts is very good plugin to protect our WordPress blog.
joeytribbiani
I prefer Login Lock. It is officially compatible up to version 3.3.1
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/login-lock/
merrittsgret
@joeytribbiani Login Lock effectively blocked everyone out of my site recently. I’m switching to Limit Login Attempts.
Aqif
i prefer to not consume ready:)
Alan
Thanks for this!
doug_eike
I’ve been looking for ways to protect my blog, and your plugin suggestion looks as if it might be helpful. I’ll take a look at it. Thanks!