How to Customize the WordPress Reset Password Page

First impressions aren’t just made on your home page. They extend to every aspect of your site, including areas most people never think about, such as the password reset page. It’s simple to ignore, but the WordPress reset password page is a crucial aspect that affects how users rate your site’s professionalism.

We have worked with various WordPress configurations and demo environments. This is an essential aspect for enhancing user confidence and consistency when personalizing the reset password screen. A customized WordPress reset password screen enhances the user’s experience since it is intentional. While logging into the default WordPress screen lacks that intentionality.

We have taken the time to look at different customization methods and see which will work and which will not make the customization process too complicated. The following is an honest guide to properly customizing the password reset email in WordPress.

Customizing WordPress Reset Password Page

WordPress reset password pages can be customized using a custom WordPress reset password page instead of the WordPress reset password screen. In trials, these methods worked best:

• Through form-based plugins, which enable you to embed password reset forms using shortcodes
• Changing the default ‘Lost Password’ link on WordPress to point to your own page

All the above techniques offer varying levels of flexibility, depending on the level of control you require.

Why It Pays to Customize the WordPress Reset Password Page

WordPress comes with its own branding and themes when it comes to password resetting sites. This is not a problem when administrators handle password resets on their own sites. However, on public sites, it may look rather unusual to access password reset pages provided by WordPress.

This becomes even more critical for some of your specialized sites, like your ecommerce store, membership, and client portal. Because trust is a critical factor there. A custom-designed WP password reset page keeps your customers within your domain and provides convenience during what could otherwise be a frustrating experience.

Creating a customized page also gives the ability to add important instructions, comfort text, or referral links back to the login page. Such minute details can eliminate confusion that may lead to support queries.

Method 1: How to Customize the Reset Password Page by Form Plugin (Easy)

One of the easiest ways to replace the standard reset password page in WordPress would be to use a form plugin that supports password resets. This method turned out to be quite reliable and easy to use during our testing. And it would suit those who do not want to write code.

3 best plugin options for customizing the WordPress reset password page:

1. LoginPress
2. WPForms (with User Registration addon)
3. Frontend Reset Password

With these plugins, you are able to develop a personalized reset password page on your WordPress site without having to amend or touch the source code. The plugins work seamlessly with the password reset functionality that is already available on your site. These plugins offer a slightly different level of customization, depending on whether you are a beginner or just want something not too complex.

Complete Way of Customizing the WordPress Reset Password Page Using a Plugin: LoginPress

• Install and activate the LoginPress plugin.
• Go to LoginPress → Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
• Enable the Forgot Password option.
• Customize the reset password page design (logo, colors, background, text).
• Save your changes.
• LoginPress automatically replaces the default WordPress reset password screen with a branded page.
• WordPress continues to handle password security and reset logic in the background.
• No coding required and safe to use with future WordPress updates.

Method 2: Customizing WordPress Reset Password Page Using Code

Need ultimate control over layout, messages, and behavior in relation to password reset action pages? Create your own password reset page from scratch using custom coding. This will provide you with ample flexibility to design forms, change labels, configure successful message responses, and perform action-response activities after form submission.

When it came to testing the methods, this one gave users the most flexibility but was a bit complicated.

• Create a new custom WordPress page that will be your reset password page.
• Add your custom password reset form to the page using WordPress hooks or a shortcode.

function custom_reset_password_shortcode() {

if ( is_user_logged_in() ) {

return '<p>You are already logged in.</p>';

}

ob_start(); ?>

<form method="post" action="<?php echo esc_url( wp_lostpassword_url() ); ?>">

<p>

<label for="user_login">Username or Email Address</label><br>

<input type="text" name="user_login" id="user_login" required>

</p>

<p>

<input type="submit" value="Reset Password">

</p>

</form>

<?php

return ob_get_clean();

}

add_shortcode( 'custom_reset_password', 'custom_reset_password_shortcode' );

Pro Tip: Use a code snippet plugin like “Post Snippets” to put this code instead of editing functions.php directly.

• Instead of rebuilding the logic, handle password reset requests using WordPress core functions.
• Filter the default WordPress lost password URL to send users to your custom page.
• Add checks for conditions to avoid redirect loops or invalid requests.
• Ensure reset tokens and expiration are handled by WordPress core.
• Full flow: request reset → receive email → click link → set new password.
• Verify all “Lost password?” links throughout the site link to the custom reset password page.

This option works best when you need more advanced branding or when the user flow is more complicated. It also lets you better guide the user through the reset process with simple, reassuring language.

Redirecting WordPress to Your Custom Reset Password Page

Once you have built your custom page, it is important that WordPress uses it. If not, visitors will simply be redirected back to the default reset page. It is most effectively achieved through filtering your default lost password URL and redirecting it to your new page.

Handling this difference should be done carefully, using code snippets rather than manually in theme files. When done correctly, whenever users click the “Lost your password?” link on any site, they are automatically directed to the reset page.

Once enabled, test the flow by tracing it from start to finish to verify that emails go out as they should and that links function as expected.

When to Customize and When Not to Customize the Reset Password Page

Customizing the reset password page can be useful for users who interact with your site regularly. Furthermore, when dealing with a login area in a product/service you are providing, it is very significant. However, on an internal site, it would be of very little help if left untouched.

Common Errors To Be Avoided During Customization Of The Forgot Password Page

The main reason so many WordPress site owners are unwilling to customize their reset password page is the potential to break something important. It is a well-justified concern, but only when common pitfalls are taken into account.

1. Incorrect Page Slug and Triggering 302 Redirect Loops

WordPress expects a specific behavior from the URL used in the password reset feature. It can result in visitors being trapped in redirect loops or being redirected back to the login page because the custom slug created may not match the default slug WordPress expects.

2. Email Delivery Segmentation After Customization

Some users might think the reset page is the one that is broken when, in reality, it could be an issue of email delivery. Customizing the page does not fix email delivery issues with the WordPress platform, but it might highlight any preexisting problems. If reset emails are sent to the spam filter, it is not the reset page; it is the correct email configuration using the SMTP mail function.

3. Handling Functions.php Manually without Protection

Changing the code in functions.php directly is one of the most common ways to break your site’s login functionality. Only one syntax error is needed, and you won’t be able to log in at all. A code snippet plugin allows your site to be recoverable at any point when changes are disabled.

4. Failure to Update Reset Links in Other Parts of the Site

Even after creating the custom reset password page, many websites still have the “Lost password” link pointing to the original reset password page. After customizing the reset password page, the “Lost password” link must now change to point to the custom reset password page.

Conclusion

Learning how to change the reset password page in WordPress is not simply about polish. It’s about control, trust, and professional philosophy. This is because the reset password page is just a minor detail that packs serious meaning when it comes to building trust with potential clients. It instills confidence when handled properly.

Whether you recall it or not, the user will remember the way your website treated them when something went wrong. When implemented correctly, the reset password page serves as an indicator that your website was developed with love.

FAQs on WordPress Reset Password Page Customization

Q1. Does it have any effect on the security features?

Customizing the reset password screen will not affect security as long as it is properly implemented. WordPress will still handle all the password, reset token, and expiration logic in the background. All you’re doing is customizing the look and the redirect URL. Trouble typically occurs when individuals choose to recreate the reset password logic instead of using WordPress and the trusted plugins they have at their disposal.

Q2. Will this interfere with future updates of WordPress?

We don’t think so. That’s if you do a proper customization of where users reset passwords. Plugins and hooks are developed in a manner that they can function regardless of any WordPress update. It’s always when a user makes changes to core files or adds custom code to function.php without any protection.

Q3. Can I go back to the standard WordPress reset password page?

Yes, it’s very easy to revert. Even if you use a plugin, it’s very simple. Either deactivate the plug-in or unset the custom page redirect. Maybe you added an extra redirect with code. Either turn off the code or delete it; WordPress will revert to normal right away. That’s the big plus of properly customizing the WordPress reset page.