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Quick start

What you'll accomplish​

In this tutorial, you'll create a functional password reset page that lets users reset their passwords without accessing wp-login.php. The entire setup takes about 15 minutes and requires no coding.

By the end, you'll have:

  • A custom password reset page with the [reset_password] shortcode
  • Configured plugin settings pointing to your new page
  • Tested the complete password reset flow from request to completion

Prerequisites​

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Frontend Reset Password plugin installed and activated (see Installation guide)
  • WordPress admin access
  • Ability to create and edit pages
  • Access to an email account for testing

Step 1: Create a password reset page​

Create a new page to host your password reset form.

  1. In your WordPress admin, navigate to Pages > Add New
  2. Enter a page title such as "Reset Password" or "Forgot Password"
  3. In the page content area, add the shortcode: [reset_password]
  4. Click Publish
  5. Note the page URL for testing later
tip

If you're using a page builder like Elementor or Divi, add the shortcode using a shortcode block or module. The plugin works with all major page builders.

Add the reset password shortcode to your page

Step 2: Configure plugin settings​

Tell the plugin which page contains your shortcode.

  1. Navigate to Settings > Frontend Reset Password
  2. In the General tab, locate the Reset Password Page dropdown
  3. Select the page you created in Step 1
  4. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page

Select your reset password page in settings

note

This setting is required. Without it, WordPress will continue using the default wp-login.php page for password resets.

Step 3: Customize form text (optional)​

While the plugin works with default text, you can customize the user experience.

  1. Still in Settings > Frontend Reset Password > General tab
  2. Customize these fields if desired:
    • Form Title: Change "Reset Password" to match your site's tone
    • Lost Password Message: Modify the instruction text users see first
    • Button Text: Change the submit button label
  3. Click Save Changes

You can return to customize email templates and security settings later. For now, the defaults work fine for testing.

Step 4: Test the password reset flow​

Verify everything works by completing a full password reset.

  1. Log out of WordPress (or open an incognito/private browser window)
  2. Navigate to your password reset page
  3. Enter a valid username or email address
  4. Click the submit button
  5. Verify you see a success message: "Check your email for the confirmation link"

Check your email​

  1. Open the email inbox for the account you entered
  2. Look for an email with subject "Password Reset" (or your custom subject)
  3. Verify the email contains:
    • Your username
    • A reset link
    • Clear instructions
warning

If you don't receive an email within a few minutes, see Email not sending troubleshooting.

Set a new password​

  1. Click the reset link in the email
  2. You'll be redirected to your password reset page
  3. The form now shows two password fields
  4. Enter your new password in both fields
  5. If you have security requirements enabled, watch the validation indicators turn green as you meet each requirement
  6. Click the submit button
  7. Verify you see a success message with a login link

Verify the new password works​

  1. Click the login link (or navigate to your login page)
  2. Log in using your username and the new password you just set
  3. Confirm you can access your account

Verification checklist​

Confirm your setup is working correctly:

  • Password reset page displays the form (not the shortcode text)
  • Submitting an email/username shows a success message
  • Reset email arrives within 2-3 minutes
  • Reset link redirects to your custom page (not wp-login.php)
  • New password can be set successfully
  • Login works with the new password

Common issues during setup​

Shortcode displays as text​

Problem: The page shows [reset_password] instead of the form.

Solution: Ensure the plugin is activated. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins and verify Frontend Reset Password shows "Active" status.

Email doesn't arrive​

Problem: No reset email is received after submitting the form.

Solution: This is common on localhost/local development. Test on a live server, or install an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP. See Email troubleshooting for detailed solutions.

Problem: Clicking the email link redirects to the default WordPress login page.

Solution: Verify you selected the correct page in Settings > Frontend Reset Password > Reset Password Page. Save the settings again and clear any caching plugins.

What's next​

Now that your basic setup is working, explore these features: