ERROR – "A user with id 1 still exists."

  • My admin username is a complex name (not ‘admin’) and was generated at install.

    During setting up iThemes Security, I tried to fix the medium priority item, ‘A user with id 1 still exists’. I clicked ‘Enable Change Admin User’ and ‘Change User ID 1’. And then ‘Save Admin User’ button.

    I received the following message: “The new admin username you entered is invalid or WordPress could not change the user id or username. Please check the name and try again.”

    Any advice on how to resolve this issue.

    Many thanks!

    https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/better-wp-security/

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
  • Thread Starter wadeishere

    (@wadeishere)

    Interesting update.

    I backed up my database, then accessed it via phpMyAdmin in cPanel and went to the users table. I clicked the edit button (the pencil icon) next to my user and manually changed the user ID number.

    However, after manually changing my user ID number, I was no longer allowed to access my admin dashboard.

    Then, I went back in the database, and changed the user ID back to 1.

    Everything went back to normal, and I was able to access my dashboard again.

    So, it appears user ID number cannot be changed without issues, either with this plugin or manually.

    Agree/disagree?

    Still a security threat/not something to worry about?

    Cheers
    Wade

    Hi, I’m having the same problem. Would be great, if anyone has a hint.

    Thanks in advance!

    Thread Starter wadeishere

    (@wadeishere)

    Hi g-woods.

    I found a solution. Go to the users section in your dashboard. Create a new admin user. The new admin will not have an ID of 1. Then erase the old admin user. That’s pretty much it.

    *Note that when you delete the old admin, you will erase all content generated from that admin. So you will want to attribute that content to the new admin.

    See if that works for you and let me know.

    Wade

    @wadeishere

    Thanks for the idea. I did exactly as you suggested and it still shows A user with id 1 still exists.

    Of course my admin id is 7.

    Hey All,

    Thanks for reporting this.

    This has been fixed and will be corrected in the next release.

    Thanks,

    Gerroald

    When I first installed iThemes Security, I clicked the button to fix the “user with id 1 still exists” security vulnerability and I thought I remembered it saying that the user ID was changed. Today when I checked for unresolved security vulnerabilities in the iThemes Security plugin dashboard, every single one of them has the warning that “A user with id 1 still exists.”

    I clicked the “Fix It” button followed by the “Enable Change Admin User” check box, followed by the “Change User ID 1″ check box.” Then I clicked the “Save Admin User” button. I was then logged out but when I logged back in, the same warning still exists.

    So, essentially, my problem with this feature is a bit different than the OP’s problem but it does seem like this feature is broken.

    Patty, I’ve got the same issue. So I hope for a further answer from somebody ??
    Sady

    Found this, so we still have to wait ??
    https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/a-user-with-id-1-still-exists?replies=9

    What happens if you delete the admin without making a new admin? Can you get your content back?

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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