HELP! I forgot my Access Key

Sometimes you can't remember your access key and you are locked out of your Joomla Backend.

No worries! Just follow one of these steps.

a) Do you have access to the FTP?

Go to the folder "ROOT" > Plugins > System

and rename the folder: accesskey to something else like --accesskey

Now you can enter the backend of your website without any access key

After you logged in go to System > Manage > Extensions

Find the Access Key plugin and uninstall the plugin.

Go to System > Install > Extensions

and find the Access Key plugin in the "Install from Web" tab, and install it again.

b) Or do you have access to the database?

You can disable the Access Key plugin by using this SQL Query:

UPDATE #__extensions SET enabled = "0" WHERE name = "PLG_SYSTEM_ACCESSKEY"

(change #__extensions to the database prefix you use on your website, like abc_extensions )

When the plugin is disabled you can enter the backend of your website without any access key (like: https://www.website.com/administrator)

Go to System > Plugins > Access Key Plugin and choose a new Access Key

And Enable the plugin again.