Your WordPress username is required for authenticating with the REST API. This guide shows you multiple ways to find your username.

Your username is different from your display name. The username is used for logging in, while the display name appears on your posts.

Method 1: WordPress Admin Dashboard

The easiest way to find your username is through the WordPress admin interface.

Log into WordPress Admin

Navigate to https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin and log in with your credentials.

Go to Your Profile

Hover over your name in the top-right corner
Click Edit Profile or Profile

Locate Your Username

On your profile page, look for:

Username: This is your login username (cannot be changed)
Nickname: Optional alternative name
Display name publicly as: What visitors see

The Username field is what you need for WP Automator.

Method 2: Users List (Admin Only)

If you're an administrator, you can see all usernames:

Navigate to Users

Log into WordPress Admin
Click Users → All Users in the sidebar

Find Your Username

Look for your account in the list. The username appears in the Username column.

Check User Role

Verify your user role (should be Administrator for full API access):

Administrator: Full access ✅
Editor: Can manage content ✅
Author: Limited access ⚠️
Contributor: Very limited ❌
Subscriber: No content access ❌

Method 3: Database Query

For advanced users with database access:

Using phpMyAdmin

SELECT user_login, user_email, display_name 
FROM wp_users 
WHERE user_email = 'your-email@domain.com';

Using WP-CLI

wp user list --fields=ID,user_login,display_name,user_email

Common Username Locations

Here's where your username typically appears:

Location	What You See	Is This Your Username?
Login Screen	The field you type in	✅ Yes
Profile Page	"Username" field	✅ Yes
Author URL	`/author/yourname/`	⚠️ Maybe (could be nickname)
Post Author	"By John Doe"	❌ No (display name)
Comments	Comment author name	❌ No (display name)

Username vs Display Name

Understanding the difference is crucial:

Username (Login Name)

Used for authentication
Cannot be changed after creation
Usually lowercase, no spaces
Required for API access
Examples: johndoe, admin, editor1

Display Name (Public Name)

Shown on posts and comments
Can be changed anytime
Can include spaces and capitals
Not used for authentication
Examples: John Doe, Site Admin, Chief Editor

Troubleshooting Username Issues

Can't Remember Username

If you've forgotten your username:

Use Email Recovery

Go to the login page
Click Lost your password?
Enter your email address
The recovery email will include your username

Check Welcome Email

Search your email for the original WordPress welcome message, which contains your username.

Contact Site Admin

If you're not the site owner, contact your administrator for username information.

Username Not Working

If your username isn't working with WP Automator:

Ensure you're using the actual username, not your email address or display name.

Common issues and solutions:

Issue	Solution
Using email instead	Find actual username in profile
Case sensitivity	WordPress usernames are case-insensitive
Special characters	Ensure proper encoding in API requests
Spaces in username	Older WordPress versions allowed spaces - use URL encoding

Security Best Practices

Never share your username and Application Password combination publicly or in untrusted environments.

Protecting Your Username

While usernames aren't secret, combine these practices for security:

Use strong Application Passwords (not your main password)
Limit API access to specific IP addresses if possible
Monitor login attempts with security plugins
Use two-factor authentication for admin access
Regularly audit user permissions

Creating Additional Users

For better security, consider creating a dedicated user for API access:

Create New User

Go to Users → Add New
Fill in the required fields:
- Username: wp_automator_api
- Email: Use a unique email
- Role: Editor or Administrator

Generate Application Password

Follow the Application Password guide for the new user

Use in WP Automator

Add the new credentials to your site configuration

Quick Reference

Here's what you need for WP Automator:

WordPress Credentials:
  Username: [Found in Profile → Username field]
  Application Password: [Generated separately]
  Site URL: https://yourdomain.com

Once you have your username, proceed to generate an Application Password to complete your WP Automator setup!

Finding Your Username