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How to Easily Generate WordPress Salts for Better Security

Posted on by William Zheng

Ever wondered how to make your WordPress site’s passwords and data even more secure? If you’ve come across the term “WordPress salts” and felt unsure about what they are or how to get them, you’re not alone. Understanding and generating these unique keys is essential for protecting your site from hackers and improving overall security.

In this article, you’ll discover exactly what WordPress salts are, why they matter, and how to generate and update them quickly and easily.

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What Are WordPress Salts and How Do You Generate Them?

When it comes to WordPress security, you might hear the term “WordPress salts” thrown around quite a bit. But what exactly are they, and why should you care? Let’s break down the concept of WordPress salts, explain why they’re so important, and guide you step by step through generating and updating them for a more secure website.

Understanding WordPress Salts

WordPress salts are a set of random, secret strings used by your WordPress site to secure the process of logging in and storing information in cookies. Think of them as secret “ingredients” mixed with your login credentials to create unique, unguessable security hashes.

When you log in to WordPress, the platform saves your authentication details in cookies. Instead of saving plain usernames and passwords—which would be insecure—WordPress uses these salts and security keys to scramble the data. This makes it vastly more difficult for attackers to access your site, even if they get hold of your cookie data.


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Why Salts Matter to WordPress Security

  • Prevents Unauthorized Access: Salts make it nearly impossible for hackers to use stolen cookie data to log into your dashboard.
  • Enhances Password Security: Even if your password is simple, salts used with security keys strengthen encryption.
  • Reduces Impact of Database Breaches: If someone accesses your database, salts make user credentials less valuable.
  • Helps Invalidate Sessions: Changing salts will log out all users, which is helpful if you believe an account may have been compromised.

The Four Main Security Keys in WordPress

Your WordPress installation uses eight constants for salts and keys, but the four main security keys are:

  1. AUTH_KEY
  2. SECURE_AUTH_KEY
  3. LOGGED_IN_KEY
  4. NONCE_KEY

Each of these keys is paired with a matching salt:

  • AUTH_SALT
  • SECURE_AUTH_SALT
  • LOGGED_IN_SALT
  • NONCE_SALT


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Together, these eight variables create a robust wall against intruders.

How to Generate Fresh WordPress Salts

Ready to update your salts to improve your site’s security? Let’s walk through a simple and effective process.

Step 1: Backup Your Site

Before you make any changes to your files, back up your entire website. This includes:

  • All database files
  • Your wp-config.php file
  • Uploaded media and theme files

If anything goes wrong, you can easily restore your site.

Step 2: Locate the wp-config.php File


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This configuration file is the backbone of your WordPress site. It contains your database details and, among other things, your salts and security keys.

  • You can find wp-config.php in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
  • Use FTP, SFTP, or your hosting file manager to access it.

Step 3: Generate New Salts

WordPress developers provide an official salt generator to make this part easy and safe.

  • Visit the WordPress secret key generator page.
  • You’ll see eight fresh random strings, each with the correct formatting for your wp-config.php file.

Each time you refresh the page, a new set of keys and salts will be generated.

Step 4: Replace Existing Salts in wp-config.php

Open your wp-config.php file and look for a section like this:

define('AUTH_KEY',         'old_value_here');
define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY',  'old_value_here');
define('LOGGED_IN_KEY',    'old_value_here');
define('NONCE_KEY',        'old_value_here');
define('AUTH_SALT',        'old_value_here');
define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', 'old_value_here');
define('LOGGED_IN_SALT',   'old_value_here');
define('NONCE_SALT',       'old_value_here');
  • Copy the set of new keys from the generator.
  • Paste them over the old values in your wp-config.php.
  • Save and upload the updated file if you edited offline.

Step 5: Save and Test Your Website

After you’ve updated your keys and salts:

  • Try logging into your WordPress dashboard.
  • All users will be forced to log in again. This is normal and a good sign your changes worked.

Benefits of Regularly Refreshing WordPress Salts

Salts are not a “set and forget” security feature. Here’s why it pays to rotate them often:

  • Maximizes Protection: Regularly changing your salts helps protect your site if your keys have ever been leaked or stolen.
  • Forces Logout on All Devices: Useful if you suspect account compromise.
  • Ensures Up-to-Date Security: Cybersecurity threats and hacking tools evolve, so staying ahead with fresh salts is wise.
  • Reduces Risk for Multiple Users: If your site has several admins or contributors, regular salt updates prevent unauthorized, persistent access.

Practical Tips and Best Practices

Securing your WordPress site doesn’t stop with salts. Here are more best practices to follow:

  • Set a Reminder: Schedule salt updates every few months or after key personnel changes.
  • Use Complex Passwords: Salts are powerful, but strong passwords are still crucial.
  • Limit Admin Access: Keep the number of users with admin rights to a minimum.
  • Install Security Plugins: Consider tools that help automate security tasks, including salt key rotation.
  • Keep WordPress Updated: Regularly update your core, themes, and plugins to reduce vulnerabilities.
  • Monitor Your Site: Watch for suspicious logins or file changes as additional layers of defense.

Common Challenges (and How to Avoid Them)

While updating salts is straightforward, you might face some challenges:

Accidental Lock-Outs

  • Updating salts instantly logs everyone out.
  • If you’re working on a site with multiple users, give them a heads-up before making changes.

Editing Errors

  • A misplaced comma or missing quotation mark will cause errors in your site.
  • Always copy the entire define statement, and keep formatting intact.

Access Issues

  • If you accidentally lock yourself out and can’t log back in, use FTP or your hosting control panel to fix wp-config.php.

Forgotten Backups

  • Never edit core files without backing up first.
  • Many hosts offer automatic daily backups—double-check if this is active.

Cost Tips for Managing Salts and Security

The process of updating salts is completely free since WordPress and its tools provide what you need at no charge. Here’s how you can strengthen security without breaking your budget:

  • Use Free Plugins: Many reputable plugins help you manage security keys for free.
  • Don’t Pay for Salt Generators: The official WordPress generator is safe and free to use.
  • Avoid Unnecessary Services: Unless you manage a huge or high-risk site, most salt and key management tasks do not require a paid service.
  • Check Hosting Features: Some premium hosts include automatic salt/key rotation—use the features you already pay for!

Related Insights

Many experienced WordPress users recommend not only updating salts but using security plugins that help automate this process as part of a bigger security plan. Several hosting companies and dedicated WordPress management services include easy interfaces or automated tools for salt rotation.

Security-obsessed professionals point out that, while strong, salts work best alongside multi-factor authentication, up-to-date software, and diligent user management.

In Summary

WordPress salts are your first line of defense against cookie and password attacks. They are easy to update, cost nothing, and significantly boost your website’s security. By regularly updating your salts and following key best practices, you’ll make your WordPress site far harder for attackers to breach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What happens after I change WordPress salts?
Every user will be forced to log in again. This is normal, and it means your change has taken effect, flushing out all old sessions.

How often should I update my WordPress salts?
It’s a good idea to refresh your salts every few months or anytime you suspect a compromise, or when key staff leave your team.

Are there any risks to updating salts?
There is little risk, but you could lock out users or make login temporarily unavailable if you mistype or misformat the code. Always back up beforehand.

Can plugins automate salt/key updates?
Yes. Several security plugins allow you to rotate salts automatically. These plugins often come bundled with other valuable security features.

Do salts make weak passwords safe?
Salts make your site safer, but they do not fix weak passwords. Always use strong, unique passwords alongside regularly updated salts for the best protection.

Regularly refreshing your WordPress salts is a quick win for site security. With these simple steps, you can protect your site from threats and keep your users’ data secure. Stay diligent, and your WordPress site will remain a safe home for your content and your visitors.

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