---
title: "HELP! I forgot my Access Key"
date: 2025-02-26
author: "Jeroen Moolenschot"
---

# 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. (like: [https://www.website.com/administrator](https://www.website.com/administrator))

 After you logged in go to System > Manage > Extensions, find the Access Key plugin and uninstall the plugin.

 Go to System > Install > Extensions 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](https://www.website.com/administrator))

 Go to System > Plugins > Access Key Plugin and choose a new Access Key  
Enable the plugin again.