If you are like most Joomla! users, you've tried to log in to your site's administrator account only to see the "username and password not not match" error. You've forgotten your password, or the one you were so sure it was is not working. Joomla!, it turns out uses a one-way hash to store passwords and that means it does not provide the usual password recovery tools like email password recovery, or the option to reset your password. The easiest way to go about resetting your password is to create a new one and then use the useful tool on this site (requires JavaScript) to generate a new MD5 hash to plug into your SQL database.

Basically, you make up a new password, navigate to the website above and generate a new hash code. Then you copy the new code and log in to your account at your hosting provider's site. Most of the providers use CPanel or VDeck. Look for your database account and access the management interface through phpMyadmin. In phpMyAdmin, click on the "SQL" button to bring up the query window and paste your new code in there. Click on "Go" and after a few seconds, there will be a message letting you know that your changes have been made.

You can now log in to your admin site with the new password. Complicated? Maybe, but that is a good thing.