Title: Issue with auto-generated usernames causing backend error when changing password Last modified: September 27, 2025 --- # Issue with auto-generated usernames causing backend error when changing password * Resolved [chibilovespurple](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chibilovespurple/) * (@chibilovespurple) * [7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password/) * Hello WooCommerce team, * Recently (not sure if from the latest WooCommerce update or earlier), I noticed an issue with automatically generated usernames when customers create an account during checkout. - When WooCommerce auto-creates the account (based on name/email at checkout), the username is generated with a dot (`.`) or similar. - Later, when I go to **WordPress backend → Users → Edit user → Change password**, it always shows the error message: * > “This username is not allowed. Only ‘a-z’, ‘0-9’, ‘-’, ‘_’, and ‘.’ are permitted.” - However, if I manually create a user from the backend **with the exact same username (including dot)**, there is no problem at all. The account works normally, and I can change the password without error. * This looks like WooCommerce’s account auto-generation logic is producing usernames that are technically valid, but not passing the validation check in the backend when editing. * I have attached screenshots to show: A user auto-created during checkout (fails when editing password): [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BC_ozxv9qBIEEiSDysiyPfZRshfBLErl?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BC_ozxv9qBIEEiSDysiyPfZRshfBLErl?usp=sharing) * **Steps to Reproduce:** 1. Go to **WooCommerce → Settings → Accounts & Privacy**, enable “Allow customers to create an account during checkout.” 2. Go to checkout, enter name and email → let WooCommerce auto-generate the account. 3. After order is placed, go to **WordPress Admin → Users → Edit that user**. 4. Try to change the password and save → error appears: “This username is not allowed. Only ‘a-z’, ‘0-9’, ‘-’, ‘_’, and ‘.’ are permitted.” * Expected behavior: - Username generated by WooCommerce should fully comply with WordPress username rules, and backend should allow password change without errors. * Actual behavior: - WooCommerce generates usernames that appear valid but are rejected in backend user profile editing. * **Steps to Reproduce:** 1. Go to **WooCommerce → Settings → Accounts & Privacy**, enable “Allow customers to create an account during checkout.” 2. Go to checkout, enter name and email → let WooCommerce auto-generate the account. 3. After order is placed, go to **WordPress Admin → Users → Edit that user**. 4. Try to change the password and save → error appears: “This username is not allowed. Only ‘a-z’, ‘0-9’, ‘-’, ‘_’, and ‘.’ are permitted.” * Expected behavior: - Username generated by WooCommerce should fully comply with WordPress username rules, and backend should allow password change without errors. * Actual behavior: - WooCommerce generates usernames that appear valid but are rejected in backend user profile editing. * Could you please check if this is a bug in WooCommerce’s user creation/validation process? * Thank you for your help! - This topic was modified 7 months ago by [chibilovespurple](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chibilovespurple/). - This topic was modified 7 months ago by [chibilovespurple](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chibilovespurple/). * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fissue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US) to see the link]_ Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total) * [Moses M. (woo-hc)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mosesmedh/) * (@mosesmedh) * [7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password/#post-18658654) * Hi [@chibilovespurple](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chibilovespurple/), * Thank you for reaching out and for providing such a detailed explanation of the issue and how to reproduce it. I know how frustrating and overwhelming problems like this can be. * I tested this on my end by creating a new user through checkout and then updating the password from the admin side. Everything worked as expected, which suggests the issue isn’t general but rather specific to your setup. * To help us better understand your setup, could you please share your system status report? You can find it under _WooCommerce > Status > Get system report > Copy for support_. Then, paste the report into Pastebin and share the link here. * Thread Starter [chibilovespurple](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chibilovespurple/) * (@chibilovespurple) * [7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password/#post-18658674) * [@mosesmedh](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mosesmedh/) : The system report here: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UivCXmOhfuvkIAgy4H2nXYp6jiZTsXvrvQAPQ4NG7zA/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UivCXmOhfuvkIAgy4H2nXYp6jiZTsXvrvQAPQ4NG7zA/edit?usp=sharing) * I also recorded the video of the process here: [https://youtu.be/dZ0C1CCNrRA](https://youtu.be/dZ0C1CCNrRA) * Plugin Support [shahzeen(woo-hc)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shahzeenfarooq/) * (@shahzeenfarooq) * [7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password/#post-18658773) * Hi there! * Thank you for sharing the video and the system status report. I’ve checked the video and tried to replicate the issue on my test site, but everything appears to be working fine on my end. It seems there might be a plugin or custom code on your site causing the issue. * For testing purposes, could you please create a staging site, deactivate all plugins except WooCommerce, and try again? Let us know if you still experience the same issue. * You can use the following plugin to create a staging site: [WP Staging](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-staging/) * Let us know what you find. * Thread Starter [chibilovespurple](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chibilovespurple/) * (@chibilovespurple) * [7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password/#post-18658920) * Hi Shahzeen, * Thanks for your support. I’ve created a staging site and tested with all plugins disabled except WooCommerce. The issue does not appear in that setup. * After further testing, I confirmed the conflict is with **BuddyBoss** – when BuddyBoss is active, WooCommerce auto-generated usernames trigger the backend error when changing passwords. * I’ll follow up with BuddyBoss support for a fix on their side. * Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction! * —Trang * Plugin Support [shahzeen(woo-hc)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shahzeenfarooq/) * (@shahzeenfarooq) * [7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password/#post-18658933) * Hi there! * It’s great that you were able to identify the conflict with BuddyBoss. Reaching out to their support team is definitely the right next step, as they’ll be best placed to address the issue on their side. * If you’re happy with the support you received today, would you consider leaving us a quick review? It really helps us out: [https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce/reviews/#new-post](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce/reviews/#new-post) Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total) The topic ‘Issue with auto-generated usernames causing backend error when changing password’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/woocommerce/assets/icon.svg?rev=3234504) * [WooCommerce](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce/reviews/) * 5 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [shahzeen(woo-hc)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shahzeenfarooq/) * Last activity: [7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-auto-generated-usernames-causing-backend-error-when-changing-password/#post-18658933) * Status: resolved