Can't login to a new installation after restoring backup

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AI-generated summary

The user alltiagocom encountered login issues after restoring a backup to a new Discourse installation. After migrating from forum.example.com to example.com and restoring the backup, they were unable to log in with the new admin credentials because the system retained the old admin account (admin@forum.example.com) and its 2FA requirements. Since the 2FA was no longer accessible, they couldn’t authenticate. alltiagocom resolved the issue by using SSH to access the Discourse container, creating a new admin password via rake admin:create, and disabling 2FA for the old user using the Rails console with user.user_second_factors.destroy_all. This allowed them to log in successfully using the old email and the newly set password.

1

I had this installation
forum.example.com
I had my admin account admin@forum.example.com with my password and 2FA

Eventually I decided to migrate that to a new domain
community.newexample.com

Before I did that, I created a backup of forum.example.com

Today I decided that I wanted to create a new community at example.com
Installed everything, created the new admin account (admin@example.com), etc.
Logged in.
Went to the backups section and uploaded the backup I created for forum.example.com

It logged me out.
When I tried to log in using the new credentials (admin@example.com), it wouldn’t let me, because I’m guessing that it’s now trying to use the credentials from the first installation (admin@forum.example.com)

The issue is also that I no longer have the 2FA for forum.example.com, but it’s asking for that as well.

What can I do now?

2

UPDATE: I was able to do it by following ChatGPT’s instructions:

:white_check_mark: Step 1: SSH into your server

ssh your-user@your-server

:white_check_mark: Step 2: Enter the Discourse app container

cd /var/discourse
./launcher enter app

:white_check_mark: Step 3: Create or reset the admin user’s password

This step ensures you can log in with a known password.

rake admin:create
  • When prompted, enter the email address of the admin from the backup (e.g. admin@forum.example.com).
  • Enter a new password.
  • Type Y when asked to grant admin privileges (even if the user already is an admin — it won’t hurt).

:white_check_mark: Step 4: Open the Rails console

rails c

:white_check_mark: Step 5: Find the user by email

Replace the email with the one you’re resetting:

user = User.find_by_email("admin@forum.example.com")

You should see some output showing the user object.

:white_check_mark: Step 6: Disable 2FA for that user

user.user_second_factors.destroy_all

This deletes all 2FA keys associated with that user — without affecting anyone else.

:white_check_mark: Step 7: Exit the console and container

exit

:white_check_mark: Step 8: Log in via the web

Go to your Discourse site in the browser and log in with:

  • Email: admin@forum.example.com
  • Password: the one you set in Step 3
  • 2FA: will no longer be required