# How To Choose an Emergency Administrator Account With BetterShield Ultra?

Mark a spare administrator, receive urgent alerts when it is used, and prepare it safely for the next emergency.

With **[BetterShield Ultra](/ultra/)**, mark a spare administrator, receive urgent alerts when it is used, and prepare it safely for the next emergency.

_**Note:** These controls require the paid [BetterShield Ultra](/ultra/) add-on alongside the free BetterShield plugin._

## What it does

Open **BetterShield › Ultra › Administrator accounts**. **Emergency account** marks a spare administrator for emergency use. No account is chosen by default. It is excluded from unused-account blocking, access reviews and handover. Its use creates an urgent record and a reminder to change its password.

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## Step 1: Open the feature

Create and secure a permanent administrator through WordPress’s Users screen if needed.

<figure class="doc-shot">
  <img src="/docs/screenshots/emergency-account.png" alt="Choose an emergency administrator account: saved state and available controls in BetterShield." width="982" height="279" loading="lazy" decoding="async">
  <figcaption>Review the state and choices shown on your own site before applying a change.</figcaption>
</figure>

## Step 2: Choose an emergency administrator account

- Choose it under **Account** and select **Save Emergency Account**. Choosing it signs its sessions out.
- Keep its credentials outside the site. A temporary administrator cannot be the emergency account.
- After emergency use, change its password, then confirm **I Changed the Password**. You cannot mark your own account as the emergency account.

With BetterShield 1.1.6 and Ultra 1.0.7 or newer, **Emergency account used** emails even when instant alerts are off. **Mute all alerts** still silences it. Check the card’s delivery warning and configure an email recipient before relying on it.

## Recommended settings

Our advice: use a spare account owned by the client or site owner and verify that the alert recipients can be reached.

## What it can break and how to undo

This is oversight, not a bypass for two-factor or another new way in. A blocked or demoted account cannot provide emergency administrator access. Change or clear the selected account if it no longer qualifies; keep recovery available throughout.

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## Final Outcome

The card identifies the selected account and whether it is still an administrator and permitted to sign in. After legitimate use, check the incident and password-change reminder.

<figure class="doc-shot">
  <img src="/docs/screenshots/emergency-account.png" alt="Choose an emergency administrator account: saved state and available controls in BetterShield." width="982" height="279" loading="lazy" decoding="async">
  <figcaption>Example Emergency account view. Check the saved values and status on your own site.</figcaption>
</figure>

## Related

- [Ultra overview](/docs/ultra-overview/)
- [Activity log](/docs/activity-log/)
- [Set up recovery](/docs/set-up-recovery/)
- [Agency handover](/docs/handover/)

This is how you can choose an emergency administrator account with BetterShield Ultra.

Getting Stuck? Feel free to contact our [Dedicated Support Team](/support/).