Perplexing and Bursty Guide to Resetting Your WordPress Site

Have you ever encountered an issue with your WordPress site such as the “white screen of death”, failed updates, or plugin conflicts? All of these can be quite exasperating, but don’t give up just yet! One of the best solutions to resolve these issues is to reset your WordPress site. However, before diving into the reset process, it is imperative to have a backup of your site’s content, themes, plugins, and settings.

What is a WordPress Reset?

A WordPress reset is a process of restoring your site to its initial state when you first installed WordPress. This implies that all your content, themes, plugins, and settings will be wiped or reset to their default values. The goal of resetting your WordPress site is to resolve any issues that may be causing your site to malfunction.

Types of WordPress Resets

There are two types of WordPress resets: Hard reset and Soft reset.

Hard Reset

Hard reset is a radical method that involves deleting all the files and folders in the WordPress directory. This method will remove all your content, themes, plugins, and settings. After a hard reset, you can install a new copy of WordPress and start over. However, this is the most extreme option and should only be used as a last resort.

Soft Reset

Soft reset is a more gentle way of resetting your site. It involves resetting your site to its default settings while preserving your content. This means that all your plugins and themes will be deactivated, and your site will be reset to its default settings. You can then reactivate your plugins and themes one by one to see which one is causing the issue.

Method 1: Using the WordPress Reset Plugin

The WordPress Reset Plugin is the easiest way to reset a WordPress site. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

Install and activate the WordPress Reset Plugin from the WordPress Plugin Repository.

Step 2: Access the Plugin

Once you have installed the plugin, go to the Tools menu on your WordPress dashboard, and click on the Reset option that appears.

Step 3: Confirm Your Action

On the reset page, you will have to confirm that you want to reset your site. This is irreversible, so be sure to have a backup. Enter the phrase “reset” and click on the reset button.

Step 4: Wait for the Plugin to Reset Your Site

The plugin will delete all your content, themes, and plugins, and reset everything to the default settings. The process might take a few minutes, depending on the size of your site.

Method 2: Manual Reset

If you prefer to have more control over the reset process, you can opt for a manual reset. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Back up Your Site

Before proceeding with the manual reset, it’s crucial to back up your site’s content, themes, and plugins. You can use a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy, or you can export your database and files manually.

Step 2: Delete The WordPress Database

Log in to your hosting account and go to the cPanel Dashboard. Navigate to Databases and select phpMyAdmin. Select your WordPress database and click on the drop-down menu to drop the database.

Step 3: Reinstall WordPress

After deleting the database, you can now reinstall WordPress. Go to the WordPress website and download the latest version of WordPress. Extract the files and upload them to your server via File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

Step 4: Install Plugins, Themes and Configure Settings

Now that you have installed WordPress, you can start adding your plugins and themes. You will also need to reconfigure your site’s settings and customize your site as required.

Conclusion

Resetting your WordPress site can be an effective way to resolve website issues. However, it is essential to have a backup of your site’s content, themes, and plugins, and choose the most appropriate method based on your website’s requirements. The WordPress Reset Plugin is a quick and easy way to reset your site. On the other hand, the manual reset is a more complex method but gives you complete control over the reset process. After resetting your site, you can start fresh and reconfigure your site, and remember to always keep a backup for your site.