How to Remove Your WordPress Installation from Bluehost

As a website owner, there may come a time when you need to remove your WordPress installation from Bluehost. This could be due to migrating to another hosting provider or starting afresh with a new installation. However, the process of removing WordPress from Bluehost can be daunting. In this guide, we will take you through a step-by-step process of how to remove WordPress from Bluehost while ensuring that you backup all your website data.

Step 1: Back Up Your Website

Before starting any removal process, you must first back up your website. You can use either a plugin or Bluehost’s backup tool to backup your site. It is important to note that backing up your website is crucial to prevent any potential data loss.

Step 2: Download Your WordPress Files

The next step is to download your WordPress files from the Bluehost server. You’ll need to access your Bluehost cPanel and navigate to the File Manager section. From the File Manager, locate your WordPress directory, right-click on it, and click on ‘Compress.’ This will create a compressed file that you can download to your local computer.

Step 3: Export Your WordPress Database

After downloading the WordPress files, you need to export your WordPress database, which contains important information about your website such as posts, comments, and settings. To do this, go to your cPanel, navigate to the phpMyAdmin section, and select the database you want to export. Next, click on the ‘Export’ button and choose your preferred export method. Once done, download your exported database to a location where you can easily access it later.

Step 4: Delete Your WordPress Installation

Now that you have backed up your website and downloaded the necessary files and database, it’s time to delete your WordPress installation. To do this, log in to your Bluehost account, navigate to the ‘My Sites’ section, then click on ‘Manage Site.’ Inside the Site Tools panel, navigate to the WordPress Manager under the ‘Tools’ section. Next, select the site you want to remove and click on the ‘Remove’ button. Finally, click on the checkbox that says ‘Yes, I want to remove this website completely,’ and then click on the ‘Remove’ button.

Step 5: Remove Your Database

After deleting your WordPress installation, you need to remove the database. Navigate back to the PHPMyAdmin section of your cPanel, select the database you exported earlier, and click on the ‘Delete’ button.

Step 6: Remove Files from the Server

The final step is to remove any remaining WordPress files from your Bluehost server. Open your file manager, locate your WordPress directory, right-click on it, and select ‘Delete.’ Ensure that you have removed all WordPress files from the server to prevent potential security risks.

Final Thoughts

While removing your WordPress installation from Bluehost can be a tedious process, following the steps outlined in this guide will make it seamless. Also, ensure that you backup your website and downloaded your WordPress files and database for safekeeping. If you’re not sure about any of the steps, it’s advisable to seek help from a professional. Once completed, you can now migrate your website to a new host or start afresh with a new WordPress installation. Regardless of what you choose, we hope this guide has been helpful to you.