A Perplexing Guide to Reinstalling WordPress without Losing Data

It has been said that WordPress powers more than one-third of the internet and it is undoubtedly the most popular Content Management System (CMS) used for creating websites. As someone who uses WordPress, you may sometimes find yourself in situations where you have to reinstall the platform. This could be as a result of a hacking incident where your site has been compromised or due to the need to start anew, and restarting will make more sense than troubleshooting. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to reinstall WordPress, it is crucial to do it without losing any data in the process.

Three Exciting Methods to Reinstall WordPress

Here are three bursty methods you can consider:

Method 1: Reinstalling WordPress using cPanel

If you have access to cPanel, you can consider reinstalling WordPress through this method. Here are the perplexing steps you should follow:

Step 1: Backup Your Site

You must back up your website before doing anything. Go to the “Files” section on your cPanel account and click on “Backup”. On the next page, select “Download a Full Website Backup,” choose your preferred location for the backup and click on “Generate Backup” to initiate the process. Wait for the download to complete before proceeding.

Step 2: Download the Latest Version of WordPress

Visit the official WordPress website and download the latest version of WordPress. Save the zip file to your computer.

Step 3: Delete WordPress Files

Log in to cPanel and locate the File Manager. Find the directory where WordPress is installed, which could be public_html for the primary domain or a subdirectory if the site is installed in a subdomain. Select all the files and folders for deletion, making sure not to select the wp-content folder. Don’t delete the wp-config.php file, as it contains your database credentials, which you will need later.

Step 4: Upload the New WordPress Files

Extract the zip file you downloaded and upload all the files and directories to your site’s root directory.

Step 5: Update wp-config.php File

Locate the wp-config-sample.php file and open it using the File Manager Code Editor. Populate the database name, username, and password fields and save the file as wp-config.php.

Step 6: Check Your Site

After setting up everything, check your site to confirm that everything is working correctly.

Method 2: Reinstalling WordPress via FTP

If you don’t have access to cPanel, you can try reinstalling WordPress via FTP. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Backup Your Site

Download all the WordPress files in your root directory, including the wp-content directory, using an FTP client.

Step 2: Download the Latest Version of WordPress

Head to the official WordPress website and download the latest version of WordPress. Save the zip file to your computer.

Step 3: Delete WordPress Files

Using your FTP client, delete all the WordPress files, excluding the wp-content folder.

Step 4: Upload the New WordPress Files

Extract the downloaded WordPress zip file and upload all the contents to your site’s root directory, excluding the wp-content folder.

Step 5: Update wp-config.php File

Update the wp-config.php file with your database credentials as explained in method one.

Step 6: Check Your Site

Double-check that your site is functioning correctly as in Method one.

Method 3: Using a Plugin to Reinstall WordPress

You can reinstall WordPress utilizing a plugin if you wish to do so. Here’s what you should do:

Step 1: Backup Your Site

Ensure you back up your site files and database using a backup plugin such as UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or Duplicator.

Step 2: Install and Activate the WP Reset Plugin

Search for the WP Reset plugin in your WordPress dashboard by navigating to “Plugins” and selecting “Add New.” Install the plugin, then activate it.

Step 3: Reset WordPress

Go to the WP Reset plugin page, scroll down to the “Tools” section, and select the “Reset Site” button. You will receive a prompt to confirm that you want to reset your site. Tick the box and click on “Reset WordPress.”

Note that this process will delete all your content, plugins, themes, and any other configuration. However, the database, media files, and other custom files, such as wp-config.php, will remain untouched.

Step 4: Reinstall WordPress

After resetting your site, the WP Reset plugin will guide you through the WordPress installation process.

Step 5: Restore Your Site

After completing the installation, you can restore your backups using the backup plugin you used initially.

Final Thoughts

Reinstalling WordPress without losing data can be overwhelming, but it is necessary to safeguard your website from security vulnerabilities, errors, or any other challenges. The three methods we’ve outlined above offer varying degrees of satisfaction, and you can choose one that suits your requirements. Remember to prioritize security and always make backups before attempting to reinstall WordPress.