Are You Perplexed on How to Remove a WordPress Plugin? Here’s a Step-by-Step Guide!

WordPress is a robust content management system that offers fantastic functionalities through plugins, allowing you to optimize your website. However, conflicts, security issues, or obsoletion may make it necessary to remove some plugins. Need to remove a WordPress plugin but don’t know how? This guide will walk you through a step-by-step process to help you remove WordPress plugins securely.

Step 1: Deactivate the WordPress Plugin

First, you need to deactivate the plugin before removing it to ensure it doesn’t conflict with other plugins, and it is not functional on your website. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the ‘Plugins’ section. Then, click on the ‘Installed Plugins’ tab to select the plugin you wish to remove and click on the ‘Deactivate’ button below it.

Step 2: Delete the WordPress Plugin

After deactivating the plugin, the next step is to delete it. This step removes all the files and data related to the plugin from your website’s directory. To start this process, go to the ‘Installed Plugins’ section and identify the plugin you want to delete. Then, hover your mouse over it, and you’ll see the ‘Delete’ button. Click on it and confirm that you want to remove the plugin permanently by clicking ‘Yes.’

Step 3: Remove Plugin Data and Settings

Some plugins may leave data and settings in your database, which could cause conflicts or security issues in the future. Thus, it’s vital to remove these settings and data. Some plugins offer you the option of deleting this automatically, while others require you to manually remove them using plugins like WP-Optimize.

Using WP-Optimize Plugin:

WP-Optimize is useful in optimizing your website’s database and removing unnecessary data. After installing the WP-Optimize plugin, navigate to its settings page and choose the ‘Database’ tab. From there, you can select the data and settings you want to delete and click on the ‘Clean’ button.

Using PHPMyAdmin:

The second process of removing plugins requires a bit more technical knowledge than the first. However, it’s more efficient in removing plugin data and settings. First, log in to your hosting cPanel, navigate to ‘Databases’ and click on the ‘PHPMyAdmin’ option. Then, select the database associated with your WordPress website and locate the ‘wp_options’ table. Here, all the data and settings related to your WordPress website are stored. Identify the plugin data and settings you would like to remove, select them, and choose ‘Delete’ from the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Check Your website for any Issues

Lastly, it’s crucial to check your website for any issues after removing the plugin and its data. Some plugins may leave behind codes or scripts that could cause conflicts or affect your website’s performance. Therefore, go through your website’s pages and ensure everything works correctly. Additionally, use plugins like WP-Performance Score Booster to monitor your website’s performance.

Removing a WordPress plugin is a simple process that requires no technical knowledge. However, following the necessary steps ensures you get it right and avoid any issues. Remember always to deactivate a plugin before deleting it and remove its data and settings to avoid any problems. Lastly, check your website’s pages after removing the plugin to ensure everything is working correctly.