How to Delete Plugin Data in WordPress

Delete plugin data may seem simple at first. You click a few buttons, and the plugin disappears with data.

However, the process is more complex. Despite appearances, leftover tables, files, and code snippets often cause issues in the future.

So, how can you remove these remnants altogether?

Stay tuned as I guide you through completely uninstalling / delete plugin data.

The Reason Behind Uninstalling a WordPress Plugin

WordPress plugins are small software applications that add new features or extend the base functionality of your site. Thousands of free and premium WordPress plugins are available to download and install. However, there are several reasons why you should uninstall a plugin.

1. Not in Use or Don’t Like It

Looking to add some new functionality? You’ll probably download similar plugins to test which suits you best. It’s all good, but remember to uninstall the ones you don’t like and won’t be using.

2. No Longer Supported

Developers must regularly update plugins to ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress. If developers abandon plugins, they can become incompatible.

3. Want To Replace with Bigger and Better

As your website expands, your requirements evolve, so a plugin you needed several months ago may need to be revised. When you no longer require it, you should uninstall it.

4. Causing Problems

A problematic plugin is likely causing issues on your site. Despite plugin developers’ efforts to adhere to standards, conflicts can occur between plugins or between a plugin and a theme. In such instances, it is imperative to remove the troublesome plugin.

5. Contains Malicious Code

Beware! Hackers and unscrupulous developers often create plugins containing malware and viruses. While it’s unlikely to download such a plugin from the official repository, you may accidentally download one from a third-party site.

In such a case, you must uninstall the plugin immediately. If it has infected your site, seeking help from malware removal experts is non-negotiable.

In the end, we must understand that leaving an unwanted WordPress plugin on your site is never a good idea.

Do you know the difference between deactivating and deleting a WordPress plugin

• When you deactivate a plugin, it’s like flicking off a light switch. The plugin files remain on your site, but WordPress puts them on hold until you decide to reactivate the plugin. It’s like giving your website a break without losing any of the important stuff!
• When you delete plugin data, the plugin is removed from your list, and all associated files are uninstalled from your site. This helps keep your site clean and optimized for peak performance.

When troubleshooting an issue on your site, it’s crucial to deactivate plugins one at a time to isolate potential conflicts. If you identify a rogue plugin, it’s imperative to delete a plugin data completely.

Important Stapes to Uninstall a WordPress Plugin

Before beginning the uninstallation process for any unwanted plugins in WordPress, it is crucial to have a current backup available. This will allow you to restore your site in case anything goes wrong.

• Log in and navigate to Plugins – Installed plugins to view your site’s installed plugins.
• To remove a plugin, scroll down to the plugin you want to remove and click “Deactivate.”
• To uninstall the plugin, click “Delete.”

When you delete plugin data in WordPress, it is usually removed immediately. However, some data may linger. To ensure a thorough cleanup, it’s essential to dive into the back end and manually delete plugin data for any remaining “leftovers.” 

This extra step has a complete guarantee of delete plugin data, leaving your WordPress site running smoothly.

After uninstalling a WordPress plugin, delete plugin data (any leftover files and folders)

When you delete a WordPress plugin from your admin dashboard, it usually uninstalls any files and folders created in the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.

However, in some cases, a plugin may create files, tables, and shortcodes in other folders that may not be deleted. In such situations, you must manually delete plugin data.

Before you start, ensure that you have a current backup that you can use to restore your site if anything goes wrong.

Important Stapes to Delete Plugin Data

You can delete unnecessary files using FTP or SFTP with a program such as FileZilla or Cyberduck. Alternatively, some WordPress hosts, like WPX, provide a file manager, allowing you to bypass the FTP process. In either case, you can access the files and folders on your WordPress server.

When you install WordPress, it creates two subfolders within the “wp-content” folder:

• plugins
• themes

Over time, additional subfolders may be added, such as:

• cache
• upgrade
• uploads

Some plugins also create their own folders. For example, W3 Total Cache creates a “w3tc-config” subfolder.

Even if I successfully delete the W3 Total Cache plugin:

Right-click on the folder and choose “Delete” to delete a plugin data

After selecting “Delete,” you will see a confirmation message. Choose “Delete” to confirm, and the “w3tc-config” folder will be removed. This is how to delete plugin data.

Essential Steps to Delete Leftover Database Tables

To eliminate unwanted database tables, utilize phpMyAdmin, a tool commonly included in the hosting admin dashboard by most WordPress hosts. This powerful feature allows you to take control and maintain a clean, efficient database for seamless website performance.

When WordPress is installed, it creates 12 standard database tables.

• wp_commentmeta
• wp_comments
• wp_links
• wp_options
• wp_postmeta
• wp_posts
• wp_termmeta
• wp_terms
• wp_term_relationships
• wp_term_taxonomy
• wp_usermeta
• wp_users

The creation of additional tables is attributed to individual plugins. Notably, there are 22 tables encompassing entries from Yoast SEO and Thrive Architect.

When you uninstall a plugin, some developers intentionally keep settings in case you reinstall it, while others don’t clean up. In any case, you can remove any remaining elements.

For example, choose the Drop option next to it if you want to delete the remaining “wp_socialsnap_stats” table from the Social Snap plugin.

You will receive a message asking for confirmation to delete the table. Click OK to confirm and proceed with the deletion.

Steps to Remove Leftover Shortcodes

When you deactivate and delete a plugin that uses shortcodes, you may encounter the actual shortcode tag being displayed on your website.

If you have only a few shortcodes on one or two pages, editing and removing them is simple. However, some plugins, especially visual page builders like Divi, create numerous shortcodes across your site. In this case, there’s a faster way to locate and remove the remaining shortcodes.

Firstly, install a plugin called Shortcodes Finder. Then, navigate to Tools – Shortcodes Finder and choose Settings. Check the box next to “Disable unused/orphan shortcodes” to find and remove unwanted tags and save your settings.

To remove any unused shortcodes, confidently choose the “Find unused shortcodes” tab and thoroughly search the Posts and Pages. In this example, take charge and remove the unused shortcodes from the Contact Page and Sample Page.

Great! You can see that the Contact Page no longer displays the shortcode.

In this example, it’s crucial to note that you still need to edit the text on your page because it’s meaningless without a form to display.

Conclusion

WordPress makes installing and deleting plugin data directly from your admin dashboard a breeze. However, there’s a catch – when you delete a plugin, it often leaves behind a trail of files, folders, database tables, and shortcodes. If you want to thoroughly rid your site of any lingering remnants from an unwanted plugin, follow the above steps. It’s the ultimate way to ensure a clean and efficient WordPress experience. If the problem still persists, contact the developer of the plugin.