Simple Ways to Reset WordPress: Plugins and Manual Methods

Is your WordPress website acting strangely? Maybe it’s sluggish, malfunctioning, or displaying errors. You’ve tried troubleshooting the plugins and themes, but the problems persist. If you’ve exhausted other options, resetting your WordPress site might be the answer.

Resetting your site essentially wipes the slate clean, restoring it to its original state. This can be a great way to resolve stubborn issues and get your website functioning properly again.

Let’s see how the WordPress experts reset a website with or without plugins.

Why Reset a WordPress Website?

Resetting a WordPress website means bringing it back to its default state. That especially involves wiping out all customizations, content, and settings. Here are a few reasons to reset the WordPress site.

Persistent Issues

If you’re battling technical problems that defy troubleshooting efforts, a reset can be a powerful refresh. Whether it’s sluggish loading times, inexplicable errors, or functionality breakdowns, a reset can eliminate these issues and provide a clean foundation to rebuild your site.

Security Concerns

If you suspect your site has been compromised by malware or a hacking attempt, a reset serves as a critical security measure. By wiping away any malicious code or vulnerabilities, you can establish a secure base to relaunch your website with renewed confidence.

Website Cleanup

Over time, WordPress sites can accumulate clutter. Unnecessary plugins, outdated content, and bloated themes can slow down performance and detract from user experience. A reset acts as a digital decluttering tool, giving you a chance to start fresh with a streamlined and optimized website.

Rebranding or Repurposing

If your website’s purpose or branding is undergoing a significant shift, a reset can provide the perfect blank canvas. This allows you to implement the new direction seamlessly, without the baggage of past configurations and content.

Preparing for Transfer

When handing your WordPress site to a new owner or migrating to a different hosting provider, a reset ensures a clean handover. This eliminates any personal information or customizations that shouldn’t be transferred, streamlining the process for both parties.

So, facing any of these issues on your WordPress website? Then reset it or consult with our professional WordPress developers.

How to Reset a WordPress Website?

WordPress is quite a user-friendly CMS. Any functionality can be taken care of by installing a WordPress plugin and even without it, and that includes resetting the site.

Here’s how you can reset a WordPress site.

With a WordPress Plugin

WordPress plugins can help take care of everything from SEO, security, and performance optimization to even resetting the whole website. It’s quite a convenient and user-friendly approach. Here’s how you reset the WordPress website with a plugin:

Step 1: There are several popular plugins for site reset. But you can choose the best WordPress plugin according to your technical expertise and feature preferences.

Step 2: Search for the plugin in your WordPress admin dashboard and follow the on-screen instructions for installation and activation.

Step 3: Once activated, locate the plugin’s settings page within your general WordPress settings. This will typically be under the “Tools” menu.

Step 4: Based on the plugin, you will see options to choose what gets reset (plugins, themes, content, etc.). Go through these settings carefully to ensure you’re resetting the desired elements.

Step 5: After finishing the configurations, find the “Reset” button and press it to complete the process. It’s a permanent action, so proceed with caution.

Without the Plugin

Resetting the WordPress website manually would require some technical expertise. You will need to know how to work with the WordPres core file structure and database. So proceed with caution.

Before you start the process, make sure to backup your WordPress website. After that, follow this step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Log into the cPanel of your WordPress website. The credentials are offered by your WordPress hosting provider. After logging into the cPanel, navigate to the database management section. It may be labeled as “Databases” or “MySQL Databases”.

Step 2: Locate the database of your WordPres website. It will follow a format like wp_[your_site_name]. After identifying the database, click “Delete”.

Step 3: In the same database section, locate the option to create a new database. Assign a new name and create the new one.

Step 4: Use an FTP client to access the file directory of your WordPress website (it may be www directory or public_html). Then navigate to the wp-content folder.

Step 5: Inside wp-content, you’ll find subfolders for themes, plugins, and uploads. Here’s what to consider deleting:

• Themes: Delete all themes (except the one you want on your site)
• Plugins: Deactivate all plugins (and delete them)
• Uploads: If you want to keep the media files, download them for backup. Otherwise, delete the whole folder.

Step 6: After deleting the essential files, install the latest WordPress through the official website.

Step 7: Visit your website’s domain name in your web browser. This will initiate the WordPress installation script. Then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 8: After completing the installation, configure the website.

Again, you need to understand that this manual reset wipes out the whole website. So make sure you have a backup before proceeding.

If you are looking to reset your website, our professional WordPress developers would be of help. We will analyze your website and see what can be done to alleviate the issue. Then we will proceed with the reset based on our findings.

FAQs on Resetting a WordPress Website

Conclusion

Resetting a WordPress website can be an excellent strategy for resolving technical woes, enhancing security, or streamlining a website overhaul. Whether you choose the user-friendly plugin method or the more technical manual approach, it will be valuable.

But remember, creating a full backup beforehand safeguards your precious content in case of unforeseen circumstances. And choose the suitable reset method to restore your website to its default settings.

If you need help with resetting the website or resolving any issues, consult with our WordPress professionals.