{"id":37828,"date":"2018-05-08T11:05:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T16:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?post_type=resource&p=37828"},"modified":"2021-05-21T04:20:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T09:20:12","slug":"uninstall-plugins","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Remove and Uninstall WordPress Plugins"},"content":{"rendered":"

However you use your WordPress site, installing plugins<\/a> is practically a must. After all, they present a quick and easy way of extending the core platform\u2019s functionality. However, to maintain the security and performance of your site, you\u2019ll also need to uninstall plugins every now and then.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to delete plugins you\u2019ve found to be unnecessary (or unreliable). What\u2019s more, after you\u2019ve deleted a plugin, it\u2019s just as easy to reinstall it again.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explore some of the primary reasons for removing a plugin from your site. Then, we\u2019ll walk you through the necessary steps to uninstall a plugin. Finally, we\u2019ll cover how to reinstall plugins. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n

Why Should You Remove Plugins from WordPress?<\/h2>\n

The three main reasons why you may want to remove a plugin boil down to speed, security, and redundancy. Let\u2019s cover each in brief.<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s tempting to keep installing plugins that let you add awesome new features to your site, plugin overload could drastically slow your page loading speeds. As such, you\u2019ll need to clean house every now and again. In fact, we\u2019ve previously talked about other ways to reduce slow loading times<\/a> and make your site more lightweight<\/a>, as plugins aren\u2019t the be all and end all of site speeds.<\/p>\n

Also, if you\u2019ve downloaded a plugin that hasn\u2019t been updated for a long period of time, or been tested with the latest version of WordPress, it should be removed. Failing to do so could put your site\u2019s security at risk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, if you\u2019ve found your plugin no longer works (or is otherwise unsuitable for your site), it should be deleted. However, we recommend you double-check that uninstalling the plugin won’t cause your site\u2019s content to be negatively affected. If you\u2019re unsure, backing up your site<\/a> is strongly recommended.<\/p>\n

How to Uninstall WordPress Plugins<\/h2>\n

Uninstalling plugins is an extremely straightforward process. However, as we touched on above, it\u2019s a good idea to backup your site before proceeding.<\/p>\n

We should note that although you have the option to simply deactivate plugins, this is not the same as deleting them. A deactivated plugin will remove the functionality from your site, but will still take up storage space, as well as pose a potential threat if it becomes outdated. Following the steps below will completely remove the plugin from your WordPress installation.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see how to do it!<\/p>\n

Step #1<\/h3>\n

Navigate to your WordPress back end, and from the main dashboard, head to the Plugins > Installed Plugins<\/em> screen:<\/p>\n

\"uninstall<\/p>\n

This will bring up a page listing all of the plugins you currently have installed on your site, both active and inactive.<\/p>\n

Step #2<\/h3>\n

Once you\u2019ve accessed your list of plugins, browse through and locate the plugin you wish to uninstall. Once you\u2019ve done this, select the plugin\u2019s Deactivate<\/em> link if it\u2019s active (if not, move onto step three):<\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

This will stop the plugin from running on your WordPress installation, but it won\u2019t uninstall it. We\u2019ll look at this next.<\/p>\n

Step #3<\/h3>\n

Once you\u2019ve browsed to (and deactivated) your chosen plugin, a Delete<\/em> option should appear for the plugin you wish to remove:<\/p>\n

\"remove<\/p>\n

When you hit Delete<\/em>, a window will appear asking you to confirm the plugin\u2019s deletion. Once you hit Yes<\/em>, WordPress will run through some under the hood tasks, and you\u2019re all done!<\/p>\n

As you can see, you don\u2019t have to be a WordPress expert to remove unwanted plugins, although you are also able to manually remove plugins<\/a> via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), which can be useful if you don\u2019t wish to remove that plugin\u2019s data. However, the approach we\u2019ve outlined is by far the simplest method.<\/p>\n

How to Reinstall WordPress Plugins<\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, unlike Active<\/em> and Inactive<\/em> plugins (which are displayed in the Installed Plugins<\/em> page), uninstalled plugins cannot be readily browsed. As such, the best way to reinstall a plugin is to essentially treat it as a new installation. For the uninitiated, here are the steps you need to take.<\/p>\n

Step #1<\/h2>\n

Navigate to Plugins > Add New<\/em> from your WordPress dashboard. Then, type the name of the plugin you wish to reinstall in the search bar:<\/p>\n

\"reinstall<\/p>\n

A page should then display showing the plugin you wish to install.<\/p>\n

Step #2<\/h3>\n

Once you\u2019ve found your chosen plugin, click the Install<\/em> Now button:<\/p>\n

\"install<\/p>\n

Once the installation is finished, the Install Now<\/em> button should be replaced by an Activate<\/em> button. Clicking this will let WordPress carry out some more under the hood work, at which point your plugin will be both installed and activated on your website.<\/p>\n

If you want to keep a clear record of the plugins you install and uninstall, you\u2019re in luck! There\u2019s a variety of handy activity log plugins to help you achieve this. A notable example is Simple History<\/a> \u2013 a lightweight, user-friendly solution that will automatically track all plugin interactions.<\/p>\n

Get Reliable and Affordable WordPress Support With WP Engine<\/h2>\n

At WP Engine<\/a>, we offer reliable support and outstanding customer service to ensure your WordPress site is geared for success. Whether you\u2019re looking to enhance performance, troubleshoot an error, or streamline your site\u2019s administration, we will respond rapidly to meet your needs. Best of all, our stellar support staff operate 24\/7.<\/p>\n

You can find an excellent variety of WordPress guides, practical tips, and general articles in our dedicated Resource Center<\/a>. If you have any specific questions about our offerings, or want to enquire about any of our quality hosting plans<\/a>, don\u2019t hesitate to get in touch with us today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

However you use your WordPress site, installing plugins is practically a must. After all, they present a quick and easy way of extending the core platform\u2019s functionality. However, to maintain the security and performance of your site, you\u2019ll also need to uninstall plugins every now and then. Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to delete plugins…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":297,"featured_media":87516,"template":"","resource-topic":[912,909,915,901],"resource-role":[895,896,906,897,903,899],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-37828","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Uninstall or Remove WordPress Plugins | WP Engine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What do you do when you no longer use a specific WordPress plugin? How to remove a plugin from your WordPress dashboard.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Uninstall or Remove WordPress Plugins | WP Engine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What do you do when you no longer use a specific WordPress plugin? How to remove a plugin from your WordPress dashboard.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WP Engine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wpengine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-05-21T09:20:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_215226196-e1561481458342.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@wpengine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/\",\"name\":\"How To Uninstall or Remove WordPress Plugins | WP Engine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-05-08T16:05:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-21T09:20:12+00:00\",\"description\":\"What do you do when you no longer use a specific WordPress plugin? How to remove a plugin from your WordPress dashboard.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Resources\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Remove and Uninstall WordPress Plugins\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/\",\"name\":\"WP Engine\",\"description\":\"Managed Hosting for WordPress\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/3a22232b01de39dcf588fb8e421c0521\",\"name\":\"Erin Myers\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd881e115bc28c81642ec61752db9981ece9ee8b4c81498a9b6276b9cdcaf5e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd881e115bc28c81642ec61752db9981ece9ee8b4c81498a9b6276b9cdcaf5e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Erin Myers\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How To Uninstall or Remove WordPress Plugins | WP Engine","description":"What do you do when you no longer use a specific WordPress plugin? How to remove a plugin from your WordPress dashboard.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How To Uninstall or Remove WordPress Plugins | WP Engine","og_description":"What do you do when you no longer use a specific WordPress plugin? How to remove a plugin from your WordPress dashboard.","og_url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/","og_site_name":"WP Engine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wpengine","article_modified_time":"2021-05-21T09:20:12+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_215226196-e1561481458342.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@wpengine","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/","url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/","name":"How To Uninstall or Remove WordPress Plugins | WP Engine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website"},"datePublished":"2018-05-08T16:05:31+00:00","dateModified":"2021-05-21T09:20:12+00:00","description":"What do you do when you no longer use a specific WordPress plugin? How to remove a plugin from your WordPress dashboard.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/uninstall-plugins\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Resources","item":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Remove and Uninstall WordPress Plugins"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website","url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/","name":"WP Engine","description":"Managed Hosting for WordPress","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/3a22232b01de39dcf588fb8e421c0521","name":"Erin Myers","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd881e115bc28c81642ec61752db9981ece9ee8b4c81498a9b6276b9cdcaf5e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd881e115bc28c81642ec61752db9981ece9ee8b4c81498a9b6276b9cdcaf5e6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Erin Myers"}}]}},"acf":[],"grid_image_url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_775693162.jpg","media-type":{"term_id":916,"name":"Article","slug":"article"},"role":"<strong>Roles:<\/strong> Agency, Developer, Entrepreneur, Freelancer, Marketer, Site Owner","topic":"<strong>Topics:<\/strong> Performance, Security, Uptime, WordPress","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/37828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-topic?post=37828"},{"taxonomy":"resource-role","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-role?post=37828"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=37828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}