It\u2019s often the case that after setting up your WordPress site, you\u2019ll never have to modify your installation. However, in some cases you may find that you need to reset or reinstall your site, but have no idea where to start.
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Fortunately, this task isn\u2019t quite as difficult as it may seem at first. There are a few ways to go about reinstalling WordPress, including manually and by using a plugin. You\u2019re free to choose whichever method best suits your needs.
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In this post, we\u2019ll talk about why you might want to reset WordPress, and then show you two ways to go about it. Let\u2019s jump right in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resetting WordPress means restoring all of its files and databases back to their original state. In other words, you\u2019re effectively taking an existing WordPress website and re-installing it from scratch, using what\u2019s already there as your foundation. You can either wipe the site clean and start over again from a blank slate, or restore it from a backup<\/a>. There are three main reasons to reset WordPress. These include: You may also want to perform a partial reset. It\u2019s important to periodically clear out your database<\/a> to remove files that accumulate over time, such as old cached data that slows down your site. Partial resets enable you to do that, without affecting other key parts of your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned earlier, there are two primary ways to reinstall your WordPress site. In this section, we\u2019ll explain how to perform a manual WordPress reset using Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, you\u2019ll want to log into your WP Engine portal<\/a> and navigate to phpMyAdmin<\/em>. Then, look for your site\u2019s current MySQL database. It\u2019s a good idea to make a copy of it for safekeeping at this point, and name it something like \u201cbackup WP [date].\u201d Then, delete your current database<\/a> using the menu options in your dashboard. Before you delete it, note the database\u2019s exact name \u2013 you\u2019ll be naming your new database to match it in the next step. Alternatively, instead of deleting your database entirely, you can clear it out by following our database optimization guide<\/a>. This can speed up your current database by removing any files you aren\u2019t using anymore, such as orphaned data that was left behind by deleted plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still using phpMyAdmin, the next thing you\u2019ll want to do is create a new database<\/a> with the same name as your old one. You\u2019ll also need to set up a username and a password at this point. Make sure that you write these credentials down somewhere safe \u2013 you\u2019ll need them to access the site later on. Once you have a new database in place, you can run the WordPress installation script<\/a>. This will start WordPress\u2019 famous five minute installation process. You can simply follow the wizard to automatically install WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we noted earlier, you can also choose to restore your site from a backup instead of completely reinstalling it. If you\u2019ve set up automatic backups, you can use your WP Engine portal to restore your site<\/a>. The software will clean out your current database, and replace it with the backed-up copy. Then, you can return to using your site as normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What if you want to simplify the process of resetting WordPress? To do that, you\u2019ll need the right tool. Let\u2019s look at how you can reinstall your site using the handy Advanced WordPress Reset<\/a> plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, you\u2019ll need to install and activate the plugin. Then, you\u2019re ready to use the plugin to reset your WordPress database. Under the Tools<\/em> menu in your dashboard\u2019s sidebar, click on Advanced WP Reset<\/em>. Then, select Reset database<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll need to manually type the word \u201creset\u201d into the confirmation box as shown above, to confirm that you want to reset your database. This will automatically delete your old installation and set up a new one (so make sure you have a backup in place first). That\u2019s it! Refresh your site to see your fresh installation of WordPress ready to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reinstalling WordPress can be a little tricky for beginners. If you\u2019re having any trouble, don\u2019t hesitate to contact us<\/a> for support. At WP Engine, we\u2019re here to help you run an effective WordPress site and provide the best digital experience possible. We also offer plenty of handy developer resources<\/a>, as well as some top-notch plans<\/a> for WordPress users! It\u2019s often the case that after setting up your WordPress site, you\u2019ll never have to modify your installation. However, in some cases you may find that you need to reset or reinstall your site, but have no idea where to start. Fortunately, this task isn\u2019t quite as difficult as it may seem at first. There…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":0,"template":"","resource-topic":[901],"resource-role":[895,896,906,899],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-80591","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Reset WordPress Without a Plugin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Delete Your Old Database<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 2: Create a New Database and Reinstall WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 3: Restore Your Site from a Backup (Optional)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Reset WordPress With a Plugin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nHaving Trouble With WordPress? WP Engine Is Here to Help!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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