How to Disable All Plugins in WordPress: A Complete Guide

WordPress plugins are incredibly powerful tools that enhance the functionality and features of your website. However, there may be times when you need to disable all plugins, whether due to conflicts, troubleshooting, or performance issues. Disabling all plugins at once can save time when diagnosing problems, or if you want to update your website without interference from plugins.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore different methods on how to disable all plugins in WordPress. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this article will walk you through the entire process step-by-step.

Why You Might Need to Disable All Plugins

Before we dive into the methods, it’s important to understand why you may want to disable all plugins. Some common reasons include:

1. Troubleshooting Errors: If your website is showing errors, malfunctioning, or experiencing slow performance, disabling all plugins helps rule out any plugin-related issues.
2. Plugin Conflicts: Sometimes, plugins may conflict with each other, causing issues like broken functionality, errors, or even crashes. Disabling them all can help pinpoint which one is causing the problem.
3. Improving Website Performance: Over time, plugins can accumulate and slow down your website. Temporarily disabling plugins can help assess if they’re impacting the performance.
4. Update or Change Plugins: If you need to update, change, or replace a plugin, disabling them first may be necessary to ensure smooth updates.

Methods to Disable All Plugins in WordPress

There are several ways to disable all plugins in WordPress. Let’s look at each one in detail:

1. Disable Plugins via the WordPress Admin Dashboard

The easiest and most straightforward way to disable all plugins is through the WordPress admin dashboard. However, keep in mind that this method requires you to have access to the WordPress admin area.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Log into your WordPress Dashboard: Go to your website and log into the admin area using your credentials.
2. Navigate to the Plugins Section: From the left-hand sidebar, click on Plugins to open the list of all installed plugins.
3. Bulk Select All Plugins: At the top of the plugin list, check the box next to Plugin to select all plugins.
4. Deactivate All Plugins: From the “Bulk Actions” dropdown menu, select Deactivate, and then click Apply.

This will disable all the plugins on your WordPress site, and your site will no longer be using any of the plugin features.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Some essential plugins, such as caching or security plugins, may cause temporary issues with the website after deactivation. It’s important to test your website after deactivating all plugins to ensure everything is functioning properly.

2. Disable Plugins by Renaming the Plugin Folder via FTP

If you can’t access the WordPress dashboard due to a plugin conflict or error, you can disable all plugins via FTP or your web hosting control panel’s file manager. This method works by renaming the plugins folder to prevent WordPress from loading any plugins.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Connect to Your Website via FTP: Use an FTP client like FileZilla or access your hosting account’s file manager through cPanel.
2. Locate the Plugins Folder: Navigate to the following directory in your WordPress installation: wp-content/plugins/.
3. Rename the Plugins Folder: Right-click on the plugins folder and choose Rename. Rename the folder to something like plugins_disabled or plugins_backup.
4. Refresh Your Website: Now, all the plugins will be disabled, and you can check your website. If you need to reactivate the plugins, simply rename the folder back to “plugins.”

Things to Keep in Mind:

• This method completely disables all plugins, including critical ones. After renaming the folder, your site may lose some functionality temporarily, such as sliders, forms, or caching.
• After troubleshooting or updates, you can rename the folder back to plugins and reactivate individual plugins one by one.

3. Disable Plugins via WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface)

For users with more technical expertise, WP-CLI offers a command-line interface to manage WordPress websites. If you have SSH access to your server, you can easily disable all plugins through WP-CLI.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Access Your Server via SSH: Use an SSH client to log into your server where your WordPress site is hosted.

2. Run the WP-CLI Command: Once connected, navigate to your WordPress directory and run the following command to deactivate all plugins:
bash
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wp plugin deactivate --all

3. Confirm Plugins are Disabled: You can confirm all plugins have been deactivated by running:
bash
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wp plugin status

This will show you the status of all plugins, confirming they are now disabled.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• WP-CLI is available only on servers that support SSH access, and you must have access to the terminal/command-line interface to use it.

4. Disable Plugins Using the Database (For Advanced Users)

If you don’t have access to the WordPress dashboard or FTP, and you’re comfortable working with databases, you can disable plugins by directly modifying the database. This method should be used with caution, as it involves interacting with critical website data.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Access Your Database: Log in to your hosting account and open phpMyAdmin (available through cPanel or another hosting panel).
2. Select Your Database: Choose the WordPress database associated with your website.
3. Locate the Active Plugins Option: In the database, go to the wp_options table (prefix may vary depending on your WordPress installation).
4. Modify the active_plugins Row: Find the row labeled active_plugins and edit its value. Set the value to a:0:{} (this will deactivate all plugins).
5. Save Changes: Click Go to save the changes.
6. Test Your Website: Check your website to confirm all plugins are now disabled.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• This method requires a good understanding of database management. If done incorrectly, it can break your website or cause unexpected errors.

5. Disable Plugins in Safe Mode (For Site Health Issues)

If your WordPress site has issues such as blank screens, errors, or is inaccessible due to a plugin conflict, you can try using the WordPress Safe Mode or Recovery Mode feature. WordPress may automatically send you an email when the site enters Recovery Mode, allowing you to disable problematic plugins.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Check Your Email for Recovery Mode Link: If WordPress detects a critical error, you may receive an email with a link to enter Recovery Mode.
2. Log into the Recovery Mode: Follow the link to log in to the WordPress dashboard in a limited environment.
3. Disable the Problematic Plugin: You will be prompted to disable the plugin that caused the issue. You can disable all plugins if necessary.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• This method only works if WordPress detects a critical error and sends you an email.

Best Practices After Disabling Plugins

After disabling all plugins, you may want to follow some best practices to ensure your website runs smoothly:

1. Test Your Website: Once all plugins are disabled, test your website thoroughly to see if the issues are resolved.
2. Reactivate Plugins One by One: If you’re troubleshooting, reactivate plugins one at a time to pinpoint the plugin causing the issue.
3. Update Plugins Regularly: Always keep your plugins up to date to avoid compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities.
4. Backup Your Site: Before making changes to your plugins, always create a backup of your website to avoid data loss.
5. Optimize Your Plugins: Deactivate and delete any unnecessary plugins. This will help speed up your website and reduce security risks.

Conclusion

Disabling all plugins in WordPress can be a useful technique for troubleshooting and improving website performance. Whether you use the WordPress admin dashboard, FTP, WP-CLI, or database methods, each approach has its benefits and should be chosen based on your access level and technical skills.

Always remember to back up your website before making any major changes, and re-enable plugins gradually to ensure that your site is running smoothly. If you’re unsure about any method, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional to help you disable plugins safely.