This step-by-step guide will take you through removing WordPress plugins. “Hello Dolly” is the first plugin that comes with a fresh installation of WordPress. Since this plugin is there for demo purposes, we don’t need it. Also, you should check if your hosting provider didn’t install any additional useless plugins to promote itself.
The current article is "5.14. Removing WP Plugins" of our Complete SEO Guide Box.
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Contents
Why Removing WordPress Plugins is Important
One might ask, why is removing WordPress plugins important? Unnecessary or outdated plugins can slow down your website significantly. In the SEO world, a slow-loading website can decrease user engagement and, subsequently, your site’s ranking in search engine results.
Moreover, plugins that aren’t regularly updated by their developers can pose security risks. Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated plugins to gain unauthorized access to websites. You can improve your site’s performance and security by removing the plugins you don’t need or those not actively maintained.
To avoid the above issues, reviewing your plugins regularly is essential, keeping only those necessary for your site’s functionality. As you become more comfortable adding, deactivating, and removing WordPress plugins, you’ll be better equipped to manage your site efficiently, leading to improved SEO results and a safer, more user-friendly website.
Logging Into Your WordPress Admin Panel
The first step to removing WordPress plugins is accessing your WordPress website’s admin panel.
Once you’ve successfully logged into the admin panel, you’ll see a vertical menu bar on the left side of the screen. Look for the [Plugins] button. It’s typically situated below [Appearance]. Click on [Plugins] to view the plugins installed on your site.
Identifying the Plugin to Deactivate
The next thing to do is identify the plugin you wish to deactivate. In our example, we’re focusing on ‘Hello Dolly.’ Scroll through the list or use the ‘Search installed plugins…’ box at the top right of the plugins page to find it quicker.
Deactivating and Removing the WordPress Plugin
Beneath the ‘Hello Dolly’ plugin’s name, you’ll see a few options like ‘Deactivate,’ ‘Edit,’ and sometimes ‘Settings.’ Click the ‘Deactivate’ button.
You’ve deactivated the plugin, but it’s still installed on your site. To delete the plugin entirely, the final step is to click ‘Delete’ in the options beneath the plugin name. WordPress will prompt you to confirm this action, as deleting a plugin will also delete its data. If you’re confident, click ‘Yes, Delete these files.’
Read More About Removing WordPress Plugin
You can read more about Removing WordPress plugins in the WordPress Docs.
Ensuring Safe Practices
A pro tip: Always back up your website regularly before making significant changes like plugin deletion. This safety net allows you to restore your site to an earlier version should anything go wrong. Since we’re removing the ‘Hello Dolly’ plugin in the fresh installation of WordPress, there is no need for backing up at this stage.
The current article is "5.14. Removing WP Plugins" of our Complete SEO Guide Box.
Previous Article: 5.13. WP Dashboard. Next Article: 5.15. Installing WP Plugins
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