WordPress WooCommerce: How to Delete it Properly (Even if You’re a Beginner)
So, you’ve decided to remove WooCommerce from your WordPress site. Maybe you’re pivoting to a different business model, simplifying your website, or just exploring options. Whatever the reason, it’s crucial to delete WooCommerce correctly to avoid lingering issues and database clutter. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, even if you’re new to WordPress.
Imagine you’re moving houses. You wouldn’t just pack your essentials and leave the rest behind, would you? You’d clean up, remove furniture, and make sure the house is ready for the next occupants. Deleting WooCommerce is similar – you need to remove all traces of it from your WordPress site.
Why Proper WooCommerce Removal Matters
Deleting a plugin like WooCommerce isn’t as simple as just clicking “Deactivate” and “Delete.” That leaves behind a lot of baggage in your database, which can:
- Slow Check out this post: How To Change Font Woocommerce Store down your website: Unnecessary data takes up space and can impact loading times.
- Cause conflicts with other plugins: Old WooCommerce tables and options might interfere with the smooth operation of other plugins.
- Create security vulnerabilities: Outdated code and tables can become targets for malicious actors.
- Increase your database size: A bloated database makes backups and restores take longer.
- Using a backup plugin: Popular options include UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, and BlogVault. These plugins automate the backup process.
- Manually backing up your database and files: This is a more technical approach but gives you more control. You’ll need access to your web hosting control panel (cPanel or similar) to download your database and files.
- `wp_woocommerce_sessions`
- `wp_woocommerce_api_keys`
- `wp_wc_product_meta_lookup`
- `woocommerce_recently_viewed`
Therefore, a clean uninstall is essential for a healthy WordPress website.
Step 1: Back Up Your Website (Seriously, Do It!)
This is the MOST IMPORTANT STEP. Before making any significant changes, back up your entire WordPress website, including your database and files. Think of it as creating a safety net. If anything goes wrong, you can easily restore your site to its previous state.
There are several ways to back up your site:
Example using UpdraftPlus:
1. Install and activate the UpdraftPlus plugin.
2. Go to UpdraftPlus > Backup/Restore.
3. Click the “Backup Now” button.
4. Choose to back up both your files and database.
5. Download the backup Explore this article on How To Add Multiple Images In Woocommerce files and store them securely.
Step 2: Deactivate WooCommerce
This is the first obvious step. Go to your WordPress dashboard, then:
1. Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Find “WooCommerce” in the list.
3. Click the “Deactivate” link.
Why deactivate first? Deactivating the plugin stops it from running, preventing potential conflicts during the deletion process.
Step 3: Delete WooCommerce
Now that WooCommerce is deactivated, you can delete it:
1. Stay on the “Installed Plugins” page.
2. Find “WooCommerce” again.
3. Click the “Delete” link.
4. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Be absolutely sure you want to delete it at this stage. There’s no going back without restoring from your backup.
Step 4: Delete WooCommerce Pages (Optional but Recommended)
WooCommerce creates several pages automatically (Shop, Cart, Checkout, My Account). You can delete these if you’re no longer using them:
1. Go to Pages Discover insights on Woof Woocommerce How To Align To The Right > All Pages.
2. Find the WooCommerce pages.
3. Hover over each page title and click “Trash”.
4. Empty the Trash.
Reasoning: Keeping these pages around serves no purpose after removing WooCommerce and can clutter your website.
Step 5: Remove WooCommerce Data from Your Database (Advanced)
This is the most technical step and requires caution. Incorrectly modifying your database can break your website. If you’re uncomfortable with this, skip it or hire a professional.
This step involves using a plugin to clean up any leftover WooCommerce data in your database. A reliable plugin for this is “Plugins Garbage Collector.”
Important: Again, BACK UP YOUR DATABASE before proceeding!
Here’s how to use Plugins Garbage Collector:
1. Install and activate the “Plugins Garbage Collector” plugin (search for it in the WordPress plugin repository).
2. Go to Tools > Garbage Collector.
3. Select the “Scan” tab.
4. The plugin will scan your database and list orphaned tables and options related to WooCommerce.
5. Carefully review the list. Only delete items you are sure are related to WooCommerce. Look for prefixes like `woocommerce_` or `wc_`.
6. Select the items you want to delete and click “Delete Selected.”
Example of identifying WooCommerce database entries:
You might see entries like:
Always double-check before deleting anything. If you are unsure about an entry, leave it alone.
Alternative Method: Manual Database Cleaning (Only for Experts!)
If you’re a database expert, you can manually clean up WooCommerce tables using phpMyAdmin or a similar database management tool. This is highly discouraged for beginners.
Example of SQL query to drop a WooCommerce table (USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION):
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS wp_woocommerce_sessions;
Step 6: Remove WooCommerce Code Snippets (If Any)
If you’ve added any custom code snippets to your `functions.php` file or a code snippets plugin related to WooCommerce, remove them.
How to check:
- functions.php: Edit your theme’s `functions.php` file (Appearance > Theme Editor). Look for any code blocks that specifically mention WooCommerce functions or classes. Be careful! Incorrectly editing this file can break your site.
- Code Snippets Plugin: If you’re using a code snippets plugin, review your snippets and remove any related to WooCommerce.
Example of a WooCommerce code snippet:
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_single_product_summary', 'remove_product_image', 5 ); function remove_product_image() { remove_action( 'woocommerce_before_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_show_product_images', 20 ); }
Step 7: Check Your .htaccess File (Rare, But Important)
In rare cases, WooCommerce might have added rules to your `.htaccess` file.
How to access your .htaccess file:
- Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to connect to your server.
- Your `.htaccess` file is usually located in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
Examine the file for any WooCommerce-related rules and remove them if necessary. Back up the .htaccess file before making any changes!
Step 8: Clear Your Website Cache
After removing WooCommerce, clear your website cache to ensure visitors see the updated version of your site. This applies if you’re using a caching plugin like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or similar. The process for clearing the cache varies depending on the plugin you’re using.
Example Explore this article on How To Change Social Icons In Woocommerce using WP Rocket:
1. Go to Settings > WP Rocket.
2. Click “Clear Cache”.
Step 9: Test Your Website
After Read more about How To Remove Additional Information In Woocommerce Product Page completing these steps, thoroughly test your website to ensure everything is working correctly. Check for broken links, errors, and any unexpected behavior.
Conclusion
Removing WooCommerce from your WordPress site requires a careful and systematic approach. By following these steps, you can ensure a clean and complete uninstall, minimizing the risk of future problems. Remember to back up your website before making any changes, and if you’re unsure about any step, seek professional assistance. Good luck!
