How to Completely Remove WooCommerce: A Step-by-Step Guide
WooCommerce is a fantastic plugin for turning your WordPress site into a powerful e-commerce platform. However, there might come a time when you need to completely remove it. Perhaps you’re changing your business model, switching to a different e-commerce solution, or simply starting over. Whatever the reason, completely removing WooCommerce requires more than just deactivating the plugin. This article will guide you through the process of thoroughly uninstalling WooCommerce and cleaning up your WordPress database.
Why Completely Remove WooCommerce?
Leaving WooCommerce partially installed can lead to several issues:
- Database Bloat: WooCommerce creates numerous database tables and options. Leaving these behind can slow down your site and increase your database size.
- Plugin Conflicts: Inactive WooCommerce components can sometimes interfere with other plugins.
- Security Vulnerabilities: Old, unused code can potentially be exploited by hackers.
- Clean Slate: For a fresh start, removing all WooCommerce traces ensures a clean and optimized WordPress environment.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Find the WooCommerce plugin.
- Click Deactivate.
- Stay on the Plugins > Installed Plugins page.
- Find the WooCommerce plugin.
- Click Delete.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
- Go to Pages > All Pages.
- Locate the WooCommerce pages: Shop, Cart, Checkout, My Account.
- Move each page to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash to permanently delete them.
- Option 1: Using a Plugin (Recommended for Beginners)
- Install and activate a plugin like “Plugins Garbage Collector” or “WP Reset” (use with EXTREME caution and ONLY for the database cleanup features).
- These plugins can scan your database for orphaned tables and options created by WooCommerce and allow you to delete them safely.
- Always create a database backup before using such plugins!
- Option 2: Using phpMyAdmin (Advanced Users)
- Access your database through phpMyAdmin (usually found in your hosting control panel).
- Identify WooCommerce database tables. These tables typically start with `wp_woocommerce_` or `wp_wc_`.
- Carefully select and drop (delete) these tables. Double-check before confirming the deletion!
- Example tables to look for: `wp_woocommerce_sessions`, `wp_woocommerce_api_keys`, `wp_woocommerce_attribute_lookups`, `wp_woocommerce_downloadable_product_permissions`, `wp_woocommerce_log`, `wp_woocommerce_payment_tokens`, `wp_woocommerce_payment_tokenmeta`, `wp_woocommerce_shipping_zones`, `wp_woocommerce_shipping_zone_locations`, `wp_woocommerce_shipping_zone_methods`, `wp_woocommerce_tax_rates`, `wp_woocommerce_tax_rate_locations`, `wp_wc_product_attributes`, `wp_wc_product_meta_lookup`
- Again, backup your database before proceeding.
- Option 1: Using a Plugin (Recommended for Beginners)
- The same plugins mentioned in Step 5 can also help with this. Use the “Plugins Garbage Collector” or “WP Reset” plugins to clean up orphaned options.
- Ensure you have a database backup before using these plugins.
- Option 2: Using phpMyAdmin (Advanced Users)
- In phpMyAdmin, navigate to the `wp_options` table.
- Search for options that contain `woocommerce` or `wc_`.
- Carefully select and delete these options. Double-check before confirming the deletion!
- Backup your database before proceeding.
- Install and activate a plugin like “Transient Cleaner”.
- Run the plugin to clear all expired and orphaned transients.
- Access your `.htaccess` file (usually located in your WordPress root directory) via FTP or your hosting control panel’s file manager.
- Look for any WooCommerce-related rules and remove them. Be extremely careful when editing this file, as incorrect modifications can break your site.
The Complete WooCommerce Removal Process
Here’s a step-by-step guide to completely remove WooCommerce from your WordPress site:
1. Backup Your Website!
This is the most crucial step. Before making any significant changes to your WordPress site, always create a complete backup of your website files and database. This ensures you can restore your site if anything goes wrong during the removal process. You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup to automate this process.
2. Deactivate WooCommerce Plugin
This is the initial step, but not the final one.
3. Delete WooCommerce Plugin
After deactivating, you can now delete the plugin.
4. Delete WooCommerce Pages
WooCommerce automatically creates several pages during installation (Shop, Cart, Checkout, My Account). You need to delete these pages:
5. Remove WooCommerce Database Tables
This is where things get a bit more technical. Incorrectly deleting database tables can severely damage your website. Proceed with caution and only if you are comfortable working with your database. We recommend using a plugin for this process if you are unfamiliar with phpMyAdmin.
6. Remove WooCommerce Options from wp_options Table
The `wp_options` table stores various settings and configurations. You need to remove WooCommerce-related options from this table.
7. Clear Transients
Transients are temporary data stored in the database. WooCommerce may have created some transients.
8. Check Your .htaccess File (If Applicable)
In rare cases, WooCommerce might have added rules to your `.htaccess` file.
9. Verify Theme Customizations (If Applicable)
If you’ve heavily customized your theme to integrate with WooCommerce, you might need to manually remove those customizations. Consult your theme documentation or a developer for assistance.
Conclusion
Completely removing WooCommerce requires a thorough approach. By following these steps, you can ensure that all traces of the plugin are removed from your WordPress site, preventing potential issues and optimizing your website’s performance. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes, and proceed with caution when working with your database. If you’re unsure about any of these steps, it’s best to consult with a WordPress developer for assistance. Good luck!
