Deactivate WordPress Plugins through PhpMyAdmin

Posted by & filed under Blogging, Wordpress.

I recently moved a WordPress blog to a new domain. A domain that had access to the old database. So I figured, why not just move it. Wrong. My admin page turned out blank. So i figured there has to be away to deactivate some plugins via the database.

So I did some searches. And I did some more searches. And I… Well, you know. Never found a thing. So I went through the WordPress database and finally figured out  how to do it.

Using phpMyAdmin or similiar software, go to the wp_options table. Find the active_plugins row. You can search the options_name field. On my installation, it was option #39. Delete everything in the options_value field.

After working through all of this I found out there was extra whitespace in one of the files. Hey, but it might help someone.

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21 Responses to “Deactivate WordPress Plugins through PhpMyAdmin”

  3. Stephan Miller

    I am glad. When I went to do this, I could find no information on it. And any time that happens, it’s the perfect time to investigate yourself and write a post.

  4. starry

    hello i am Passionate to manage mysql db so i was looking for good best management tool. When on my way i found sqlyog. really awesome. Great looking gui .. just enjoy!!!

  5. Igor Ostrovsky

    Saved my sanity! After installing a plugin, suddenly all WordPress pages were showing up as blank, including all admin pages.

    Thanks to your tip, I was able to disable the plugin and get my blog back online. Phew.

  8. Gary

    Hi, really useful post, thanks. I’d tried to run the Semisecure Login plugin, but after logging out, it wouldn’t let me back in again. Your post pointed me in the right direction to find the bit I needed to delete.

    Garys last blog post..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-03-08

  12. Jason

    I just wrote a post on how to deactivate all your plugins via phpmyadmin. I totally had the same issue when I moved one of my blogs to a new server. The Menacing White Screen of Death is a total pain.

    There is a super easy way to do it through phpmyadmin, it involves pasting a quick sql command in the sql tab and deleting some code. I’d put it all here, but it’s a little much, but here’s the link to the entire post:

    http://alwayswordpress.com/blogging/the-menacing-white-screen-of-death-with-wordpress

  13. Stephan Miller

    @Jason Thanks! When I wrote this post, I couldn’t find anything, so I tracked it down the database. Hopefully your solution can help people out even quicker.

  14. Socrates Wordpress Theme

    Completely deactive the plugin update checking system in WordPress. The plugin prevents WordPress from checking for updates, and prevents any notifications from being displayed on the Plugins page. Ideal for administrators of multiple WordPress installations.

  15. GerryV

    Making money online isn’t easy, but posts like this can make a difference by opening your eyes to the in and outs of this crazy business.

  19. OpenSourceDesigner

    You can also easily disable a problematic plugin by renaming the plugin file or folder. The plugin folder can be found in wp-content/plugins/. It’s usually a file or folder with the same name as the plugin. Simply delete or rename this file/folder and it will essentially disable the plugin.

    This would work for users without access to phpmyadmin.

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