Completely deleting a WordPress site is a relatively easy process. However, you must be sure to do each and every step in the proper order. Failure to do so can leave pieces of the site behind, which can effect installing a new installation.
Below is an outline of the steps, followed by an excellent video by TechBasedMarketing.
- Backup the site. Even if you don’t think you will every use it again, this is a fail safe, just in case. Plug-ins such as UpdraftPlus and BackupBuddy are excellent choices. Be sure you backup in a folder that will not be deleted. Or, better yet, download the backup to an external site. The UpdraftPlus backup plugin is recommended.
- Your host may have a ‘uninstall WordPress’ function. If you did an install using the host’s install script, it is likely they have an uninstall script. If this feature is available, this is all you will need to do.
- Obtain the WordPress database name and user by reading the wp-config.php file. You will need this later to delete the MySQL database.
- Using the file manager in your C-panel or FTP, locate the folder of the WordPress installation to delete. Delete all these files
- Log into the MySQL database by using MySQLphpAdmin. Locate the associated database and delete.
Manually deleting a WordPress site by Techbasedmarketing.