Disable Plugins and Change Theme from phpMyAdmin
Deactivating plugins and changing themes is typically done easily from the WP Admin dashboard. However, if an error prevents access to the wp-admin dashboard, plugins and theme can be disabled from the database instead.
This is often helpful if a plugin or theme is causing the site to not load, by resetting the site to a more default state to regain wp-admin access.
NOTE
If recent changes were made, restoring a backup may be beneficial instead.
Disable Plugins from phpMyAdmin
- Log in to the User Portal
- Select the environment name
- Click phpMyAdmin at the top
- Select the database name (typically
wp_environmentname
) - Select the wp_options table
- Take into account any custom database prefix, where
wp_
may be replaced with something else.
- Take into account any custom database prefix, where
- Locate the row called active_plugins
- Delete everything in the option_value column on this row
- Press Enter or Return on the keyboard to save
NOTE
The information in this row will be regenerated automatically by WordPress plugins are reactivated from the WP Admin.
Change Theme from phpMyAdmin
- Log in to the User Portal
- Select the environment name
- Click phpMyAdmin
- Select the database name (typically
wp_environmentname
) - Select the wp_options table
- Take into account any custom database prefix, where
wp_
may be replaced with something else.
- Take into account any custom database prefix, where
- Locate the rows called template and stylesheet
- Modify the option_value for both of these rows to a new theme name
- EX:
twentynineteen
- EX:
- Press Enter or Return on the keyboard to save
NOTE
Ensure that a theme that is actually installed on the site is used. Check which themes are installed by viewing the wp-content/themes
directory with SFTP.
NEXT STEP: Troubleshoot errors with the WP Engine error logs