Why Disable Plugins and Themes Without Admin Access?

WordPress plugins and themes add incredible functionality and design to your website, but they can sometimes cause conflicts or errors. Issues like a blank screen (commonly known as the "White Screen of Death") or critical errors can block access to your WordPress admin. Disabling plugins and themes is often the first troubleshooting step to regain access and restore functionality.

Method 1: Using File Manager in cPanel

If you have cPanel access, you can use the File Manager tool to disable plugins and themes.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Log in to cPanel:
   • Visit yourdomain.com/cpanel and enter your login credentials.
2. Open File Manager:
   • In the cPanel dashboard, click File Manager under the Files section.
   • Navigate to the public_html folder (or the folder where your WordPress is installed).
   
3. Disable Plugins:
   • Open the wp-content/plugins folder.
   • Locate the folder of the plugin causing the issue.
   • Rename the folder (e.g., plugin-name to plugin-name_disabled). This will deactivate the plugin.
4. Disable Themes (Optional):
   • Navigate to the wp-content/themes folder.
   • Locate the folder of the active theme.
   • Rename the folder (e.g., theme-name to theme-name_disabled). WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme.
   

Method 2: Using phpMyAdmin

For a more database-focused approach, phpMyAdmin allows you to disable plugins and themes directly in your WordPress database.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Log in to cPanel:
   • Access your cPanel dashboard via yourdomain.com/cpanel.
2. Open phpMyAdmin:
   • Under the Databases section, click phpMyAdmin.
   • Select your WordPress database from the left-hand menu.
   
3. Disable Plugins:
   • Click on the wp_options table (your table prefix may vary, e.g., wp123_options).
   • Locate the row where the option_name is active_plugins.
   • Click Edit and set the value to a:0:{}. This disables all plugins.

4. Disable Themes (Optional):
   • In the same wp_options table, find the rows where the option_name is template and stylesheet.
   • Update their values to a default WordPress theme, such as twentytwentythree.
   

Pro Tips for a Smooth Recovery

• Backup First: Before making any changes, create a full backup of your WordPress site to avoid data loss.
• Check for Updates: After disabling plugins and themes, update WordPress, plugins, and themes to the latest versions.
• Use Debugging Tools: Enable WordPress debugging logs to identify issues quickly.

Conclusion

Disabling plugins and themes through File Manager or phpMyAdmin is a quick and effective way to troubleshoot WordPress issues when you can't access your admin dashboard. Both methods are beginner-friendly and require only basic cPanel access. At register.lk, we offer reliable hosting solutions with robust tools like cPanel to help you manage your WordPress site effortlessly. If you're looking for top-notch hosting and expert support, check out our hosting packages today!