TL;DR
- Yes, delete plugins you don’t use. Every plugin is code that needs updating and securing.
- Deactivated isn’t deleted. A deactivated plugin’s files stay on your server.
- Some plugins can’t come out easily. If your pages rely on one, removing it breaks those pages.
- Check with your webmaster before adding or removing plugins.
Why Delete Unused Plugins?
- Less to update and secure. Every plugin needs updates, even one you never use.
- Fewer security warnings. Security scans flag abandoned plugins and ones that are no longer available. When ours do, we explain the warning in plain words.
- A faster site. Some plugins slow your pages down. See Why Is My WordPress Website So Slow?
A redesign is a natural time to clean house. As Beth told one client, “Redoing your site, we should clear those out if you’re not using them anymore.”
What’s the Difference Between Deactivating and Deleting a Plugin?
- Deactivating turns a plugin off. Its files stay on your server.
- Deleting removes it. WordPress has you deactivate a plugin first, then delete it. See WordPress’s guide to managing plugins.
Deactivating can also be a stopgap. On one site, Beth turned a plugin off while she found a replacement: “I’ve deactivated this one for the entire site while I’m looking.”
Will Removing a Plugin Break My Website?
It can, if something relies on it.
- Pages built with the plugin. On one site, 17 posts used a plugin’s content blocks. As Beth told the client, “because it’s being used, I cannot remove [block plugin].”
- Your theme. Some themes depend on certain plugins. See Can I Change My WordPress Theme Without Rebuilding My Site?
That’s why we deactivate first, test on a private copy of the site, and work through plugins one at a time.
What Webmaster For Hire Recommends
- Delete, don’t just deactivate, once you’re sure a plugin isn’t needed.
- Clean up during updates and redesigns. We remove unused plugins as part of that work.
- Tell us about plugins your staff added. We ask before removing anything we didn’t install. As Beth told one client, “before just going in and removing, I figured I’d ask if you all put it there.”
:: Common Questions ::
Should My Staff Install Plugins Without Checking With Our Webmaster?
We recommend checking first. Some plugins slow your site down or overlap with what it already does. If your staff need a feature, we can add it the right way or suggest a safer option.
Why Can’t You Just Remove a Plugin I Don’t Like?
If pages were built with it, removing it breaks them. Those pages have to be rebuilt first, or the plugin stays.
Not Sure What’s Installed on Your Site?
See our WordPress Support Services, or request a consultation.
