This is how I reset a WordPress website using this complete guide that is actively maintained. It covers a complete set of steps taken for preparations beforehand, applying the reset, and restoring by sections for a much cleaner site. Also, it covers how to completely remove the reset plugin and its excess objects and data left behind. This is part of my “Website Maintenance and Support” category.

Phase 1. Preparing For A WP Site Reset

This phase is to give you a lot of backups of settings, files, and notes along the way. The reason it’s a bit lengthy is because you’re not going to later perform a full restore from a site backup. You’ll empty it and add it back with cleaner, leaner methods.

Perform a full site backup

Even though you won’t be doing a full site restore, this full site backup is a major precaution to have available if you discover you can’t fully reimport all sections of your site for any reason.

• Option 1: Use site’s backup plugin WPvivid.
  • Ensure manual backup quantities to retain are at least set to 6.
• Option 2: Use cPanel or WHM account backup.
  • Remember, this is like a server’s domain backup. But, it also includes any subdomains too so, ensure no edits to any add-on domains are done during this entire backup and WP Resetting process.
• Save backups to secondary location.
  • Save to cloud storage or download and save locally. That’s because if you need to roll it back using a restore, you’ll potentially lose prior backups from the local host server.

Save Important Settings

Saving individual sets of settings is how you’ll be able to later reimport your site in sections to keep it cleaner and leaner than before. Also, your plugins might be different or the same as a free version. Regardless, this will give you the idea behind saving available settings of each of your plugins. These are the ones I currently use.

Save Comment Settings

• From WP Admin, go to Settings | Discussion.
  • Under “Disallowed Comment Keys”, copy list and paste into a new text file named “Disallowed Comment Keys.txt”.

Save Theme Settings

Your theme might be different (like Kadence, Divi, or Generate Press) but this will give you a good idea of what to save on your theme.

• GreenShift: From WP Admin, go to GreenShift | Import/Export.
  • Under each of 3 tabs (FSE Templates, Reusable Templates, GreenShift Global), check “Select all”. Then, tap <Download Export File>.

Save Plugins’ Settings

• 301 Redirects Pro (aka WP 301 Redirects): From WP Admin, go to Settings | 301 Redirects.
  • Under tab “Settings”, go to inner tab “Tools”. In “Export” section, tap <Download Export File>.
• Admin and Site Enhancements Pro (ASE Pro): From WP Admin, go to Tools | Enhancements.
  • On bottom right side of any screen, tap “Export | Import” URL. In “Export Settings” section, tap <Export ASE Settings>.

• Code Snippets Pro: From WP Admin, go to Snippets (not Code Snippets) | All Snippets.
  • Under the tab “All Snippets”, select all of them. Then, in the “Bulk actions dropdown, select “Export”. Tap <Apply> to download the file.
  • Important: Take notes of which snippets were enabled as “Active”. The reimport process doesn’t activate anything so you’ll need to know which ones to reactivate, if some of them were inactive.
• Database Cleaner Pro: There is no backup of any settings nor assignments of any previous unknowns.
• Go Live Update Urls PRO: There are no backups of any settings but they are minimal, if any.
• GreenShift Plugins: The only GreenShift plugins settings are the ones used in the GreenShift Theme, already referenced earlier. So, nothing else to export.
• Independent Analytics Pro: From WP Admin, go to Analytics | Settings.
  • For Reports: Scroll down near the bottom to the section “Export Report Settings”. Tap to “Select all reports” and unselect the default reports shown here. That’s because reimporting will duplicate the preexisting default reports.
    • Default reports for Pages to unselect: Pages Today, Pages Yesterday, Pages Last 7 Days, Pages Last 30 Days, Pages All Time, Top Landing Pages, Fastest Growing Pages.
    • Default reports for Geographic to unselect: Cities, European Countries, Geographic Last 30 Days, Geographic All Time.
    • Default reports for Campaigns to unselect: (none)
    • Default reports for Referrers to unselect: Search Engine Traffic, Social Media Traffic, Fastest-Growing Referrers, Last 7 Days, Referrers Last 60 Days.
    • Default report for Devices to unselect: Browsers, OS, Devices Last 7 Days, Devices Last 30 Days, Devices Last 90 Days.
    • Default report for Clicks to unselect: PDFs, Zips, Emails, Phone numbers.
  • For Data: Scroll down near the bottom to the section “Export Data to CSV”. Tap each button to export its particular set of data.
  • For Settings: There is no backup of settings.
• Redis Object Cache: There are no settings.
• WordPress Importer: There are no settings.
• WP Force SSL Pro: There is no backup available of any settings.

Export Content: Pages, Posts, Images

• WPvivid Backup Plugins Pro: From WP Admin, go to menu item “WPvivid Plugin” | Settings.
  • Scroll down to the section “Export/Import settings” and tap <Export>.

Save WordPress Items

• Pages
  • Option 1: From WP Admin, go to menu item “Tools” | Export. Select option “Pages” (no other revealed optional filters) and tap <Download Export File>. This does not save images.
  • Option 2: From WP Admin, go to menu item “WPvivid Plug” | Export/Import Page. Then, from the tab named “Export”, select “Page” from “Choose post type”. Then, tap <Next Step> and follow the rest of the wizard. This option saves the images and taxonomies.
  • 
  • Option 3: Install Zippy plugin temporarily and use it to “Archive” (export) pages or posts. However, there’s an undefined limit to how many at one time so, limit each to about 20 selected items to archive/export.
• Posts
  • Option 1: From WP Admin, go to menu item “Tools” | Export. Select option “Posts” (don’t select any other revealed optional filters) and tap <Download Export File>. This option does not save images.
  • Option 2: From WP Admin, go to menu item “WPvivd Plugin” | Export/Import Page. Then, from the tab named “Export”, select “Post” from “Choose post type”. Then, tap <Next Step> and follow the rest of the wizard. This option also saves the images and taxonomies.
• Media
  • Ensure you’ve retained all media locally. If you don’t have that, go to your site’s folder location and download them:
    • public_html | wp-content | uploads
  • Option 1: From WP Admin, go to menu item “Tools” | Export. Select option “Pages” (don’t select any other reveals optional filters) and tap <Download Export File>. This does not save images; it only saves the data records that associates an image ID with its correspond post ID, page ID, etc.
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  • Option 2: You can us cPanel’s File Manager. Go to the sites folder root public_html folder | content | uploads. Then, download its contents. Some of the other folders might contain other content. Note: During restoration, some import processes will include media for posts and pages (as specified). However, there are some basic items like site logo and icon that won’t appear so, having this extra set of the Media Library will at least give you the images available to manually add back in.
  • Option 3: When you save posts and pages using WPvivid backup plugin, the related images are automatically included.
• Views (or Content Views): From WP Admin, go to menu item “Tools” | Export. Select option “Views” and tap <Download Export File>. This item is only available if you have a plugin that adds this option, e.g., the “Content Views” plugin.

Phase 2. Performing a WP Site Reset

1. Install plugin “WP Reset Pro”.
2. Activate and run the onboarding process.
3. When prompted, save the recovery password and the URL to the recovery script.
4. Under the tab “Reset”, scroll down to bottom section named “Nuclear Site Reset”. Unselect to reactivate “WP Reset” plugin. Then, if you’re certain you have a full site backup, proceed with the Nuclear Site Reset.
5. 
6. Notice there’s nothing that will appear for the site homepage URL at this time. It will be blank but there shouldn’t be any errors revealed.
7. After the nuclear reset, follow the steps in the file named “Before removing WP Reset Plugin.txt”. Then, deactivate & delete the WP Reset plugin.

Phase 3. Rebuilding A WP Site After A Reset

These steps are based on after using the WP Reset Pro plugin for a Nuclear Reset.

Initial WP Admin Settings

• From WP Admin, go to the Settings menu item and perform these initial important tasks under each sub-menu item.
  • General: These settings were potentially retained after the reset; however, go over them to verify.
  • Writing: Verify items and update if needed.
  • Reading: These settings were potentially retained after the reset; however, go over them to verify.
  • Discussion: These settings were reset to defaults. Update them as desired. I use these:
    • Other comment settings: uncheck “Enable threaded (nested) comments”.
    • Before a comment appears: Check “Comment must be manually approved. Uncheck “Comment author must have a previously approved comment”.
    • Tap <Save Changes>.
  • Media: Uncheck “Organize my uploads into month- and year-based folder”. Then, tap <Save Changes>.
  • Permalinks: Select option “Post name”. Then, tap <Save Changes>.
  • Privacy: No actions taken.

Theme & Plugins Re-installations

Since this is a site cleaning, some of the following plugins or steps might not be followed. So, it’s a consideration of each. They are put in my preferred sequence, due to past experiences.

Now, I install these plugins and activate them so that the eventual settings’ imports (from the previous backups of exported saved settings) will work correctly. So, it’s important to note that importing settings does not take place until stated.

• Database Cleaner Pro Install: There are no saved settings; however, tap the button to change it over to <Expert> mode. Don’t run any processes. However, perform the following tasks to clean up some residual data still left behind.
  • Go to tab “Tables”. Go to bottom and tap to show “200 items per page”). Then, scroll back to the top and tap to show “Unknown”. Sort them by table name and scroll through them. The odd prefix names of these tables will indicate it was a backed up copy by the WP Reset plugin as part of the reset process. Just double-check to ensure they’re all named with an odd prefix. If so, select them all and delete them (by tapping the red X at the top column).
  • 
  • Go to tab “Options”. Tap to show “Unknown”.
    • Delete items that start with “wp-reset…”. There might be 2.
    • The item named “wf_licensing_wpr” can be deleted. The “wf” refers to the maker “Web Factory” and “wpr” to “WP Reset” plugin name.
    • A few other items, if any, might be unassigned due to the default Database Cleaner not having a particular plugins table naming conventions. This is okay and is only a missed association in this plugin’s app.
• From WP Admin, delete current pages or posts. They are all defaults.
  • Then, empty trash in each.
• Theme & Related Plugins Install: From WP Admin, go to Appearance | Themes. Tap <Add New Theme>.
  • Install and activate the most current default WordPress theme.
  • Then, install and activate the GreenShift theme.
  • From WP Admin, go to Plugins | Installed Plugins. At the top, tap on the URL “Install Core GreenShift plugin”. Select to install & activate the “GreenShift – animation and page builder blocks” plugin. Take no further action on this yet.
  • Confirm you now have a home page visual (showing GreenShift theme, not a true page; it’s a default template reveal).
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Install Wpvivid Pro for Backups. Activate it. Update to newer version, if alerted. Also, I’m sure to tap “install” on each dashboard addons as referenced on the notes in this plugin’s installation checklist.
  • Import its previously saved settings. Then, tap to <Save Settings>.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Take a Backup.
  • Use WPvivid to take another manual backup and name the comment: “01StartOfPluginsInstalls”.
• 301 Redirects Pro (aka WP 301 Redirects): Install and activate it (tap for initial prompt). Update if alerted. No importing of settings or rules yet.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Admin and Site Enhancements Pro (aka ASE Pro): Install and activate it. Update if alerted.
  • On bottom right side of any screen, tap “Export | Import” URL. In “Import Settings” section, point to the saved settings file and then tap <Import ASE Settings>. After imported, tap <Save Changes> in upper right of screen.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Code Snippets Pro: Install and activate. Update, if prompted.
  • Under the tab “All Snippets”, select all of them and select the Bulk action to delete them. Then, at the top, tap <Import> and follow the steps to reimport in the saved snippets file.
  • Activate desired items from notes kept during the export process.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Go Live Update Urls PRO Install: There are no backups of any settings but they are minimal, if any.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• GreenShift Settings applied. From WP Admin, go to GreenShift | Import/Export.
  • Under each of 3 tabs (FSE Templates, Reusable Templates, GreenShift Global), follow the <Choose File> and <Import Data> process to import the various, previously saved settings.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Take a Backup.
  • Use WPvivid to take another manual backup and name the comment: “02MorePluginsInstalls”.
• Independent Analytics Pro: Install & activate. Then, from WP Admin, go to Analytics | Settings and import in the saved settings as follows.
  • For Reports: Scroll down near the bottom to the section “Import Report Settings” & follow procedure.
  • For Settings: There is no backup of settings to import. So, follow the locally saved checklist to manually reapply the settings. This is important as it references items to prevent false views data.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Redis Object Cache install (via WordPress free plugins): Tap to <Enable Object Cache>.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• WordPress Importer install (via WordPress free plugins): There are no settings.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• WP Force SSL Pro install & activate: There is no backup of any settings. So follow these manual settings to reapply.
  • tab “License”: apply license and <Save & Activate License>.
  • tab “Settings”: Enable only these; leave other items disabled.
    • Enable: Fix mixed content in frontend, Fix mixed content in backend, Enable HSTS, Cross-site scripting (X-XSS) protection, X Content Type Options, Referrer Policy, X Frame Options, Permissions Policy (and tap <Configure Policy> to <Save permissions policy> for all “allowed” items), Show WP Force SSL menu to administrators in admin bar.
    • Then, tap <Save options>.
  • tab “Content Scanner”: tap <Start Scanning>. Allow it to finish.
  • tab “Status”: tab <Run Tests Again>. Brief wait to finish.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.
• Now, activate & import settings of GreenShift by executing each of the following tasks.
  • From WP Admin, go to GreenShift | Manage Licenses. Populate “All in One Access” or individual licenses. Then, tap <Save Changes>.
  • From WP Admin, go to GreenShift | Addons. Then tap each <Download> and install each addon plugin.
  • From WP Admin, go to GreenShift | Import/Export. Then, proceed to import each individual set of settings for “FSE Templates”, Reusable Templates”, & “Greenshift Global”.
  • Now, check the site home page and you’ll see the start of some of any previous header and footer settings you made previously, if any. The returned content, media, navigation menus, etc. will come later.
  • Open “Database Cleaner” and perform assignments as appropriate to any newly added unknowns in tabs “Tables” and “Options”.

Import Exported Content and Media

• Take a Backup.
  • Use WPvivid to take another manual backup and name the comment: “03BeforeImportingContentAndMedia”
• Option 1: Use WPvivid, import in Pages and then Posts. It will include its images and taxonomies.
  • Users: tbd (under review for a solution). The reset process does retain the currently logged in user.
  • Comments: tbd (under review for a solution). I didn’t have any comments involved with this original site that was reset so, in time, I’ll test it and see if imported posts also include their comments.
• Option 2: Use WordPress exports.
  • From WP Admin, go to “Tools” | Import. Then, in section named “WordPress”, tap to “Run Importer”. Follow the prompts to reimport previously saved WP exported items.
  • Paths to images are reimported but you’ll need the original images folder uploaded back. So, if downloaded previously, go ahead and upload them back into the same folder location:
    • public_html | wp-content | uploads
• Reassign home page. From WP Admin, go to Settings | Reading. From “Your homepage displays”, select option “A static page…” and then assign it to “Homepage” from the dropdown choice.
• Reapply Comments settings. From WP Admin, go to Settings | Discussion.
  • Under “Disallowed Comment Keys”, paste back the list from the previously saved text file named “Disallowed Comment Keys.txt”.
• Take a Backup.
  • Use WPvivid to take another manual backup and name the comment: “04AfterImportingContentAndMedia”
• Manually, reimport site logo & icon.
  • For GreenShift: From WP Admin, go to GreenShift | Settings. From left pane, go to “Theme Settings | Brand Settings”. In main section, in “Site Logo”, choose the locally stored active logo file (the PNG file format) and upload it with all meta text as the default title but append “png”. Then, repeat with the jpg file type. However, the assigned logo should remain as the PNG pic due to its background transparency.
  • Repeat previous step for the Site Icon designation, also as a PNG file type.
  • Tap <Save>. Check the site home page to validate the logo is showing and the browser tab is reflecting the site icon.
• Final minor cleanup.
  • Media dated folders: Look in the site’s uploads folder “public_html | wp-content | uploads”. If empty, delete possibly existing year/mo folders. If they did exist there, recheck to ensure your WordPress media setting (Settings | Media) does not have “Organize my uploads into month- and year-based folders” option checkmarked.
  • WP Reset folders: Look in the site’s wp-content folder “public_html | wp-content”. If no longer using WP Reset plugin, I delete the folders named “wp-reset-autosnapshots” & “wp-reset-snapshots-export”. Those folders might will also contain files I no longer needed.