Summary: Most WordPress website owners will install and test a handful of plugins over time without being aware that every time they do so, they are creating new database tables that remain in place well after the plugins have been uninstalled.Over time, this could negatively impact your website’s performance as the database beings to accumulate junk, resulting in poor database load and speed deficiencies.However, this is not the case for all plugins; some developers add the option for you to remove all data and tables when the plugin is deactivated or removed. And some plugins do not create new tables at all.So how do you remove unwanted database tables?There aretwoways to do this:Dig into your database tables and delete them manually viaphpMyAdminInstall plugins that can dothe job for you directly from inside your WordPress websiteImportant!: Always backup your database before attempting to make any changes.Deleting WordPresstablesmanually viaPHPmyAdminI wouldn’t recommend diving into your database using phpMyAdmin unless you have a working understanding of how the application works. There are hundreds of videotutorials on Youtubefor you to learn and understand how phpMyAdmin works.You will also need to have a basic understanding of the default WordPress database table structure and at least know what role each table plays.Below is a list of the default database tables that come with WordPress. There are precisely 12 tables.On the same database, I have installedthe popular security pluginWordFence. You will notice that the database no longer has 12 tables, it now has 32. This is because the plugin has added an additional 20tables.Since I have only installed WordFence, I can instantly identify the new tables which are not required for WordPress to function. I will now uninstall the plugin (without selecting the option to remove data and tables), and I will show you what the database looks like after the plugin is removed.WordFence is one of the many few plugins that have the option for you to remove all data and tables from your database if the plugins is removed.OK, so I have deleted the WordFence plugin. Can you tell the difference?If the answer to my question was no, then you are right. This is because when I removed the plugin, no database tables were deleted.Installing and deleting plugins over time will result in your database growing unnecessary with tables and data your website no longer needs. And this will sadly lead to your website slowing down.As I was able to identify what tables Wordfence added to the database, I can now safelydropthem, which means to delete them. I will not explain phpMyAdmin functions... You are listening to the topic about "Tutorial: Remove leftover plugin database tables from WordPress", if you want to read the full article, please visit https://geniuswp.com or the link in the description.
