How to Reset Website in WordPress in 2026
You started your WordPress journey full of excitement, installed plugins, explored themes but somewhere along the way everything got a little messy? Don’t worry we have all been there. Sometimes, the best way to start fresh is to hit the reset button.
In this guide, I will walk you through how to reset website in WordPress safely and easily just like starting with a clean slate. Whether you messed up while experimenting, want to rebuild your site from scratch or are just curious about the process, I have got you covered.
Let’s dive right in.
What Does ‘Reset Website WordPress’ Mean?
Think of resetting your WordPress website like restoring your phone to factory settings. It completely erases your current content, themes, plugins and settings, taking your website back to its original brand new state just like when you first installed WordPress.
In simple words after a reset your website becomes blank ready for a fresh start.
Here’s what a reset typically removes:
- Posts, pages and media files
- Installed themes and plugins optional, you can choose to keep them
- Custom settings, widgets and menus
- Users except your admin account
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Reasons to Reset Your WordPress Website
Before learning how to reset website in WordPress, it’s important to know why you might need it.
Here are some common situations where resetting makes sense:
1. You are experimenting or learning
If you are practicing how WordPress works testing plugins, themes or builders, your dashboard can quickly turn into chaos, Resetting helps you start clean again.
2. You want to redesign your website
Sometimes your website’s layout or design direction just doesn’t feel right. Instead of manually deleting everything, a reset gives you a clean foundation.
3. You are building sites for clients
Web developers often reuse the same domain for multiple projects, Instead of reinstalling WordPress every time they simply reset it.
4. You’re fixing serious issues
Broken themes, conflicting plugins or corrupted databases? A reset can often solve major technical headaches by starting from scratch.
Backup Before You Reset – Very Important!
Before you even think about hitting that reset button take a full backup of your website.
Why? Because once you reset everything will be deleted permanently You can’t undo it, You can easily create a backup using plugins like:
- UpdraftPlus
- All in One WP Migration
- WPvivid Backup
Download your backup to your computer or cloud storage, just in case you ever want to restore your old website later.
How to Reset Website in WordPress (Step by Step)
Now let’s get to the main part resetting your WordPress website safely.
There are two main ways to do it:
- Using a plugin recommended for beginners
- Resetting manually for advanced users
Let’s go over both.
Method 1: Reset WordPress Website Using a Plugin (Easiest Way)
If you want the simplest and fastest method, this one’s for you.
Step 1: Install a Reset Plugin
The most popular plugin for this task is WP Reset, To install it:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins and Click Add New.
- Search for “WP Reset”.
- Click Install Now and then Activate.
Step 2: Open the WP Reset Settings
After activation:
- Go to Tools, WP Reset from your dashboard sidebar.
You will see a warning that resetting your site will delete all content, Don’t worry that’s normal.
Step 3: Type “reset” to Confirm
- Scroll down to the Site Reset section.
- You will see a text box asking you to type the word “reset” for confirmation.
- Once you type it, click Reset Site.
In a few seconds your website will reload completely fresh and clean!
Step 4: Reinstall Plugins or Themes
- After reset your website will only have the default theme like Twenty Twenty Four.
- You can now reinstall your favorite theme and essential plugins to rebuild your webite the way you want.
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Method 2: How to Reset WordPress Website Manually – Without Plugin
If you are more of a hands on person or prefer not to use plugins you can reset WordPress manually. Here’s how:
Step 1: Delete All Content
- Go to Posts then All Posts and delete them.
- Do the same for Pages, All Pages and Media Library.
- To make this faster you can use the Bulk Select option.
Step 2: Delete Themes and Plugins
- Head to Appearance then Themes and switch to a default theme, Then delete all other themes.
- Next, go to Plugins, Installed Plugins, deactivate them all and delete them.
Step 3: Reset Database – The Hard Way
- This part requires access to your hosting control panel or phpMyAdmin.
- Log into your cPanel.
- Open phpMyAdmin under the “Databases” section.
- Select your WordPress database.
- Choose all tables and click Drop to delete them.
Now reinstall WordPress using your hosting One Click Installer”l or manually via FTP.
This method is more technical but it gives you full control.
What Happens After You Use a WordPress Reset Website Plugin?
After resetting:
Your WordPress dashboard will look like a fresh installation.
- All posts, pages and settings are gone.
- Only your main admin account remains.
From here you can:
- Install a new theme
- Import demo content
- Rebuild your pages with Elementor or Gutenberg
- Customize everything again, cleanly and confidently
Pro Tips for a Smooth Reset Experience
Here are a few extra tips to keep things simple and safe:
- Take a backup first, Always.
- Use WP Reset snapshot feature to save a quick restore point.
- Deactivate caching and security plugins before resetting.
- Don’t reset a live website unless you really mean it, it will go offline immediately.
- Plan your rebuild before hitting reset, have a theme, layout or idea ready.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Resetting WordPress
Even pros sometimes make these slip ups:
- Forgetting to back up their site
- Resetting without knowing the consequences
- Using an unreliable plugin
- Deleting the wrong database
- Not checking hosting backups first
Be cautious, once you hit reset, there’s no undo button.
Alternative: Partial Reset Options
Sometimes, you don’t need a full reset just a mini reset.
Here are some examples:
- Delete only posts but keep themes and settings.
- Reset theme customizer settings via Customizer Reset plugin.
- Clear your database with tools like Advanced Database Cleaner.
These methods are handy if you only want to clean up certain parts of your website.
Final Thoughts
Resetting your WordPress website isn’t something you do every day but when you need a total fresh start, it’s a lifesaver.
In this guide, you learned exactly how to reset a website in WordPress both with and without a plugin.
The key takeaway? Always back up first and then confidently start fresh, Once your website is clean you can rebuild it the right way, faster, smarter and with less clutter.
If you have ever reset your WordPress website share your experience in the comments below, what went right or wrong? Your story might help someone else!
FAQs About How to Reset my WordPress Website?
How to Reset a WordPress website without losing everything?
Yes! You can use plugins like WP Reset to perform a partial reset such as deleting only content or settings while keeping your themes and plugins.
What’s the safest way to reset a WordPress website?
The safest method is using the WP Reset plugin, which is beginner friendly and allows you to confirm your action before deleting anything permanently.
Is it better to reinstall WordPress or reset it?
If your goal is to start completely from scratch, resetting is faster and easier than reinstalling. However, if your website has major technical issues, reinstalling WordPress can sometimes be a better long term solution.
How to reset wordpress website in hostinger?
To reset your WordPress website in Hostinger, log in to your hPanel, go to Website, Manage go to WordPress Dashboard then open WP Reset if you have installed it or use Auto Installer to reinstall WordPress. This will remove all your files and start your website fresh just like a new installation.
In short: Resetting your WordPress website is like giving it a fresh coat of paint clean, smooth and ready for a new beginning.
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