---
title: "Troubleshooting: Deactivating All Plugins in phpMyAdmin for WordPress"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/cms/wordpress/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-deactivating-all-plugins-in-phpmyadmin-for-wordpress/"
description: "Locked out of WordPress? Learn how to deactivate all plugins via phpMyAdmin. Edit your database directly to regain dashboard access and fix errors."
vertical: "Hosting"
date: "2024-03-04"
last_modified: "2026-07-02"
---

# Troubleshooting: Deactivating All Plugins in phpMyAdmin for WordPress

WordPress Plugins can be really great tools to help you create customization within your site; they can help you [change your login url](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/cms/best-practices-changing-your-cms-login-url/), defend against [brute-force attacks](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/what-is-a-brute-force-attack/), limit login attempts, and so many other awesome things. But what happens if the plugin doesn’t work like it should, and you’re locked out of your site, or worse; it goes down completely? Let’s take a look at how to get into your site when a plugin blocks you from getting in via *wp-admin*.

| ### **Managed WordPress Hosting Users:** |
|---|
| If you’re using the Managed WordPress hosting, see our article [Managing Themes and Plugins with WP-CLI](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/cms/wordpress/managing-themes-and-plugins-with-wp-cli/) for information on disabling plugins. |

1. To disable your plugins from phpMyAdmin, you will log into your cPanel account.

![phpmyadmin link highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_aut4ko.png)

2. From the phpMyAdmin home page, locate the database that WordPress is using.

![gif showing wordpress database in phpmyadmin](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_RyfwjM.gif)

3. From the list of tables, select the **\_options** table. This table will have a prefix – most commonly wp, but because they can be changed, it may be something like wpcp, as in the example below.![wpcp_options table highlighted in list](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_FNQlAj.png)
4. Using the **Filter Rows** search at the top of the page, type in **Active Plugins** to find the row.

![gif showing search for active plugins](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_eCZrzm.gif)

5. In the **active\_plugins** row, double-click in the **option\_value** row to edit the plugins and deactivate them. Enter the following to deactivate all plugins: ```
    a:0:{}
    ```
    
    | ### **Tip:** |
    |---|
    | Copy and paste the current information in the **option\_value** row, and save it in a secure place. This will allow you to reset to the plugins being active again after troubleshooting your issue. It should look something like this: ``` a: 4: {i: 0; s: 38: "akeebabackupwp-core/akeebabackupwp.php"; i: l; s: 9: "hello php"; i: 2; s: 37: "tinymce-advanced/tinymce-advanced.php"; i: 3; s: 41: "wordpress-importer/wordpress-importer.php";} ``` |
    
    ![gif showing option_value being changed](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_WkNP2I.gif)
6. By entering **a:0:{}**, you are deactivating all the plugins. Now you should be able to log into WordPress via *wp-admin* and troubleshoot the plugin causing the issue. When you are finished, you can either copy and paste the saved code from the table back into the **option\_value** section, or reactivate the plugins manually from the WordPress Plugins dashboard.