How to Uninstall WordPress Multisite

WordPress Multisite is a powerful solution for launching several websites off of just one WordPress install.

While it’s relatively straightforward to set up, uninstalling it can be a challenge for the uninitiated.

So here’s a straightforward guide on how to uninstall Multisite and get your site back to running a single WordPress install.

Note: We originally published this post in 2015 but the steps haven’t changed so what follows is still relevant for 2017.

Uninstalling Multisite

Removing Multisite involves undoing all of the work you did to install it in the first place to set up your network. Let’s go through it step by step:

Backup Your Site

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Check out our Snapshot plugin if you don’t already have your own method of backing up.

Edit wp-config File

Login to your WordPress site via FTP or cPanel, whichever method you prefer. If you’re using cPanel, go to File Manager to access your site’s files.

Open your wp-config.php file and delete the following code:

You will also need to edit the following line in your wp-config.php file and set it to “false”:

Edit .htaccess File

Next, you will need to edit your .htaccess file, which is in the root of your WordPress install. Replace the rules you added to create your Multisite install with the following new rules:

Drop Database Tables

Lastly, you will need to drop the following global tables in your database. phpMyAdmin is probably the easiest software to do this with if you use cPanel, though you can use whatever method you like:

• wp_blogs
• wp_blog_versions
• wp_registration_log
• wp_signups
• wp_site
• wp_sitemeta

The next time you log in to your site Multisite should be gone from your WordPress install.

And that’s all you need to do. If you run into any issues uninstalling Multisite, let us know! Our support team is filled with friendly folks who are waiting to help you out.

Wouldn’t it be easier if there weren’t so many steps for installing and uninstalling Multisite? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Tags:

• multisite