Answer :
Over time, your WordPress database collects unnecessary data such as revisions, spam comments, transients, and leftover plugin entries. This can slow down your website, increase backup sizes, and consume hosting resources. This guide explains how to safely optimize your WordPress database on GHFS Hosting.
1. Why Should You Optimize Your Database?
A well-optimized database helps:
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Speed up your WordPress site
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Reduce server resource usage
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Improve backend performance
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Prevent database corruption
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Make backups smaller and faster
It is recommended to optimize your database regularly.
2. Method 1: Use WordPress Toolkit Optimization (Plesk)
The WordPress Toolkit includes maintenance tools that can optimize your site.
Steps:
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Log in to Plesk
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Open WordPress Toolkit
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Select your WordPress installation
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Go to the Tools or Maintenance section
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Run available optimization options
Depending on the Plesk version, these tools may include:
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Clearing cache
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Removing transients
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Cleaning revisions
This is the easiest and safest method.
3. Method 2: Use a Plugin to Clean the Database
Several plugins can optimize the WordPress database:
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WP-Optimize
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Advanced Database Cleaner
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WP-Sweep
Typical tasks they perform:
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Delete post revisions
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Remove auto-drafts
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Clear spam/trashed comments
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Clean transients
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Optimize database tables
Important:
Always create a backup before running database cleanup.
4. Method 3: Optimize Tables via phpMyAdmin (Manual)
Advanced users can optimize tables manually.
Steps:
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Log in to Plesk
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Go to Databases
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Click phpMyAdmin for your WordPress database
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Select all tables
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At the bottom, choose Optimize table
This will defragment and clean up tables to improve performance.
5. Method 4: Delete Unused Plugins and Themes
Unused plugins/themes leave extra tables and options in the database.
To reduce database bloat:
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Remove unused plugins
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Remove unused themes
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Use a cleanup plugin to delete leftover tables
6. Method 5: Reduce Post Revisions
WordPress stores every revision of your posts/pages.
To limit revisions, add this to wp-config.php:
This keeps your database lean.
7. Method 6: Clear Transients
Transients are temporary values stored in the database.
You can clear them using:
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Plugins like WP-Optimize
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Commands built into WordPress Toolkit
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Manual deletion (advanced: via phpMyAdmin)
8. Method 7: Repair the Database (If Needed)
If you suspect corruption:
Add this to wp-config.php:
Then visit:
Two options will appear:
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Repair database
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Repair and optimize database
After finishing, remove the line from wp-config.php for security.
9. When to Contact GHFS Hosting Support
Contact support if:
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Your database is extremely large
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You receive database connection errors
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Optimization fails or causes errors
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phpMyAdmin shows corruption warnings
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You need guidance choosing the safest optimization method
Support can check your database size, logs, and health status.
