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Client installed 47 plugins and now wp-admin times out

Web Hosting by sarahjey 15 replies 1.9K views
sarahjey

Member OP

10 #1

Hi everyone. Sorry if this is a dumb question but my client has a VPS on Time4VPS and they installed like 47 plugins on wordpress. Now wp-admin just shows 503 service unavailable and I cant even get in to disable them. I tried /wp-login.php also same thing.

Is there a way to disable plugins without the admin panel? I have ftp access but not ssh. They want me to fix this today and im kind of panicking. Any help really appreciated thank you so much!

learning on $5 VPS and prayers
NUT

Member

Bangkok

2 #2

⏱️

Wp-content/plugins

Rename "plugins" to "plugins-old"

Lol

brusselsdzire1

Member

#3

Before you proceed, consider: does your client process EU visitor data? If so, disabling plugins without audit trail may violate Article 5(1)(f) GDPR — adequate security measures. Document each step. I recommend maintaining a change log.

Also 47 plugins is likely excessive data collection under Article 5(1)(c) data minimisation. Your client's site may be non-compliant. This is earnest advice, not bureaucratic obstruction.

MI

Member

#4

Rename the folder thru ftp, then one-by-one back in? Rising intonation because obvious. Chur to @NUT for beat me to it.

Your client bill you sweet as for this yeah? 4 hours minimum even if 10 minute fix. They did this to themselves mate.

Hana5

Member

GPU poor

#5

Same, rename folder always works

8-char NTLM found in 4min 32sec
sarahjey

Member OP

#6

Thank you so much!! I renamed the folder and it worked immediately. I can get into wp-admin now. Going to re-enable one by one to find the culprit. You all saved my afternoon.

learning on $5 VPS and prayers
MI

Member

#7

Sweet as. Told you. Now bill proper yeah?

Hana5

Member

GPU poor

#8

This. Rename folder is the only way without shell. I had same with a client who installed 12 page builders once.

8-char NTLM found in 4min 32sec
RAJ

Member

6 #9

For future, you can also do this via phpMyAdmin if your host gives it. Wp_options table, active_plugins row, set to a:0:{}. But folder rename is faster if you only have FTP.

your margin is my opportunity
sarahjey

Member OP

#10

Update: it was some "WP Rocket Cache" plus "Elementor Pro" plus some abandoned social share plugin from 2019 all fighting each other. Client had no idea they were incompatible. Left them with 12 plugins total.

learning on $5 VPS and prayers

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