How to Install and Disable Plugins on Your WordPress Site

Author:Lars Nyström
Updated:Jul 28, 2025

To disable a specific plugin on your WordPress site using the provided code:

  1. Identify the Plugin Line: Locate the line corresponding to the plugin you wish to disable. Each line starts with i: followed by a number and ends with ;.

  2. Remove the Plugin Line: Delete the entire line of the plugin you want to disable.

  3. Update the Code Structure:

    • Ensure that after removal, the remaining lines correctly represent the active plugins.
    • The variable a should reflect the new count of active plugins.
  4. Final Output: Present the updated code in a single line for application.

Example: Disabling Elementor

Original code snippet (with 6 plugins):

a:6: { i:0;s:19:"akismet/akismet.php"; i:1;s:36:"contact-form-7/wp-contact-form-7.php"; i:2;s:25:"elementor/elementor.php"; i:3;s:9:"hello.php"; i:4;s:19:"jetpack/jetpack.php"; i:5;s:29:"wp-mail-smtp/wp_mail_smtp.php"; }

After removing Elementor (i:2):

a:5: { i:0;s:19:"akismet/akismet.php"; i:1;s:36:"contact-form-7/wp-contact-form-7.php"; i:3;s:9:"hello.php"; i:4;s:19:"jetpack/jetpack.php"; i:5;s:29:"wp-mail-smtp/wp_mail_smtp.php"; }