Cleaning up after deleting plugin

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client deactivated and deleted the WPML plugin but noticed that many tables with the prefix

icl_

remained in the database. The client needed confirmation that these tables were related to WPML and wanted to know how to remove them completely.
Solution:
First, we confirmed that the tables with the prefix

icl_

are indeed related to WPML. To clean up these tables from the database, we directed the client to our documentation on how to properly reset WPML and remove all its data, which includes a step-by-step guide on cleaning the database. Specifically, we pointed out Step 3 of the WPML reset process, which deals with database cleanup. It's important to note that simply deleting the WPML plugin does not automatically remove the data from the database.
Here is the documentation link for the reset process: WPML Reset Documentation

Please be aware that this solution might be irrelevant if it's outdated or not applicable to your case. If the provided steps do not resolve your issue, we highly recommend checking the related known issues, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If you still need assistance, please do not hesitate to open a new support ticket with us.

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Tagged: Exception

This topic contains 3 replies, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Mihai Apetrei 1 year, 7 months ago.

Assisted by: Mihai Apetrei.

Author	Posts
March 29, 2024 at 10:46 am #15463894
davidW-121	Hello WPML Support, We have decided not to use WPML for our project, so I have deactivated and deleted the plugin. However, I continue to see many tables in our database which I believe were created by WPML. The tables have names like <dbprefix>_icl_%. Here's the list of tables in question: sxoy_icl_background_task sxoy_icl_content_status sxoy_icl_core_status sxoy_icl_flags sxoy_icl_languages sxoy_icl_languages_translations sxoy_icl_locale_map sxoy_icl_message_status sxoy_icl_mo_files_domains sxoy_icl_node sxoy_icl_reminders sxoy_icl_strings sxoy_icl_string_batches sxoy_icl_string_packages sxoy_icl_string_positions sxoy_icl_string_status sxoy_icl_string_translations sxoy_icl_translate sxoy_icl_translate_job sxoy_icl_translations sxoy_icl_translation_batches sxoy_icl_translation_downloads sxoy_icl_translation_status I do not recognize this icl table prefix and am pretty sure it was created by WPML. Can you plz confirm, and direct me how to completely clean this residue out of my WP install? Shouldn't deleting the plugin delete all its db objects? Any advice is appreciated... David Wells Cigar Sense Inc.
March 29, 2024 at 11:02 pm #15465847
Mihai Apetrei WPML Supporter since 03/2018 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Europe/Bucharest (GMT+02:00)	Hi there, David. Please take a look here (https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/deleting-languages-and-plugin-data-by-doing-a-wpml-reset-on-your-site/#step-3-do-the-wpml-reset), especially step 3 that is related to the database. Just deleting the plugin won't remove the data in the database. I hope that you will find this information helpful. 🙂 Mihai Apetrei
March 30, 2024 at 8:08 am #15466034
davidW-121	Thanks for your reply, however this does not answer my core question. Can you please confirm if that list of tables with prefix "icl" are WPML tables? I have already removed the plugin so am unable to follow the procedure you suggested, since it relies on the plugin to be installed and active. If you can please answer my question then I can manually delete the tables... Respectfully, David Wells
March 30, 2024 at 9:16 pm #15466857
Mihai Apetrei WPML Supporter since 03/2018 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Europe/Bucharest (GMT+02:00)	Hi David. Sorry if I was not clear enough. Yes, those tables are related to WPML's configuration. That is correct!