Background of the issue:
I am trying to survive and need to uninstall WPML. I am barely able to log in to the admin area. When in admin, everything stalls. Link to a page where the issue can be seen: hidden link
Symptoms:
An admin area that freezes.
Based on the Query Monitor data, the slow response time is caused by an extremely high number of database queries and a large number of PHP errors. The database itself is fast (0.11s), but WordPress is being forced to ask it for too much information just to load the dashboard.
The primary source of these excessive queries is the **WPML plugin suite**.
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### ## Diagnosis
Here's a breakdown of the key issues identified in your Query Monitor log.
#### **1. Main Issue: Excessive Database Queries from WPML**
Your site is making **348 database queries** to load the dashboard. A healthy dashboard should be well under 100. The vast majority of these are coming from WPML (`sitepress-multilingual-cms`).
The log shows dozens of repetitive queries where WPML is checking the translation status of every single post, page, and menu item displayed on the dashboard (`WPML_Element_Translation->maybe_populate_cache()`, `WPML_Translations->get_translations()`, etc.). This is highly inefficient and is the main reason your page generation time is nearly **6 seconds**.
#### **2. Underlying Problem: High Memory Usage & Options Bloat**
The first query in your log (`wp_load_alloptions()`) is loading **1,262 rows** from your database options table. This means a large number of plugins have settings that are loaded on *every single page*, whether they are needed or not. This directly contributes to the high **263.2MB memory usage** and adds to the initial slowness of every page load.
#### **3. Red Flag: 202 PHP Errors**
Query Monitor is reporting **202 PHP Errors**. While they might be non-critical "Notices" or "Warnings," this is a very high number. These errors indicate potential plugin conflicts or outdated code. Each error consumes server resources and adds to the overall page generation time.
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### ## Action Plan 🛠️
Here are the prioritized steps to fix these issues.
#### **1. Address the WPML Query Overload**
This will give you the biggest and most immediate performance improvement.
* **Check WPML Settings:** Go to `WPML > Support > Troubleshooting`. There are various cleanup and optimization options here. Look for options to clear the cache or synchronize data. Use these tools carefully.
* **Isolate the Component:** Temporarily deactivate WPML's secondary plugins one by one, especially **WPML String Translation**, and reload the dashboard to see if the query count drops significantly. String Translation is incredibly powerful but can be resource-intensive.
* **Contact WPML Support:** This is your best option. The WPML team is best equipped to diagnose why their plugin is making so many queries on your specific site. Provide them with the text file from your Query Monitor log.
#### **2. Clean Your Autoloaded Options**
This will reduce memory usage and speed up every page load on your site.
* **⚠️ Important: Back up your database first!** Use a plugin like WPvivid (which you already have) to create a full database backup before proceeding.
* **Install an Optimization Plugin:** Use a plugin like **WP-Optimize** or **Advanced Database Cleaner**.
* **Scan the Options Table:** These plugins have a feature to scan your `VdI6hkD_options` table and show you what data is being "autoloaded."
* **Change Autoload to "No":** Sort by size and identify options from plugins you recognize. For large options that are not needed on every page, you can safely change their autoload status from "yes" to "no".
#### **3. Investigate the PHP Errors**
You need to find out what these errors are.
* In the **Query Monitor** menu, click on the **"PHP Errors (202)"** tab to see the list of all errors.
* The error messages will almost always name the specific plugin or theme file that is causing the problem (e.g., `.../wp-content/plugins/some-plugin/problem-file.php`).
* Once you identify the source, ensure that plugin is fully updated. If it is, you may need to contact that plugin's support or look for an alternative.
Questions:
How can I uninstall WPML?
Why is WPML causing the admin area to freeze?
Thanks for your reply. I will require temporary access (WP-Admin and FTP) to a test site where the problem has been replicated, if possible. This will enable me to provide better assistance and determine if any configurations need to be modified.
Please note that it is important to have a backup for security purposes and to prevent any potential data loss. You can use the UpdraftPlus plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/) to fulfill your backup requirements.
Your upcoming reply will be treated with confidentiality and will only be visible to you and me.
✙ To resolve the issue, I may need your consent to deactivate and reactivate plugins and the theme, as well as make configuration changes on the site if necessary. This emphasizes the significance of having a backup.
ftp information has already been given previously. wpml is currently disabled on the site but i would like to have it totally removed from the site - and maybe start all over with a fresh installation. How do we do this?
