---
title: Uninstalling and Delete all data
description: What deactivating, deleting and the Delete all Hive Mail data switch really remove, and how to wipe everything or keep it all.
url: "https://hiveplugins.com/docs/hive-mail-uninstalling-and-delete-all-data/"
updated: "2026-10-28"
category: Hive Mail
---

# Uninstalling and Delete all data

Three controls do very different things. Export your contacts first ([How to export contacts](/docs/hive-mail-export-contacts/)) and, if you want, your settings ([Settings: Tools](/docs/hive-mail-settings-tools/)).

| Action | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Deactivate** (Plugins screen) | Stops the scheduled work. Keeps all data |
| **Delete the plugin** (Plugins screen) | Removes the files. Keeps or wipes data depending on one switch |
| **Delete all data** (Settings > Tools > Danger zone) | Resets Hive Mail to a fresh install without removing the plugin |

## Steps

**Pause and keep everything:** open **Plugins** and click **Deactivate** under Hive Mail.

**Remove and keep your data (the default):** deactivate, then click **Delete**, with the switch off.

**Remove and wipe everything:**

1. Open **Hive Mail > Settings > General**.
2. In the card "When the plugin is deleted", switch on **Delete all Hive Mail data when the plugin is deleted** and read the amber list.
3. Click **Save changes**.
4. Open **Plugins**, click **Deactivate**, then **Delete**.

![The General tab with the delete switch turned on and the amber list of what is erased](https://hiveplugins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/hivemail-settings-general-delete-switch-02.webp)

**Reset without removing:** use the Danger zone, which needs a line in `wp-config.php` first ([Settings: Tools](/docs/hive-mail-settings-tools/)).

## What each one does

|  | Deactivate | Delete, switch off | Delete, switch on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Scheduled work | Stops (resumes on activation) | Cleared | Cleared |
| Tables, settings, the three pages | Kept | Kept | Dropped and deleted (the pages only if they carry Hive Mail's marker, never a page you made) |
| Permissions | Kept | Removed from every role | Removed |
| Options starting `hmail_` | Kept | Kept | Deleted, on every site of a multisite network |
| Files in `wp-content/uploads/hivemail/` | Kept | Kept | Kept |

With the switch on, this is erased for good: all contacts, lists, tags, segments and custom fields; every campaign, template, report, send log and automation with history; visitor tracking data and the system log; and all settings, including sending keys. The tables of the bundled scheduler (`actionscheduler_`) stay because other plugins can share them. Delete `wp-content/uploads/hivemail/` by hand to remove import and export files.

While Hive Mail is off, nothing is sent, scheduled campaigns do not start and tracking stops. The three pages Hive Mail made stay but show the raw shortcode text, and links in emails already sent (unsubscribe, confirm, tracked links) stop working until you activate it again. Deleting with the switch off lets you install again and carry on. The Danger zone does the same wipe as "switch on" but keeps the plugin installed, recreates empty tables and gives administrators their permissions; it needs `define( 'HIVEMAIL_ALLOW_RESET', true );` in `wp-config.php` and you typing `DELETE ALL DATA`.

> **Warning:** The delete switch and the Danger zone cannot be undone. Without a backup, a wiped site cannot be restored. Do not deactivate Hive Mail while campaigns are out, or unsubscribe and confirm links in them will fail.

Next: [Settings: General](/docs/hive-mail-settings-general/), [What data Hive Mail stores and where](/docs/hive-mail-what-data-hive-mail-stores/).

This is information, not legal advice.