🔧 How to Revert a WordPress Multisite to a Single Site

WordPress Multisite is a powerful feature that allows you to manage multiple websites from a single WordPress installation. It’s an excellent solution for businesses, educational institutions, or anyone who needs to manage several sites efficiently. However, there may come a time when you no longer need the Multisite functionality and want to revert back to a single WordPress site. Whether it’s due to simplified management, reduced complexity, or a change in your business needs, reverting a WordPress Multisite to a single site is a task that requires careful planning and execution.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of reverting a WordPress Multisite to a single site. By following these instructions, you can ensure a smooth transition without losing critical data or disrupting your website’s functionality.

Step 1: Backup Your Website
Before making any significant changes to your WordPress installation, it’s crucial to back up your entire website. This includes your database, files, themes, plugins, and any other content. A backup ensures that you can restore your site if something goes wrong during the process.
Use a reliable backup plugin like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or Duplicator.
Alternatively, you can manually back up your files via FTP and export your database using phpMyAdmin.

Step 2: Decide Which Site to Keep
In a WordPress Multisite network, you have multiple sites under one installation. You’ll need to decide which site you want to keep as your single site. The data from this site will be preserved, while the others will be removed.
Identify the primary site or the one with the most important content.
Ensure that all necessary data (posts, pages, media, etc.) from the chosen site is up to date.

Step 3: Export Content from Other Sites (Optional)
If there’s content on other sites in your Multisite network that you want to keep, you’ll need to export it before proceeding. You can use the built-in WordPress export tool or a plugin like WP All Export to save the content.
Go to Tools > Export in the WordPress dashboard of each site.
Download the XML file containing the content.
If needed, you can import this content into your single site later using the Tools > Import feature.

Step 4: Deactivate the Multisite Network
To revert to a single site, you’ll need to deactivate the Multisite functionality. This involves editing your WordPress configuration files.
Access Your WordPress Files: Connect to your server via FTP or your hosting control panel’s file manager.
Locate the wp-config.php File: This file is in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
Remove Multisite Code: Look for the following lines in the wp-config.php file and delete them:
php
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define('MULTISITE', true);
define('SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false);
define('DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'yourdomain.com');
define('PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/');
define('SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);
define('BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);
Save the Changes: After removing the code, save the wp-config.php file.

Step 5: Clean Up the Database
The WordPress database contains tables and data specific to the Multisite network. To revert to a single site, you’ll need to clean up the database.
Access phpMyAdmin: Log in to your hosting control panel and open phpMyAdmin.
Identify Multisite Tables: Multisite tables are usually prefixed with wp_X_, where X is the site ID (e.g., wp_2_posts, wp_3_options).
Delete Unnecessary Tables: Remove all tables associated with the sites you’re not keeping. Be careful not to delete tables for the primary site (usually prefixed with wp_).
Update Site URLs: Ensure that the siteurl and home values in the wp_options table point to the correct domain.

Step 6: Update Permalinks and Settings
After cleaning up the database, you’ll need to update your site’s permalinks and settings.
Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard.
Go to Settings > Permalinks: Simply visit the permalinks page and click “Save Changes” to refresh the permalink structure.
Check General Settings: Ensure that the site URL and other settings are correct under Settings > General.

Step 7: Test Your Site
Once you’ve completed the above steps, thoroughly test your site to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
Check your homepage, posts, pages, and media library.
Test your plugins and themes to ensure they’re working as expected.
Verify that there are no broken links or missing content.

Step 8: Remove Unnecessary Plugins and Themes
Since you’re no longer using a Multisite network, you can remove any plugins or themes that were specific to Multisite functionality. This will help streamline your site and improve performance.

Conclusion
Reverting a WordPress Multisite to a single site may seem daunting, but with careful planning and execution, it’s a manageable process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully transition back to a single WordPress installation while preserving your critical data and ensuring your site remains functional.
Remember, always backup your site before making significant changes, and don’t hesitate to seek help from a professional if you’re unsure about any step. With the right approach, you can simplify your WordPress management and focus on what matters most—your content and your audience.