The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver

Download The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver

Archive any plugin with one click. Keep your Plugins screen tidy, prevent accidental re‑activation, and safely stash occasional‑use or problematic plugins in a dedicated archive directory. Non‑destructive: archiving moves files without removing plugin settings or data.

Why use it?

• Maintain a toolbox of favorite utilities without cluttering your Plugins list
• Quarantine buggy or compromised plugins to avoid “oops, I clicked Activate” incidents
• Test different plugin stacks by archiving and restoring sets as needed
• Share admin access with less risk of accidental activations

Features

• One‑click Archive link on the Plugins screen
• Bulk Archive / Unarchive / Delete actions
• Optional auto‑deactivate before archiving (recommended)
• Manage multiple archive directories and switch between them
• “Unarchive All” button on the Archived Plugins tab
• Uses WordPress Filesystem API with capability and nonce checks
• Non‑destructive: archiving does not remove a plugin’s settings/data

Quick start

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins and click “Archive” under any plugin you want to set aside.
2. Manage archived plugins at Plugins → Archived Plugins, or via Settings → Plugin Archiver → Archived Plugins.
3. Use “Unarchive” to restore a plugin to wp-content/plugins. Use “Delete” to remove it from the archive.

Where are archived plugins stored?

By default in wp-content/plugins-[name] (e.g., plugins-archive-xxxxxx). Create and switch archives in Settings → Plugin Archiver.

Video

Watch the quick introduction in Youtube.

Documentation & Support

• Facebook: The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver Updates and Support Thread
• Usage guide and documentation (here)
• Support forum on WordPress.org

Donate

If you find this plugin helpful, please consider a small donation.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I deactivate or remove this plugin, what happens to archived plugins?

Short answer: Nothing changes.

Archived plugins remain exactly where you left them—safely stored in your archive directory—until you unarchive them or move them back manually.

Will you add an “unarchive all on plugin deletion” option?

Short answer: No.

Plugin Archiver supports multiple archive directories. Because duplicates may exist across archives, there’s no single “correct” version to restore automatically. Instead, use the “Unarchive All” button on the Archived Plugins tab while the plugin is active.

Why not just delete plugins?

Short answer: Archiving is safer.

Some plugins remove their settings/data when deleted. Archiving moves the plugin out of wp-content/plugins without touching its settings, so you can bring it back later with zero reconfiguration. It’s also perfect for occasional‑use utilities like WP Migrate, Velvet Blues Update URLs, Duplicator, and database tools—keep them handy without cluttering your Plugins list.