Optimal State – Database Cleaner, Speed Optimization & Backup Manager

FAQ

What makes Optimal State different from other optimization plugins?

Optimal State is an all-in-one solution that replaces 4-6 separate plugins. Instead of installing WP Rocket for caching, UpdraftPlus for backups, WP-Optimize for database cleanup, and Better Search Replace for migrations, you get all these features in a single, unified plugin. This means:

• No plugin conflicts – One codebase eliminates compatibility issues
• Faster performance – Reduced overhead from having multiple plugins active
• Simplified management – One dashboard instead of switching between 4+ plugins
• Cost savings – One purchase instead of multiple subscriptions

Our proprietary health scoring algorithm also provides real-time insights that basic cleaners simply can’t match.

Is Optimal State safe to use on production sites?

Yes, absolutely. Optimal State includes multiple safety mechanisms:

• Automatic safety backups before scheduled optimization
• Emergency rollback system that triggers if anything goes wrong
• Dry run mode for Search & Replace (preview changes before applying)
• Zero-downtime restoration using temporary table swap technology
• Database validation verifies backup integrity before restore
• Maintenance mode protects your site during critical operations

Hundreds of sites use Optimal State in production without issues. We recommend testing on staging first for enterprise sites, but the built-in safety features make it production-ready out of the box.

Will this plugin slow down my website?

No, quite the opposite. Optimal State is designed for performance:

• Optimized codebase – Minimal resource usage compared to running 4+ separate plugins
• Efficient query design – Database operations use indexed queries and batch processing
• Smart caching – Statistics are cached to avoid repeated expensive queries
• Conditional loading – Admin features only load on relevant pages
• No external dependencies – Chart.js and other libraries are served locally

Most users see a 20-40% improvement in admin dashboard speed and database query performance after optimization. The caching features alone typically reduce page load times by 50-80%.

What types of data does the cleanup remove?

Optimal State safely removes 20 different types of database bloat:

Content Cleanup:
* Post revisions (keeps latest version)
* Auto-drafts and abandoned content
* Trashed posts and pages
* Orphaned post metadata
* Duplicate Post Meta

Comment Cleanup:
* Spam comments
* Trashed comments
* Duplicate Comment Meta
* Orphaned comment metadata
* Orphaned User Meta
* Unapproved comments
* Pingbacks and trackbacks

System Cleanup:
* Action Logs
* Expired transients
* Empty Taxonomies
* oEmbed cache data
* Orphaned term relationships
* Duplicate metadata entries

WooCommerce Specific:
* Abandoned cart sessions
* Completed Action Scheduler logs
* Order transients

Advanced:
* Autoload optimization (moves non-critical data to standard loading)
* Table defragmentation (recovers wasted disk space)
* Unused database tables from deleted plugins (Pro)

All cleanup operations are reversible via backup, and nothing is deleted without your explicit confirmation.

How do backups work? What gets backed up?

Optimal State creates complete database backups in standard SQL format:

What’s Included:
* All database tables (structure + data)
* GZIP compression for space efficiency
* Integrity checksums for validation
* Compatible with phpMyAdmin and other MySQL tools

What’s Not Included:
* WordPress files (themes, plugins, uploads)
* wp-config.php and other core files

This is intentional – database corruption and data loss are the most common issues affecting WordPress sites. For full-site backups including files, we recommend combining Optimal State with a file backup solution like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup.

Backup Features:
* One-click creation and restoration
* Automatic safety backups before restore operations
* Rotation management (keeps latest N backups)
* Upload and restore from external backup files
* Protected storage directory (.htaccess secured)

Can I restore a backup from another plugin like UpdraftPlus or phpMyAdmin?

Yes (Pro feature). The “Upload & Restore” feature accepts:

• Standard SQL dump files (.sql)
• GZIP compressed SQL files (.sql.gz)
• phpMyAdmin exports
• UpdraftPlus database backups (extract the .gz file first)
• Most MySQL backup formats

The restore engine automatically detects file format, handles DEFINER statements, adjusts table names for safety, and validates structure before importing. If you’re migrating between domains, use the Search & Replace feature after restoring to update URLs.

Does this work with WooCommerce?

Yes, Optimal State has specialized WooCommerce optimization:

• Session cleanup – Removes abandoned cart data
• Action Scheduler optimization – Purges completed background tasks
• Order transients – Clears temporary calculation data
• Smart cache invalidation – Automatically clears cache when orders are placed
• Database indexes – Adds high-impact indexes for product queries (Pro)

Many WooCommerce stores see dramatic performance improvements after cleanup, especially if you have thousands of products or orders. The plugin is tested and fully compatible with WooCommerce 7.0+.

What’s the difference between Free and Pro versions?

DATABASE BACKUP & RESTORE
……………………………………………….Free Version ……Pro Version
• Create Backups……………………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Maximum Backups Kept……………….. [1]…………… [Up to 10]
• Download Backups……………………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Restore from Existing Backups……… ✓…………………. ✓
• Restore from Uploaded File……….. [50MB]…………. [5GB]
• Backup Verification (Checksum)……. ✓…………………. ✓

DATABASE CLEANUP & OPTIMIZATION
…………………………………………….Free Version ……Pro Version
• One-Click Optimization………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Database Health Score………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Database Statistics…………………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Detailed Cleanup (20 types)………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Optimize All Tables…………………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Analyze & Repair Tables…………….. ✗…………………. ✓
• Optimize Autoloaded Options…….. ✗…………………. ✓
• Database Structure Analysis………. ✓…………………. ✓
• MySQL Index Manager……………….. ✗…………………. ✓
• Referential Integrity Scanner………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Database Search & Replace……….. ✗…………………. ✓
• Legacy Plugin Data Scanner……….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Delete Unused Tables………………… ✗…………………. ✓

AUTOMATION FEATURES
………………………………………………….Free Version ……Pro Version
• Scheduled Backup/Cleaning……………. ✗…………………. ✓
• Email Notifications…………………………… ✗…………………. ✓
• Customizable Schedule……………………. ✗…………………. ✓

PERFORMANCE FEATURES
……………………………………………………………..Free Version ……Pro Version
• Server-Side Page Caching……………………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Browser Caching (.htaccess Rules)………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Cache Purging……………………………………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Cache Statistics…………………………………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Automatic Cache Preload (Sitemap-Based)….. ✗…………………. ✓
• Mobile-Specific Cache…………………………………. ✗…………………. ✓
• Custom Consent Cookie Support…………………. ✗…………………. ✓
• Query String Handling Modes (3 Options)……. ✓…………………. ✓
• Smart Cache Invalidation on Updates………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Database Query Caching……………………………. ✗…………………. ✓
• Font Loading Optimization………………………….. ✗…………………. ✓
• Lazy Load Images & Iframes……………………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Bad Bot Blocker…………………………………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Post Revisions Limit Control………………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Trash Auto-Empty Control…………………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Heartbeat API Control………………………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Disable XML-RPC……………………………………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Remove Emoji Scripts…………………………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Remove Unused WordPress Headers…………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Integrated PageSpeed Metrics…………………… ✓…………………. ✓

SECURITY & SAFETY
………………………………………………….Free Version ……Pro Version
• Safety Backup Before Restore…………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Emergency Rollback………………………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Zero-Downtime Restore…………………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• Database Validation Before Restore…… ✓…………………. ✓
• Maintenance Mode During Restore……. ✓…………………. ✓
• Protected Backup Directory……………….. ✓…………………. ✓
• User Management (Restrict Access)….. ✗…………………. ✓
• Settings Export/Import………………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Brute Force Protection……………………….. ✓…………………. ✓

LOGGING & MONITORING
…………………………………………………….Free Version ……Pro Version
• Optimization History (Last 200 ops)…… ✓…………………. ✓
• Detailed Operation Results………………… ✓…………………. ✓
• Real-Time Progress Tracking……………… ✓…………………. ✓

SUPPORT & DOCUMENTATION
………………………………………………..Free Version ……Pro Version
• Comprehensive Manual…………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• Multi-Language Interface………………. ✓…………………. ✓
• In-Dashboard Help & Tooltips………… ✓…………………. ✓

The free version is fully functional and sufficient for most sites. Pro unlocks automation, advanced safety features, and enterprise-level optimization tools.

How often should I optimize my database?

It depends on your site activity:

• High-traffic blogs (10+ posts/day, heavy comments): Weekly
• E-commerce stores (active orders, heavy traffic): Weekly
• Membership sites (frequent user activity): Bi-weekly
• Standard blogs (occasional posts): Monthly
• Brochure/static sites (minimal changes): Quarterly

The health score dashboard provides real-time guidance – if your score drops below 70, it’s time to optimize. Pro users can schedule automatic maintenance to run during low-traffic hours (e.g., 2 AM daily).

Warning signs you need optimization:
* Admin dashboard loads slowly
* Health score below 70
* Autoload size over 800KB
* 500+ post revisions
* Table overhead over 5%

Is my data sent to external servers?

No tracking or data collection. Optimal State operates entirely on your server with two optional exceptions:

1. PageSpeed Insights (optional) – When you manually request a performance analysis, your site URL is sent to Google’s PageSpeed API for evaluation. This only happens when you click “Run Audit” – never automatically.

2. GTranslate Widget (optional) – The admin interface includes a translation widget that loads from cdn.gtranslate.net to help non-English speakers. This is cosmetic only and doesn’t affect plugin functionality.

No usage statistics, analytics, or telemetry data is ever collected or transmitted. All optimization operations happen locally on your WordPress database.

Will this plugin conflict with my caching plugin?

It depends on the plugin:

Compatible:
* Object cache plugins (Redis, Memcached) – Actually complement each other
* CDN services (Cloudflare, BunnyCDN) – Work together seamlessly
* Litespeed Cache (if you disable Optimal State’s page caching)

May Conflict:
* WP Rocket – Both provide page caching; choose one
* WP Super Cache – Both provide page caching; choose one
* W3 Total Cache – Both provide page caching; choose one
* Swift Performance – Both provide page caching; choose one

If you’re already using a premium caching plugin you’re happy with, simply disable Optimal State’s caching features and use it exclusively for database optimization and backups. The features are modular – use what you need.

Can I use this on WordPress Multisite?

No, Optimal State is designed specifically for single-site installations. Running database optimization operations across an entire multisite network would be risky and could affect multiple sites simultaneously. We intentionally block activation on multisite to prevent data integrity issues.

For multisite networks, we recommend using network-appropriate tools designed for that architecture.

Does this require coding knowledge?

No. Optimal State is designed for users of all skill levels:

• One-click operations for most common tasks
• Visual dashboard with real-time health scoring
• Clear explanations for every feature
• Built-in user manual with step-by-step guides
• Confirmation dialogs before destructive actions
• Undo capability via automatic backups

Advanced users will appreciate features like regex search & replace, database structure analysis, and custom SQL optimization, but these are optional. Most users simply click “Optimize Database” monthly and enjoy the performance improvements.

What happens if a restore fails mid-process?

Optimal State uses a sophisticated safety system:

1. Temporary table method – Restored data goes into temporary tables first
2. Validation check – Data is verified before becoming live
3. Atomic swap – Old tables are renamed, new tables activated in one transaction
4. Emergency rollback – If anything fails, the system automatically reverts
5. Maintenance mode – Visitors see a friendly message during restoration

If the worst happens (power failure, server crash during restore), the original tables remain untouched with an optistate_old_ prefix. You can either:

• Contact support for guided recovery (Pro users)
• Use the manual recovery instructions in the User Manual
• Ask your hosting provider to drop the temp tables and rename the old ones back

The plugin is designed so that total data loss is virtually impossible – there’s always a recovery path.

How much disk space will I save?

Results vary dramatically based on site age and maintenance history:

Typical Results:
* New sites (<6 months): 5-15% space savings
* Medium sites (1-3 years): 15-35% space savings
* Neglected sites (3+ years, never optimized): 40-70% space savings

Largest gains come from:
* Deleting thousands of post revisions
* Purging spam comments (some sites have 50,000+)
* Removing orphaned metadata
* Defragmenting tables (recovers “overhead”)
* Cleaning WooCommerce session data

One user reported recovering 1.7GB from a 3GB database (60% reduction) on a site that had never been optimized. View detailed statistics to know how many items will be cleaned up.

Can I schedule automatic optimization?

Yes (Pro feature). The automation system includes:

• Flexible scheduling – Daily, weekly, or monthly intervals
• Custom time selection – Run during low-traffic hours (e.g., 2 AM)
• Email notifications – Receive reports after each run
• Combined operations – Backup + Optimize in one job
• Safety backups – Automatic backup before each scheduled optimization

Most Pro users set weekly optimization at 2 AM Sunday with email confirmations. This “set and forget” approach keeps databases healthy without manual intervention.

Does this work with managed WordPress hosting?

Yes, but with platform-specific considerations:

Fully Compatible (All Features):
* SiteGround
* Bluehost
* HostGator
* DreamHost
* A2 Hosting
* InMotion Hosting
* Most cPanel/traditional hosting

Database Features Only (Disable Page Caching):
* WP Engine – Database optimization, backups, and cleanup work perfectly. Disable Optimal State’s page caching (WP Engine has mandatory server-level caching). Browser caching rules also conflict with WP Engine’s system.
* Kinsta – Database optimization, backups, and cleanup work perfectly. Disable Optimal State’s page caching (Kinsta uses FlyCache and edge caching). The Kinsta MU plugin handles caching automatically.
* Flywheel – Database optimization, backups, and cleanup work perfectly. Disable Optimal State’s page caching (Flywheel uses FlyCache). You may need to enable WP_CACHE in Flywheel’s dashboard to use other optimization features.

Requires Testing:
* Pantheon – Database operations work; caching may require custom configuration
* WordPress.com Business/eCommerce – Limited plugin access; test thoroughly in staging
* Cloudways – Works well; may need to coordinate cache clearing with platform cache

Why the restrictions?
Managed WordPress hosts implement their own server-level caching (WP Engine uses proprietary caching, Kinsta uses FlyCache + Cloudflare edge caching, Flywheel uses FlyCache). Running multiple page caching systems simultaneously causes conflicts and can actually slow down your site.

Recommended approach for managed hosting:
1. Keep Optimal State’s database optimization, backup, and performance features active
2. Disable “Server-Side Page Caching” in Optimal State’s Performance Features
3. Use the host’s native caching system for page caching
4. Browser caching rules may need to be disabled on some platforms

The database optimization, backup, Search & Replace, and cleanup features work universally across all hosting providers.

How do I migrate my site to a new domain?

Follow this workflow:

1. Create a backup on the old site
2. Download the backup file (.sql.gz)
3. Install WordPress on the new domain
4. Install Optimal State on the new site
5. Upload & restore the backup
6. Use Search & Replace to change URLs:
   • Search: https://olddomain.com
   • Replace: https://newdomain.com
   • Enable “Dry Run” to preview changes
   • Execute replacement
7. Clear all caches
8. Test thoroughly

The Search & Replace feature handles serialized PHP data correctly, which is critical for WordPress migrations.

What PHP and WordPress versions are required?

Minimum Requirements:
* WordPress 5.5 or higher
* PHP 7.4 or higher
* MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.1+
* 128 MB PHP memory limit (256 MB recommended)

Recommended Setup:
* WordPress 6.4+
* PHP 8.1 or 8.2
* MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+
* 256 MB PHP memory limit

The plugin uses modern PHP features for performance and security. If you’re still on PHP 7.3 or earlier, contact your host about upgrading – outdated PHP versions are a security risk.

Does this plugin support translations?

Yes, Optimal State is translation-ready with:

• All strings wrapped in translation functions
• POT file included for translators
• Text domain: optistate
• RTL language support
• GTranslate widget for admin interface (optional)

Currently Available:
* English (native)

To contribute a translation, contact us through the support page. We offer free Pro licenses to community translators.

Where are backups stored?

Backups are stored in your WordPress uploads directory:

Location: /wp-content/uploads/optistate/db-backups/

Security Features:
* .htaccess file blocks direct web access
* Index file prevents directory listing
* Files named with timestamps: BACKUP-YYYY-MM-DD_random-string.sql.gz
* Directory permissions set to 755

Important Notes:
* For off-site redundancy, download critical backups via the admin interface
* Pro users can store up to 10 backups; free version keeps 1 (rotates automatically)

If your hosting plan has limited disk space, monitor backup folder size. A 500MB database creates roughly 100MB compressed backups.

Can I import backups from cPanel or phpMyAdmin?

Yes (Pro feature). The “Restore Database from File” feature accepts standard MySQL dump files created by:

• cPanel backup wizard
• phpMyAdmin export
• MySQL command line (mysqldump)
• Other backup plugins (UpdraftPlus, BackWPup, etc.)

Supported formats:
* Plain SQL (.sql)
* GZIP compressed (.sql.gz, .gz)
* Must be database-only (not full site backups)

Import process:
1. Navigate to Backups tab
2. Click “Choose Backup File”
3. Select your .sql or .sql.gz file
4. Plugin validates structure
5. Confirm restoration
6. Automatic safety backup created
7. Import executes with progress tracking

The restore engine automatically handles common compatibility issues like DEFINER statements and table prefix mismatches.

What is the Health Score based on?

The proprietary health scoring algorithm (0-100 scale) analyzes three categories:

Performance (40% weight):
* Autoload data size (should be <800KB)
* Table fragmentation/overhead
* Expired transients count

Cleanliness (35% weight):
* Junk content (revisions, spam, trash)
* Orphaned metadata
* WooCommerce/plugin bloat

Efficiency (25% weight):
* Index-to-data ratio
* Total table count
* Empty taxonomy terms

Score Interpretation:
* 90-100 – Excellent, fully optimized
* 70-89 – Good, minor optimization recommended
* 50-69 – Fair, optimization needed soon
* 30-49 – Poor, optimize immediately
* 0-29 – Critical, database needs urgent attention

Most sites start at 40-60 before optimization and reach 85-95 after cleanup. The score updates in real-time based on current database state.

Is there a staging/development mode?

While there’s no specific “staging mode” toggle, Optimal State is safe for development environments:

Recommended workflow:
1. Test all operations on staging first
2. Create backup before deployment
3. Deploy to production
4. Verify health score
5. Run optimization if needed

Development-friendly features:
* Search & Replace with dry run (perfect for localhost → staging → production)
* Export/import settings (sync configuration across environments)
* Manual backup before risky operations
* Full activity logging

Many developers use Optimal State to keep staging databases lean – production databases often accumulate bloat that you don’t want in staging copies.

How can I contribute or request features?

We actively develop based on user feedback:

Feature Requests:
1. Visit the Support Page
2. Describe your use case and desired feature
3. We evaluate all requests for future releases

Bug Reports:
* Include WordPress version, PHP version, and error messages
* Describe steps to reproduce
* Screenshots are helpful
* Priority support for Pro users

Contributing Code:
* We’re exploring open-source collaboration for future versions
* Contact us to discuss potential contributions

Many current features (WooCommerce optimization, Action Scheduler cleanup, mobile caching) were implemented based on user suggestions. Your feedback shapes the product roadmap.

What support is available?

Free Version:
* WordPress.org support forums
* Built-in user manual (comprehensive documentation)
* FAQ section (this page)
* Community support

Pro Version:
* Priority email support (24-48 hour response)
* Advanced troubleshooting assistance
* Migration guidance
* Configuration recommendations
* Direct developer contact

Most questions are answered in the built-in User Manual, which includes:
* Feature explanations
* Step-by-step tutorials
* Troubleshooting guides
* Best practices
* Technical deep dives

The manual is searchable, and you can download it to access it offline.