=== Plugin Reference Cleaner === Contributors: marcusquinn Donate link: https://www.wpallstars.com Tags: plugins, missing plugins, cleanup, error fix, admin tools Requires at least: 5.0 Tested up to: 6.4 Requires PHP: 7.0 Stable tag: 1.3.3 License: GPL-2.0+ License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html Easily remove references to deleted plugins that cause "Plugin file does not exist" errors in your WordPress admin. == Description == Have you ever deleted a plugin directly from the server or database and then been stuck with annoying error notifications that can't be cleared? "The plugin folder-name/file-name.php has been deactivated due to an error: Plugin file does not exist." This small utility plugin adds missing plugins to your WordPress plugins list and provides a "Remove Reference" link, allowing you to safely clean up invalid plugin entries with one click. = Key Features = * Adds missing plugins directly to your plugins list * Provides a simple "Remove Reference" action link * Works with both single site and multisite WordPress installations * Includes helpful notifications explaining how to fix plugin errors * One-click auto-scroll to find missing plugins in large sites * Clean, user-friendly interface following WordPress design patterns = How It Works = When WordPress detects a plugin file that no longer exists but is still referenced in the database as active, it displays an error notice. This plugin: 1. Detects all missing plugin references in your database 2. Adds them to your plugins list with "(File Missing)" indicators 3. Provides a "Remove Reference" link to safely remove them 4. Shows clear notifications guiding you through the cleanup process = Use Cases = * You've accidentally deleted a plugin via FTP * A plugin was removed by another admin but references remain * You've migrated from another site and have leftover plugin references * Your hosting provider removed a plugin but didn't clean the database == Installation == 1. Upload the `plugin-reference-cleaner` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory 2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress 3. No configuration needed - the plugin works automatically 4. If you have missing plugin errors, you'll immediately see them in your plugins list with "Remove Reference" links == Frequently Asked Questions == = Is it safe to remove plugin references? = Yes, this plugin only removes entries from the WordPress active_plugins option, which is safe to modify when a plugin no longer exists. It doesn't modify any other database tables or settings. = What happens after I remove a reference? = The plugin entry will be removed from your active plugins list, and the corresponding error notification will no longer appear after you refresh the page. = Can I use this plugin on a multisite installation? = Yes, the plugin works on both single sites and multisite installations. It properly handles network-activated plugins as well. = How do I know which plugin references should be removed? = The plugin will only show "Remove Reference" links for plugins that are listed in your database but don't actually exist in your plugins directory. These are safe to remove. = Will this break my site? = No. Since the plugin is only removing references to plugins that no longer exist, removing these references won't affect your site's functionality. In fact, it's cleaning up remnants that might be causing issues. = What if I accidentally remove a reference I shouldn't have? = If you remove a reference to a plugin that you later want to reinstall, simply install the plugin again and activate it normally. == Screenshots == 1. Error message with explanation notification 2. Missing plugin shown in the plugins list with "Remove Reference" link 3. Auto-scroll feature that highlights the missing plugin == Changelog == = 1.3.3 = * Improved notification placement next to WordPress error messages * Added "Click here to scroll" button that automatically locates missing plugins * Enhanced reliability with multiple injection methods * Added visual arrow pointing from notification to error message = 1.3.2 = * Added prominent notification directly below WordPress error messages * Improved user guidance with visual cues to connect error and solution * Added eye-catching styling to help users understand how to fix errors = 1.3.1 = * Added instructional notification explaining how to use the plugin * Improved user guidance with step-by-step instructions * Enhanced visual identification of missing plugins = 1.3.0 = * Complete redesign for maximum compatibility with all WordPress themes * Now adds missing plugins directly to the plugins list table * Uses standard WordPress admin UI patterns instead of DOM manipulation * Added "Remove Reference" action link in the plugins list * Significantly improved reliability across all WordPress configurations = 1.2.4 = * Fixed compatibility with more WordPress admin themes * Added advanced DOM traversal to find error messages * Implemented fallback mechanisms to ensure button appears * Added detailed console logging for troubleshooting = 1.2.3 = * Fixed button not appearing in some WordPress admin themes * Improved error message detection for greater compatibility * Enhanced DOM traversal to find notification elements = 1.2.2 = * Fixed timeout issue during plugin activation * Improved hook management to prevent potential infinite recursion * Optimized performance by only loading on plugins page = 1.2.1 = * Fixed typos in documentation * Improved text clarity * Added question mark to first sentence for better readability = 1.2 = * Improved documentation with detailed explanation * Added SQL reference for technical users * Suggested potential inclusion in WordPress core = 1.1 = * Improved error handling * Added support for multisite installations * Enhanced security with proper capability checks = 1.0 = * Initial release == Upgrade Notice == = 1.3.3 = Major usability improvement with auto-scroll feature to help find missing plugins in your list! = 1.3.0 = Completely redesigned for better compatibility with all WordPress themes - now works with any WordPress installation! = 1.2.2 = Important stability fix - resolves timeout issues during plugin activation! == Support == For support, please visit https://wpallstars.com