How to Optimize Autoloaded Options in WordPress for Better Performance

Overview

Autoloaded options in WordPress are stored in the database and loaded on every page request. While these options improve performance when used correctly, excessive or unnecessary autoloaded options can slow down your site, causing longer query execution times, increasing memory usage, and even affecting backend performance.

To improve site speed and reduce database bloat, follow this guide to identify and remove unnecessary autoloaded options.

Before You Begin

Before making any database modifications, it’s strongly recommended to take a backup of the database to ensure you can restore data if needed.

Step 1: Check for Autoloaded Options in Site Health

In your WordPress backend, go to Tools > Site Health. If autoloaded options are impacting performance, you may see the following warning under “Recommended improvements”:

Step 2: Identify the Largest Autoloaded Options

To find the largest autoloaded options in your WordPress database, follow these steps:

1. Copy and Modify the SQL Query

Paste the following SQL query into a text editor like Notepad or Sublime Text:

SELECT option_name, LENGTH(option_value) AS option_size
FROM wp_options
WHERE autoload = 'yes'
ORDER BY option_size DESC
LIMIT 50;

Important: The database prefix may not be wp_ on your site. You’ll need to confirm and update it accordingly.

2. Find the Database Prefix

To determine the correct database prefix, go to your site’s Staq Panel and navigate to Database > Table:

In this example, the database prefix is ol1ao_:

Update the SQL query in your text editor, replacing wp_ with your actual database prefix:

3. Run the SQL Query

Back in the Staq Panel, under Database, click Run SQL Query:

Paste the modified SQL query into the query box and click Execute:

4. Analyze the Results

The query will return the largest autoloaded options, similar to the following:

Identify unnecessary autoloaded options, such as those belonging to inactive or deleted plugins.

Step 3: Remove Unnecessary Autoloaded Options

Once you identify unnecessary autoloaded options, you can delete them safely.

1. Note Down Unnecessary Options

For example, in the results above, Beehive Pro plugin entries were found, even though the plugin is not active. These should be removed:

2. Run a SQL Query to Delete Unnecessary Autoloaded Options

Modify the queries below to match the entries you want to remove and execute them in the Run SQL Query tool.

Delete a Single Autoloaded Option

DELETE FROM ol1ao_options WHERE option_name LIKE '_transient_beehive_%';

Delete Multiple Autoloaded Options

DELETE FROM ol1ao_options
WHERE option_name IN (
'_transient_beehive_29764f09266adcea77126e85f9353733',
'_transient_beehive_eb95769b5da0de5dc5cd8771c080459b',
'beehive_settings'
);

If successful, you should see the message “Query was successfully executed in X seconds.”

Step 4: Verify Improvements

After deleting unnecessary autoloaded options:

• Flush Redis Object Cache if enabled.
• Verify that the website functions correctly.
• Check Site Health again to confirm that “Autoloaded options could affect performance” is now under the Passed tests section.

Conclusion

By optimizing autoloaded options, you can significantly improve backend performance and reduce database load. Regularly reviewing and cleaning autoloaded options ensures your WordPress site remains fast and responsive.