If you’ve encountered the “destination folder already exists” issue after deleting the Yoast SEO folder (wordpress-seo) and attempting to reinstall the plugin in WordPress, there are a few steps you can follow to resolve this issue.
Step 1: Remove Leftover Files
After deleting the wordpress-seo folder, it’s possible that some files or remnants are still present in your WordPress installation. To ensure a clean slate, access your WordPress site using an FTP client or file manager provided by your hosting platform. Navigate to the wp-content/plugins directory and confirm that the wordpress-seo folder is no longer present.
Step 2: Check Plugin Status
Go to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to the “Plugins” section. Check if Yoast SEO is listed among the installed plugins. If it is, deactivate and delete it from here as well.
Step 3: Verify in Database
Sometimes, plugin information can persist in the WordPress database. Access your WordPress database using a tool like phpMyAdmin or any other database management tool provided by your hosting provider. Look for the “wp_options” table and search for entries related to Yoast SEO. Delete any rows associated with the plugin.
Step 4: Reinstall Yoast SEO
Now that you’ve thoroughly removed all traces of the Yoast SEO plugin, you can proceed with a fresh installation. Navigate to the “Plugins” section in your WordPress dashboard, click on “Add New,” and search for “Yoast SEO.” Click the “Install Now” button, and then activate the plugin.
Step 5: Check for Conflicts
If the issue persists, it might be related to a conflict with another plugin or your theme. Temporarily deactivate other plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One. Attempt to reinstall Yoast SEO again. If successful, reactivate your plugins and switch back to your original theme one by one, checking for conflicts along the way.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “destination folder already exists” issue when reinstalling Yoast SEO after deleting the wordpress-seo folder. Remember to back up your website before making any changes to ensure you can restore it in case of unexpected issues.
This comprehensive approach should address the problem and allow you to enjoy the benefits of Yoast SEO on your WordPress site without encountering any installation hurdles.