Disable Joomla Extension Using MySQL Query

You can disable any Joomla extension by running a MySQL script.

I do not remember this happening in Joomla 3, but with Joomla 4, when an extension throws an error the entire site crash. Often the frontend and backend are both dead. You can’t use the Joomla Administrator to repair it.

Here is how to run a script using phpMyAdmin to disable that extension.

1. Log into your web hosting account and open phpMyAdmin
2. Open the database that store your Joomla site
3. Take note of the prefix for your tables. All Joomla tables will start with this prefix. It’s usually three characters, like “jpx_” in this example:
   • jpx_action_logs
   • jpx_action_logs_extensions
   • jpx_action_logs_users
   • jpx_action_log_config
4. Modify the #_extensions table in the queries below using your prefix.
5. Change ‘com_some_extension’ in the query to match the extension you want to disable.
6. Click on the SQL tab near the top of the phpMyAdmin screen.
7. Paste in and run the modified SELECT statement to verify you match the extension you are looking for
8. Then Paste in and run the UPDATE statement to disable the matching extension.
   enabled = 1 is enabled, enabled = 0 is disabled.

MySQL Statement to Find the Extension

Here is the statement to make sure you have the correct extension name. In the query below modify the #_extensions name using the table prefix from your Joomla installation, and change com_some_extension to match the extension name.

SELECT * 
FROM `#_extensions` 
WHERE `name` like 'com_some_extension';

Example: (for jpx_extensions table, com_attachments extension name)

SELECT * 
FROM `jpx_extensions` 
WHERE `name` like 'com_attachments';

MySQL Statement to Disable the Extension

Modify #_extensions below using the table prefix from your Joomla installation, and change com_some_extension to match the extension name.

UPDATE `#_extensions` 
SET `enabled` = 0
WHERE `name` like 'com_some_extension';

Example: (for jpx_extensions table, com_attachments extension name)

UPDATE `jpx_extensions` 
SET `enabled` = 0
WHERE `name` like 'com_attachments';

phpMyAdmin Screen Shot:

This MySQL statement is using the jpx_ Joomla table prefix (jpx_extensions table) and com_attachments for the extension name. enabled = 1 is enabled, enabled = 0 is disabled.