Please note that Advanced Database Cleaner 4.x is a completely separate plugin from version 3.x. This new version is not an update of 3.x. Please read this article to learn more.
Introduction
Version 4.x of Advanced Database Cleaner marks a major evolution of the plugin. Internally, the architecture was rebuilt to be more modular, more stable, and easier to extend. Externally, the entire interface has been redesigned with a smoother, more modern, and fully responsive UI/UX that allows you to work faster and more comfortably without the constant page reloads.
In this article, we walk through every module of the plugin – in the same order as the menu – and highlight what’s new in version 4.x and, where applicable, what has been improved compared to the 3.x.
1. General Cleanup
General Cleanup remains the central place to detect unnecessary data in your WordPress installation and clean it safely. In 4.x, it supports more cleanup types, more control, and better visibility.
🔹 New in version 4.x
New cleanup types
You can now clean the following additional items:
- Duplicated user meta
- Duplicated term meta
- Duplicated post meta
- Duplicated comment meta
- oEmbed caches
- Action Scheduler – Completed actions
- Action Scheduler – Failed actions
- Action Scheduler – Canceled actions
- Action Scheduler – Completed logs
- Action Scheduler – Failed logs
- Action Scheduler – Canceled logs
- Action Scheduler – Orphan logs
New “Keep last X items” rule
- 3.x version → “Keep last X days” only
- New version → also supports “keep last X items”
- Per parent (e.g. keep 5 revisions per post)
- Or globally (e.g. keep 5 pingbacks in total)
Estimated size to clean
You now see how much database space each cleanup type occupies, plus the total space that will be freed when cleaning.
Sorting in preview
Sorting inside the preview table (by name, date, size, etc.) is new – it didn’t exist in the 3.x version.
🔹 Enhanced compared to 3.x
- More advanced filters in preview
3.x version has basic filtering; now, filters are richer and more contextual (by title/value, size, site on multisite, and more). - Deeper, standards-based cleaning
The 3.x version relied heavily on raw SQL deletions. In 4.x, cleanup now uses WordPress’ native deletion functions whenever possible, ensuring full hook execution and deep removal of related data. Only when a core function cannot be used does the system safely fall back to the legacy SQL method. - Safer multisite handling
3.x version could hit a few edge cases when deleting across networks.
Version 4.x improves site targeting, deletion safety, and separation between network/site-level data.
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
General Cleanup Module – Clean and Optimize Your WordPress Database Safely
2. Tables Management
Tables Management allows you to inspect, analyze, and manage all tables in your database – WordPress core tables, plugin/theme tables, and tables that don’t belong to the site.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Highlight section for key table situations
New top section pointing out:- Tables requiring optimization or repair
- Tables with invalid prefixes
- Tables not scanned yet
Each message includes a Filter button to instantly isolate these tables.
- Detection of invalid prefix tables
Version 4.x detects tables with prefixes that don’t match your current installation, making it much easier to identify tables that do not belong to this WordPress site.
🔹 Enhanced compared to 3.x
- Enriched “Belongs to” column
3.x version → only showed a single main owner (plugin/theme/WordPress/orphan).
New version → column now contains more detailed owner information, populated from our remote relationships database, including multiple known owners and their status (active, inactive, not installed). - Clearer filtering and categories
3.x version had basic filtering.
4.x introduces cleaner categories and more precise filters (prefix status, size, type, multisite site).
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Tables Module – Analyze, Optimize, and Clean WordPress Database Tables Safely
3. Options Management
The Options module lets you analyze and manage all options inside your database, including leftover options from uninstalled plugins.
🔹 New in version 4x
- Highlight section for common option issues
This section points out important cases such as:- Large options
- Options not scanned yet
- Autoload size warnings
Each notice includes a quick Filter link.
- Improved value viewer
View option values in original or formatted mode for serialized or JSON structures.
🔹 Enhanced compared to 3.x
- More advanced filtering and search
3.x version → basic filtering (mainly autoload).
New version → richer filters by size, name, value content, autoload status, site in multisite, and more. - Enhanced “Belongs to” column
Instead of only showing a single owner, the new version shows additional known owners gathered from our remote relationships database, plus their status.
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Options Module – Analyze, Manage, and Clean WordPress Options Safely
4. Post Meta Management
This is a new module in version 4.x – it gives you a dedicated workspace to inspect, filter, and clean post meta safely.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Full list of post meta with meta key, value, size, post ID, site ID, and Belongs to
- Value viewer: raw or formatted view
- Highlight section showing unused, duplicated, large, or not-yet-scanned post meta
- Advanced search and filters
- Categorization filters: all, orphans, plugin meta, theme meta, WordPress meta, unknown
- “Belongs to” column enriched via local + remote scan
- Bulk actions for rescanning, editing ownership, sending corrections, and deleting entries
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Post Meta Module – Analyze, Clean, and Manage WordPress Post Meta Safely
5. User Meta Management
Another new module introduced in 4.x – focused on inspecting and cleaning user-related metadata.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Full list of user meta with meta key, value, size, user ID, and Belongs to
- Value viewer (raw and formatted)
- Highlight section for unused, duplicated, large, or unscanned user meta
- Search and filters
- Categorization filters identical to Post Meta
- Belongs to column with detailed owner info
- Bulk actions for rescanning, editing ownership, sending corrections, deleting entries
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
User Meta Module – Inspect, Clean, and Manage WordPress User Meta Safely
6. Transients Management
A fully new module dedicated to viewing and managing transients.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Full list of all transients (name, value, size, expiration, site, Belongs to)
- Formatted viewer for serialized/JSON values
- Highlight section for expired, large, and unscanned transients
- Expired column with actual expiration time in your local timezone
- Filters by name, autoload, expired state, size, site
- Categorization filters: plugin, theme, WordPress, orphans, not scanned
- Belongs to column with remote-enhanced ownership detail
- Bulk actions for rescanning, editing ownership, sending corrections, updating autoload, deleting entries
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Transients Module – Inspect, Clean, and Manage WordPress Transients Safely
7. Cron Jobs Management
Cron Jobs Management continues to evolve with more clarity and better visibility.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Highlight section that identifies:
- Cron jobs with no valid action
- Cron jobs not scanned yet
- Other noteworthy cases
Each notice includes a filter link.
🔹 Enhanced compared to 3.x
- More detailed ownership information
3.x version → Only showed a single owner.
New version → The Belongs to column now includes multiple known owners, with details fetched from the remote relationships database. - Clearer filters and interpretation
New filters allow grouping by frequency, interval, missing action, and multisite context, making it more intuitive than before.
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Cron Jobs Module – Inspect, Fix, and Manage WordPress Scheduled Tasks Safely
8. Automation
Automation is now centralized and significantly more transparent.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Unified automation module
3.x version → automation rules were spread across different screens.
New version → All automated actions live in a single module. - Per-task event logs
Each automation logs exactly what it cleaned, when, and how many items were processed – something entirely new. - Dashboard-style cards
Each automation card shows all essential information at a glance.
🔹 Enhanced compared to 3.x
- Timezone accuracy fixed
3.x version had inconsistencies; 4.x version consistently uses your local timezone. - Clearer creation/edit flow
Steps are separated (cleanup items, extra actions, schedule settings), much easier than the 3.x scattered UI.
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Automation Module – Schedule WordPress Database Cleanups Automatically
9. Remote Scan
A major new feature in version 4.x that improves ownership detection by combining the local scan with the new remote scan.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Cloud-backed ownership detection
Uses our centralized server to determine true owners of database entries. - Community-enhanced accuracy
User corrections enrich and refine the global detection database. - Local scan + remote scan working together
Local scan analyzes patterns; remote scan cross-checks with our database for near-perfect accuracy. - Enhanced “Belongs to” everywhere
Ownership info is now consistent, detailed, and enriched across all modules.
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
The Remote Scan in Advanced Database Cleaner: Precision Meets Security
10. Database Analytics
Completely new in 4.x – tracks database evolution over time.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Daily database analytics: size, tables count, trends
- Overview tab with daily/monthly charts
- Raw data view for full details per day
- Tables analytics tab with:
- Size evolution
- Rows evolution
- Daily change breakdown
- Searchable multi-table selection
- Ideal for detecting slow-growing problems (logs, caches, scheduled actions)
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Database Analytics Module – Track WordPress Database Growth and Table Activity
11. Addons Activity
Also new in version 4.x – tracks all themes and plugins activity in your WordPress environment.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Automatic tracking of plugin/theme:
- Activations
- Deactivations
- Uninstalls
- Search and filters by addon name or activity type
- Color-coded timeline list for clear readability
- Local timezone timestamps
- Multisite: tracks events on the main site
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Addons Activity Module – Track Plugin & Theme Activity in WordPress
12. Infos & Logs
The 3.x Infos screen has evolved into a more complete diagnostics module.
🔹 New in version 4.x
- Built-in plugin logs recording internal events
- Access to WordPress’ debug log directly from the interface
🔹 Enhanced compared to 3.x
- From a simple info page to a centralized diagnostic hub
The module now unifies environment info, plugin logs, and WordPress debug logs.
➡️ For more details about this module, please check this dedicated article.
Info & Logs Module – Review System Info and Analyze Plugin Logs in WordPress
13. Conclusion
Version 4.x of Advanced Database Cleaner is a complete rethinking of how the plugin works internally and how users interact with it. Every module has been rebuilt from scratch to give you more control, more reliability, deeper insights, and safer decisions.
The result is a faster, smoother, more intelligent database cleaning experience backed by modern technologies and a growing remote knowledge base – preparing Advanced Database Cleaner for the next decade of WordPress evolution.
