Is Your WordPress Database Bloated? How to Analyze Autoload Size

The autoload column in WordPress’s wp_options table determines if an option is automatically loaded during site initialization. Options with autoload set to yes are preloaded into memory, which is ideal for frequently used data like site settings or theme configurations, reducing database queries. Conversely, options with autoload set to no are retrieved only when explicitly requested. While autoloading essential data improves performance, excessive or large autoloaded options can increase memory usage and slow down page loads. To optimize performance, limit autoload to critical options, disable it for rarely used data, and regularly review and manage autoloaded entries in the database.

One method to check your WordPress sites’ autoload size would be using the Autoload Checker plugin. Once the plugin has been installed and activated, you can find out the autoload size of the options database table by going to;

Tools > Autoload Checker

To be able to clear autoloaded options on your WordPress site, you can use a plugin such as Advanced Database Cleaner. With the plugin installed and activated from wp-admin go to;

Advanced DB Cleaner > Options

In the options section of the plugin, you can select which options are set to be autoloaded or not in the WordPress site’s options database table.

Keeping the number of options set to be autoloaded on your WordPress site’s database is an easy win for improved database performance.

Useful Links

https://wordpress.org/support/topic/autoloaded-options-size-1-mb-but-database-query-says-24kb