Reset & Factory Reset
Dran Admin Cleaner (DAC) provides two destructive reset actions for different situations:
Reset Rules removes the current cleanup and Page Lock rules while preserving the main DAC management and cleanup settings.
Factory Reset removes the existing DAC configuration more completely and creates a new clean default profile.
Both actions require explicit confirmation by typing RESET.
Because these actions remove configuration data, review the differences carefully before continuing.
Reset Rules
Use Reset Rules when you want to remove the current cleanup and Page Lock rules without rebuilding the entire DAC management configuration.
Reset Rules removes:
- All cleanup rules.
- All Page Lock rules.
It preserves:
- Owner.
- Managers.
- Recovery URL.
- Safe Mode configuration.
- Cleanup settings.
After Reset Rules completes, Global Audience is reset to Everyone.
This gives you a clean ruleset while retaining the trusted access and management configuration already established for the site.
What Reset Rules Does Not Do
Reset Rules is not a complete factory reset.
It does not remove your Owner or Manager configuration, replace the Recovery URL, clear the Audit Log, or rebuild DAC from a new default profile.
It also does not provide separate per-feature reset actions.
For example, there is currently no independent “Reset Menu Cleaner” or “Reset Page Locks” operation.
Reset Rules acts on the complete cleanup and Page Lock ruleset.
Confirming Reset Rules
Reset Rules is intentionally protected from accidental activation.
Before DAC performs the reset, you must type:
RESET
into the confirmation field.
Do not confirm the operation unless you intend to remove the current cleanup and Page Lock rules.
After the reset, review Global Audience and rebuild the rules you still need.
Factory Reset
Use Factory Reset when you intentionally want to discard the existing DAC configuration and start again from a clean default state.
Factory Reset removes:
- All DAC profiles.
- All cleanup rules.
- All Page Lock rules.
- Audit Log data.
DAC then creates a new clean default profile.
The WordPress user performing the Factory Reset becomes the new Owner.
DAC also generates a new Recovery URL.
The new Recovery URL is displayed only once, so save it securely before leaving the confirmation result.
Factory Reset Changes Recovery Information
Factory Reset does not preserve the existing Recovery URL.
A new Recovery URL is generated as part of the reset process.
Because the new recovery information is shown only once:
- Copy it immediately.
- Store it somewhere secure outside WordPress.
- Do not publish or share it unnecessarily.
If you leave the screen without saving it, do not assume that the same recovery information can be displayed again later.
Who Can Run Factory Reset
Factory Reset has stricter access requirements than a normal configuration action.
It can only be performed by:
- The current DAC Owner, or
- An administrator using global Safe Mode through
DRAN_AC_SAFE_MODE.
Having manage_options by itself does not automatically make a normal administrator eligible to perform Factory Reset.
This protects the complete DAC configuration from being erased by other administrative users who are not the Owner.
Factory Reset Confirmation
Factory Reset also requires explicit confirmation.
You must type:
RESET
before DAC performs the operation.
This confirmation is intended to reduce accidental destructive actions.
Factory Reset should only be used when you genuinely want to discard the existing DAC configuration and rebuild it.
Reset Rules vs. Factory Reset
| Reset Rules | Factory Reset | |
|---|---|---|
| Removes cleanup rules | Yes | Yes |
| Removes Page Lock rules | Yes | Yes |
| Global Audience becomes Everyone | Yes | Recreated with new default profile |
| Keeps cleanup settings | Yes | No, configuration is rebuilt |
| Keeps Owner | Yes | No |
| Keeps Managers | Yes | No |
| Keeps Recovery URL | Yes | No |
| Generates new Recovery URL | No | Yes |
| Keeps Audit Log | Yes | No |
| Deletes all profiles | No | Yes |
| Creates clean default profile | No | Yes |
| Current user becomes Owner | No | Yes |
Requires typing RESET |
Yes | Yes |
| Owner required | No special Factory Reset requirement | Yes, unless using DRAN_AC_SAFE_MODE |
The important distinction is:
Reset Rules → Clear the rules and keep the surrounding DAC setup.
Factory Reset → Discard the existing DAC setup and create a new clean starting state.
Before Using Reset Rules
Before resetting rules, consider exporting the current DAC configuration as JSON.
A useful workflow is:
Current configuration → Export JSON → Reset Rules → Rebuild or test new rules
If you later decide that the previous rules were better, the exported configuration gives you something you can restore.
Remember that DAC does not maintain an internal backup history.
The exported JSON file is your backup.
Before Using Factory Reset
Factory Reset is significantly more destructive.
Before running it:
- Export the current DAC configuration if you may need it later.
- Make sure you are intentionally discarding the existing profiles and rules.
- Confirm that you understand the Audit Log will be removed.
- Be prepared to save the newly generated Recovery URL immediately.
- Make sure the current WordPress account is the account you want DAC to assign as the new Owner.
Do not use Factory Reset as a routine troubleshooting step.
After Reset Rules
After Reset Rules completes:
- Confirm that Global Audience is now set to Everyone.
- Review the cleanup settings that were preserved.
- Recreate only the cleanup rules you actually need.
- Recreate Page Locks where appropriate.
- Test the affected WordPress accounts.
- Export a new JSON backup once the new configuration is stable.
Because Owner, Managers, Recovery URL, Safe Mode configuration, and cleanup settings are preserved, you do not need to rebuild the complete DAC management setup.
After Factory Reset
After Factory Reset:
- Confirm that the new default profile was created.
- Confirm that the current user is now the DAC Owner.
- Save the newly generated Recovery URL immediately.
- Configure Managers if required.
- Configure Global Audience.
- Rebuild the necessary cleanup rules.
- Recreate Page Locks where needed.
- Test affected users and important workflows.
- Export the finished configuration as a new JSON backup.
Treat the result as a new DAC configuration rather than a continuation of the previous one.
Reset Is Not a Recovery Mechanism
Do not use Reset Rules or Factory Reset as the first response to an access problem.
If DAC configuration prevents normal administrative access:
First: use the Recovery URL when possible.
If Recovery URL cannot solve the problem:
Then: use global Safe Mode through DRAN_AC_SAFE_MODE.
Once access is restored, correct the problematic rules directly.
Use Reset Rules only when clearing all rules is intentional.
Use Factory Reset only when starting over completely is intentional.
WordPress Content Is Not Removed
Reset Rules and Factory Reset operate on DAC configuration.
They do not delete normal WordPress website content such as posts, pages, media files, themes, or plugins.
However, Factory Reset does remove the DAC data described above, including profiles, rules, and Audit Log entries.
Continue using a normal WordPress backup solution for the website itself.
Recommended Approach
Use the least destructive action that solves the actual problem.
If only one DAC rule is incorrect, edit that rule.
If the complete ruleset is no longer useful but the DAC management setup should remain, use Reset Rules.
If you intentionally want to discard the entire DAC setup and create a clean default configuration, use Factory Reset.
Before either destructive action, exporting the current DAC configuration is a good precaution when you may want to restore it later.
Next Step
Continue with Backup & Restore to learn how to export DAC configuration as JSON and restore an exported configuration when needed.