Global Settings

Global settings affect the entire plugin, not individual modules. You’ll find them by clicking Settings in the dashboard header.

License Management#

At the top, you’ll see your license status:

• License Key — the key currently in use
• Status — Licensed or Unlicensed
• Deactivate — release this activation slot

If you need to move Switchboard to a different site, deactivate here first, then activate on the new site.

Beta Mode#

Some modules are marked as experimental. By default, these are hidden. Enable beta mode to see and use them.

Should you enable it?

If you’re comfortable being an early tester and can handle occasional rough edges, go for it. Beta modules work, but they might change significantly based on feedback.

On client sites? Probably best to leave this off.

Data Management#

This is where you control what happens to module data.

Viewing Data#

Click Scan Data to see exactly what Switchboard has stored:

• Database options (settings)
• Custom tables (for modules like forms or analytics)
• Post meta (data attached to posts)
• User meta (data attached to users)

You’ll see which module created each piece of data and how much space it uses.

Cleaning Up Inactive Module Data#

Have modules you used to use but disabled? Their data might still be sitting in your database.

Click Clear Inactive Data to remove data from disabled modules only. Active module data stays untouched.

This is safe to run. If you re-enable a module later, it’ll just start fresh with default settings.

Nuclear Option: Clear All Data#

Clear All Data removes everything Switchboard has ever stored. Every module’s settings, every custom table, everything.

You’d only use this if you’re:

• Completely removing Switchboard
• Starting over from scratch
• Debugging a weird issue

This can’t be undone. The button asks you to confirm, twice.

Export & Import#

Exporting Your Setup#

Click Export Configuration to download a file containing:

• Which modules are enabled
• All module settings
• Your current preferences

The file is named something like switchboard-config-2025-01-15.switchboard.

Importing a Setup#

Have a configuration file from another site (or a backup)?

1. Click Import Configuration
2. Select your .switchboard file
3. Review what will be imported
4. Confirm

This overwrites your current setup, so export first if you want to keep it.

Use Cases for Export/Import#

Agency workflow — set up Switchboard once the way you like it, export, import on every new client site.

Staging to production — configure on staging, export, import on live site.

Backup before experiments — export, try something, import to restore if needed.

Telemetry#

We collect anonymous usage data to understand which modules are popular and how people use Switchboard. This helps us prioritize what to improve.

What we collect:

• Which modules are enabled (not your settings, just on/off)
• WordPress version
• PHP version
• No personal data, no content, no URLs

Don’t want to participate?

Toggle off “Send anonymous usage data” and we won’t collect anything. Switchboard works exactly the same either way.

Feedback Button#

In the bottom corner of the dashboard, there’s a feedback button. Use it to:

• Report bugs
• Suggest features
• Ask questions

If you find it distracting, you can hide it in Global Settings.

Next: Learn how to keep Switchboard current with the Updating guide.