---
url: /gst-manager-acellemail/uninstalling.md
description: >-
  Turn GST Manager off reversibly, or remove it and its data completely — what
  deactivation keeps, what deletion drops, and why the one-time core patches can
  stay in place.
---

# Uninstalling

GST Manager can be turned off in two ways. **Deactivating** is a safe, reversible pause that keeps
all your data. **Deleting** removes the plugin and its data for good. This page explains what each
one does so you can pick the right one and back up first when it matters.

## Deactivate (reversible)

To pause GST Manager without losing anything, go to **Admin → Plugins** and press **Deactivate**.

This keeps all your data, so you can reactivate later and pick up where you left off. While
deactivated:

* The **GST Manager** entry disappears from the AcelleMail sidebar.
* AcelleMail reverts to its **stock invoice PDF** — your GST-aware PDF and the `{Bank_Details}` tag
  behaviour stop automatically.

Reactivate the plugin at any time to bring the GST admin surface and the GST invoice PDF back.

::: tip Deactivate before you delete
If you're unsure, deactivate first. It undoes the visible changes without touching your GST data,
so you can confirm everything behaves as expected before deciding whether to remove anything.
:::

## Remove all data (irreversible)

To remove GST Manager completely, use **Delete** in **Admin → Plugins**. This removes the plugin
files **and drops the plugin's database tables**:

* `gstmgr_config`
* `gstmgr_export_invoices`
* `gstmgr_template_sync_log`
* `gstmgr_checksums`

::: danger Back up first
Deleting is **irreversible**. Your GST settings, export-invoice numbers, sync log, and integrity
baseline are all removed with these tables. Take a backup before you delete — see
[Backup and restore](/gst-manager-acellemail/backup-and-restore).
:::

## The core patches stay in place

The one-time **core hook points** you applied during
[installation](/gst-manager-acellemail/installation) stay in place after you remove the plugin.
That is fine — with the plugin gone they are **harmless** and do nothing on their own. There is no
need to reverse them.

## Related pages

* [Backup and restore](/gst-manager-acellemail/backup-and-restore)
* [Installation](/gst-manager-acellemail/installation)
* [Licensing](/gst-manager-acellemail/licensing)
* [Troubleshooting](/gst-manager-acellemail/troubleshooting)