How To Delete WordPress Site

Sometimes, your website might not fit your needs anymore. Maybe you made a personal blog years ago but don’t use it, or created a test site you no longer need.

Sometimes a business closes down, and there’s no point keeping its website online.

Deleting a WordPress site sounds simple, but it’s actually a bit tricky. There’s a big difference between deleting a WordPress.com blog and a self-hosted WordPress.org website.

I’ve also seen people make big mistakes when deleting their sites, like not making backups first or not knowing about other options.

This easy, step-by-step guide will show you how to safely delete your WordPress.com or WordPress.org site, what to do before you delete it, and what other choices you have if you’re not sure about removing it completely.

Why Would You Want To Delete A WordPress Site?

There are a few reasons why someone might want to delete their WordPress site:

• Starting Fresh: Maybe you want to build a brand-new website and don’t need the old one anymore.
• Saving Money: Running a website can cost money, so deleting one you don’t use can help you cut costs.
• Old or Unhelpful Content: If your website is outdated or no longer useful, it might make sense to remove it.

Before you delete your site, think carefully about why you’re doing it. This will help you decide if deleting it is really the best move for your online presence.

WordPress.com Or WordPress.org: Which One Are You Using?

No matter why you want to take your website offline, the first thing to do is figure out which version of WordPress you’re using.

There are two main kinds:

• WordPress.org: This is free software that powers more than 43% of all websites. It’s called self-hosted because you have to buy your own domain name and hosting to use it.
• WordPress.com: This is a hosting service that uses the WordPress.org software but handles all the setup and technical stuff for you. Your website lives on their servers.

If you’re not sure which one you have, here’s how to check:

• Look at your website’s address.
  • If it ends with .wordpress.com (like myblog.wordpress.com), you’re using WordPress.com.
  • If it has a custom domain (like mycoolsite.com), you’re probably using WordPress.org, though some paid WordPress.com plans can also have custom domains.

You can also check from your WordPress dashboard:

• Hover over the WordPress logo in the top-left corner.
  • If you see options like About WordPress, Get Involved, or WordPress.org, you’re likely using WordPress.org.
• Or look for an Upgrade tab in your menu.
  • If you find it and see different plan options, you’re definitely on WordPress.com.
  • If you don’t see it, then you’re most likely on WordPress.org.

How To Delete Your WordPress.org Website

Using a self-hosted WordPress site? Here’s how you can delete your WordPress.org blog or website.

Step 1: Backup Your WordPress Site Files And Database

Even if you’re sure you want to delete your WordPress site, it’s still really important to make a backup first.

You might want to delete your site now, but what if you change your mind a few months later? Having a backup means you’ll still have all your content and data if you ever need it again.

A WordPress site has two main parts you’ll need to save:

• Files: These include your themes, plugins, images, and other website assets.
• Database: This stores your posts, pages, comments, and settings.

Make sure you save your backup somewhere safe, like on your computer or in a cloud storage service.

You can back up your site using a plugin (the easy way), or if you’re good with technology, you can do it manually.

Let’s go over both methods step by step.

Method 1: Backup Your Site Using Backup Plugins

There are lots of WordPress backup plugins you can use to make this job easy. These plugins help you protect your website data without needing to do any complicated tech work.

They automatically create backups for you, so you don’t have to remember to do it yourself.

Make sure you back up both your WordPress files and your database. That way, you’ll have everything; your content, themes, plugins, and settings.

Most backup plugins let you save your backups on your website’s server, but it’s safer to keep a copy somewhere else, like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.

Method 2: Backup Your Site Manually Using cPanel

cPanel is like the main control panel for your website. It makes it easy to manually back up your WordPress site.

Here’s how to do it step by step:

• Step 1: Log in to your website’s hosting account and open the cPanel dashboard. Then click on File Manager.
• Step 2: In the File Manager, find the folder called public_html and open it.
• Step 3: You’ll see all your website files. Click Select All, then right-click and choose Compress.
• Step 4: A box will pop up. Choose Zip Archive, then click Compress Files. This will create a zip file with all your website files. You can rename it if you want, then download it and save it safely on your computer.

Step 2: Delete Your Site Files

Once you’ve safely backed up your WordPress site, it’s time to delete it. Remember, your WordPress site has two main parts: the files and the database.

Let’s start by deleting the files first.

You’ll use cPanel again, which you can open by logging into your website hosting account.

• Step 1: In the cPanel dashboard, click on File Manager.
• Step 2: In File Manager, find the public_html folder. Inside it, you’ll see all your website files. Click Select All, then click Delete.

That’s it, your WordPress website files are now deleted.

Step 3: Delete WordPress Database

Deleting the database is just as important as deleting your website files because it holds all your important information, like posts, pages, user accounts, and settings.

Here’s how to delete your website’s database using cPanel:

• Step 1: In your cPanel dashboard, click on phpMyAdmin. This will open the phpMyAdmin panel where your database is stored.
• Step 2: You’ll see your website’s database listed there. Click on Structure, then check the box that says Check All. After that, open the drop-down menu and choose Drop to delete the database.

Step 4: Delete Domain And Terminate Hosting

Once you’ve deleted your WordPress files and database, the next step is to delete your domain. This step is what takes your website completely offline, meaning no one can visit it anymore.

You can delete your domain using cPanel too. Here’s how:

• Step 1: Log in to your hosting account and open cPanel. This time, go to the Domains section and click on Domains.
• Step 2: You’ll see a list of all your domains. Find your domain name and click Manage next to it.
• Step 3: In the manage section, click Remove Domain. Once you do that, your domain will be deleted.

However, if you search your domain name on Google, it might still appear for a while. Don’t worry! That’s normal. Google sometimes keeps showing old pages until it updates its system and sees that your site is gone.

To make this happen faster, you can follow the next steps to remove your content from search engines.

Step 5: Delete Site Content From Search Engine

Like we mentioned before, search engines might still show your old web pages in their results even after you delete your site. To completely remove your website from the internet, you’ll need to take care of this too.

Method 1: Remove URLs Using Google Search Console (Temporarily)

To remove your website’s links (URLs) from Google search results, you’ll need access to Google Search Console, and your site must already be added there.

Here’s how to do it:

• Step 1: Go to Google Search Console.
• Step 2: On the left side of the dashboard, click on Removals.
• Step 3: Click the New Request button. A box will pop up.
• Step 4: Type in the URL you want Google to remove, then click Next.

Google will remove that URL from search results, (including saved (cached) versions) for about six months.

Method 2: Prevent Search Engines To Index Your Site

The easiest way to stop your website from showing up in search results is to tell search engines not to index it. Here’s how you can do that:

• Step 1: Go to your WordPress Dashboard, then click on Settings > Reading.
• Step 2: Under Reading, find the option called Search Engine Visibility. Check the box that says “Discourage search engines from indexing this site.”

Make sure the box stays checked, this tells search engines not to show your website in their search results.

Step 6: Delete The Site From Web Archives

You’re almost done deleting your WordPress site!

Sometimes, websites like the Wayback Machine keep old copies (snapshots) of websites to show what they looked like in the past.

Go to the Wayback Machine and type your website’s URL into the search box. If your site appears, you’ll see a calendar showing all the saved versions of your website.

To remove your site from their archive, send them an email and ask them to delete your website from their records.

Congratulations, your website is now completely gone from the internet!

Optional: Restore Your WordPress.org Website

Sometimes, you might change your mind and want to bring your WordPress website back.

You might even just want to restore it for a little while to grab something from it, like a blog post you want to use on a new site.

If you made a full backup before deleting your site, then restoring it is super easy. You can get your whole WordPress.org site back with just a few clicks.

Didn’t make a backup? Don’t worry, some hosting companies keep deleted files for a short time. Try contacting them to see if they can help you recover your old content.

But remember, this isn’t always possible. That’s why it’s really important to make a full backup (using a plugin like Duplicator) before deleting your website.

How To Delete Your WordPress.com Blog

Are you using WordPress.com? Here’s how you can permanently delete your blog and remove it from the internet.

Step 1: Back Up Your Blog

Even if you’re sure you want to delete your blog forever, it’s still a good idea to make a backup first. This way, if you change your mind later, you can bring your blog back.

You might also want to reuse old content (like posts, pictures, or designs) for a new project. Or maybe someone you worked with will ask for something they helped create.

Having a backup means you can easily find and use your old content again without having to start over from scratch. If you don’t back it up, everything will be gone for good.

There’s no single button to download everything on WordPress.com, but you can export your content to save it.

Here’s how:

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard and click Tools > Export.
2. You’ll see a list of things you can export, like posts, pages, images, and comments.
3. To back up everything, choose “All content.”
4. WordPress will make one file (an XML file) that includes your posts, pages, comments, and other text. If you have a paid plan, you might also be able to download your media library separately.
5. If you only want to back up certain things, pick them one by one and download each separately.
6. When you’re ready, click “Download Export File.”

WordPress.com will then create your XML file. Save it somewhere safe, like on your computer or in cloud storage, so you’ll always have a copy of your work.

Step 2: Cancel Your Purchases

Does your blog have any active purchases, like a hosting plan or a domain name?

If it does, deleting your blog won’t automatically cancel them. That means you could still be charged for things you’re no longer using. It’s also harder to cancel these after your blog is gone.

So, it’s smart to cancel all purchases before deleting your blog. Even if you’re not sure you have any, it only takes a minute to check — and it could save you money later.

Here’s what to do:

1. Go to the Purchases page and log in to your WordPress.com account if asked.
2. You’ll see a list of all your active purchases.
3. Next to each one, click the three dots (⋯) and choose Manage Purchase.
4. Follow the steps on the screen to cancel it.

If it’s a domain name, you’ll usually see a button that says Cancel Subscription.

Repeat these steps for every active purchase connected to your WordPress.com blog.

Step 3: Delete Your WordPress.com Blog

Once you’ve backed up your blog and canceled any purchases, you’re ready to delete your WordPress.com site.

Keep in mind that deleting your blog isn’t permanent right away, you’ll have 30 days to change your mind. This gives you a little safety net in case you decide to bring it back.

Here’s how to delete your blog:

• Step 1: In your WordPress.com dashboard, click the WordPress logo in the top-left corner, then select Sites.
• Step 2: Find the site you want to delete, hover over it, and click the Overview icon.
• Step 3: Go to the Settings tab.
• Step 4: Scroll down to the Delete Site section and click the Delete button.

Before deleting, WordPress will give you one last chance to export your content. If you haven’t made a backup yet, this is the time to do it!

When you’re sure you want to continue, type your full site address into the box, then click Delete Site.

After that, your WordPress blog will be deleted. Anyone who visits your old site will see a message saying it’s been deleted by the author.

Step 4: Delete From Google

To remove your site from Google, follow the same steps used in steps 5 and 6 for deleting your WordPress.org site.

Optional: Restore Your WordPress.com Blog

Changed your mind and want your site back? Good news, you have 30 days to restore a deleted blog.

If it’s been less than 30 days, go to your Sites list (using the steps I mentioned earlier). Then:

1. Click the Filter button.
2. Choose Status from the menu.
3. In the dropdown, select Deleted.
4. Find the blog you want to bring back and click the three dots (⋯) next to it.
5. Click Restore.

WordPress.com will bring your site back online.

But if more than 30 days have passed, WordPress.com will have permanently deleted your blog.

Don’t worry, though, if you made a backup earlier, you can still use that to rebuild your site.

Here’s how:

1. In your new WordPress.com dashboard, go to Tools > Import.
2. Choose WordPress.
3. Click Import content only.
4. Upload the XML file you saved before.
5. Once it finishes uploading, click Import.

WordPress.com will automatically bring back your posts, pages, comments, and categories from your backup file.

What Are The Alternatives To Deleting Your WordPress Site?

Before you take the final step of deleting your WordPress site, think about some other options. Each one offers a different way to handle your situation, so you can choose what works best for you.

Make Your Site Private

Instead of deleting your site completely, you can make it private. This means only you (or people you choose) can see it. It’s a great choice if you just want to hide your site for a while or limit who can access it without deleting it forever.

Cancel Purchases To Revert To A Free Site

If your site uses a premium plan or any paid features, you can cancel them. This will switch your site back to the free version and make sure you don’t get charged again. It’s a good idea if you want to save money or make your online setup simpler.

Change Your Site’s Address

If you want to delete your site just because you don’t like your current domain name, there’s an easier way! You can simply change your site’s address instead. WordPress lets you update your domain name so your site gets a new identity, without losing any of your content. You can learn how to do that here.

Reset Your Site For A Fresh Start

Instead of deleting your site forever, you can reset it. This lets you start over with the same website address while clearing out all your old content, settings, and designs. It’s a good middle option if you want a fresh start without losing your whole site.

Transfer Your Site To Another WordPress.com Account

If you want to delete your site because someone else will be taking over, try transferring it to another WordPress.com account instead. This way, the new owner can manage it, and the site stays online with all its history and content.

Before you decide to delete anything, think about other ways to improve or update your site. You might be able to make the changes you want without losing important features or starting from scratch.

How To Delete A WordPress Site: Takeaway

Deleting a WordPress site is a big decision. People usually do it when they want a fresh start, are rebranding, or changing their online plans.

In this guide, we’ve gone over everything you need to know about deleting a WordPress site, both WordPress.org and WordPress.com, step by step.

From checking your backups to deleting files, databases, and hosting accounts, every part of the process needs careful attention. It’s not just about clicking a few buttons, it’s about making sure you do things the right way to protect your content and data.

While it might sound nice to have a simple “delete site” plugin, there isn’t one. Deleting a WordPress site has to be done manually to make sure nothing important is lost by mistake.

WordPress is always changing and improving, so keep an eye out for new tools and updates, but always be careful when doing something permanent.

Whether you’re saying goodbye to an old website or starting a brand-new one, take your time and follow each step carefully. Every choice you make helps shape your online story, and the internet will always have room for your next big idea.

If you need help deleting your old site or perhaps want to start something new, then 10am digital is here to help.

FAQ

Can I Recover My Site After Deleting It?

For WordPress.com users, whether you can get your deleted blog back depends on how long it’s been since you deleted it. WordPress.com keeps deleted sites for a short time before removing them completely.

If it’s still within that time, you can restore your blog yourself by going to your Sites list. If you made a backup before deleting it, you can also use that backup to bring your site back.

For WordPress.org users, it depends on your web hosting provider. Some hosts keep deleted websites for a short period, so it’s a good idea to check their help pages or contact their support team to see if they still have a copy of your site.

If your host doesn’t have one, you’ll need to use your own backup to restore your website.

How Permanent Is Site Deletion?

For WordPress.com sites, your deleted blog is gone for good after 30 days. But if you saved your content as an XML file, you can easily import it into any WordPress.com account later using the Import tool.

For WordPress.org sites, some hosting companies keep backups for a short time, but this depends on your host, so it’s not something you should count on.

The safest and smartest thing to do is always make a full backup before deleting your site. That way, if you ever change your mind, you can bring your website back quickly and easily.

How Long Does It Take For My Website To Disappear From Search Engines?

Search engines like Google might take a few weeks or even months to stop showing your deleted website in their results. This happens because Google saves copies of web pages and doesn’t check every site every day.

You can make the process faster by sending a removal request through Google Search Console.

Will Deleting My Website Affect My Domain Name?

Deleting your website doesn’t automatically cancel your domain name. You’ll need to either transfer it to a new provider or let it expire on its own.

If you use a custom domain, be extra careful, your domain will still stay active even after your website is deleted.

Can Other People Still See My Content Somewhere Online?

Yes, unfortunately. Websites like the Wayback Machine might have saved old copies of your blog posts, and some other sites might have copied your content too.

You can’t really control those copies, but don’t worry, they usually don’t get many visitors and will fade away over time.

Should I Redirect My Website Instead Of Deleting It?

If you’re switching to a new website or domain, it’s usually better to set up a site redirect instead of deleting your old one. This helps keep your spot in search results and makes it easier for visitors to find your new site.

But if you’re done blogging for good, then deleting your site might be the simpler choice.