{"id":705,"date":"2016-12-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.hostinger.io\/hostinger-tutorials\/uncategorized\/wordpresshow-to-delete-wordpress\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T09:31:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:31:26","slug":"how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site","title":{"rendered":"How to delete a WordPress site (WordPress.com and WordPress.org)"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p>You can delete a WordPress site permanently by <strong>removing it from your WordPress.com account or uninstalling the software from your self-hosted WordPress.org instance<\/strong>.<\/p><p>The process is simple, but it&rsquo;s crucial to understand the difference between the two platforms and the options you have before you begin.<\/p><p>WordPress.com is a hosted service where the platform manages the technical aspects for you. In contrast, WordPress.org is self-hosted, meaning you install the software on your own hosting account, giving you full control over configuration and customization.<\/p><p>Depending on the platform and your goals, you can use the following deletion or unpublishing methods:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>WordPress.com steps<\/strong>. Remove the site directly through the platform&rsquo;s settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manual deletion<\/strong>. Erase the WordPress files and database from your hosting provider&rsquo;s server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hosting auto-installer<\/strong>. Use a control panel tool for a simplified, one-click removal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unpublishing options<\/strong>. Make the site private or activate maintenance mode as an alternative to deletion.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-delete-a-wordpress-com-site\">How to delete a WordPress.com site<\/h2><p>You can delete a WordPress.com site <strong>from the Site Settings menu in the Jetpack\/WordPress.com mobile app or under Settings if you&rsquo;re logged into your WordPress.com account in a web browser<\/strong>.<\/p><p>This action is permanent &ndash; it will erase all your content, and the site address can&rsquo;t be reused.<\/p><p><strong>From the Jetpack or WordPress.com app<\/strong><\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open the Jetpack or WordPress.com app on your device.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tap <strong>My Site<\/strong> and choose the specific site you want to remove (if you own more than one).<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210530d114\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/jetpack-my-site-highlighted-498x1024.png\" alt='Jetpack app interface with the \"My Site\" option highlighted in the menu.' class=\"wp-image-134913\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tap <strong>More &rarr; Site Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scroll to the bottom of the menu and tap <strong>Delete site<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e2105314f32\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/jetpack-site-title-delete-site-highlighted-498x1024.jpg\" alt='Jetpack app Site Settings screen with the \"Delete Site\" option highlighted.' class=\"wp-image-134914\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Confirm the action to permanently delete the site.<\/li>\n<\/ol><p><strong>From a web browser<\/strong><\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <strong>WordPress.com<\/strong> and log in with your account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From the dashboard, click the <strong>WordPress icon<\/strong> in the top-left corner <strong>&rarr; Sites<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under your site&rsquo;s thumbnail, click the <strong>ellipsis (&#8942;) menu <strong>&rarr;<\/strong> Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210531a6e8\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"471\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/wordpress-com-sites-settings-selected-471x1024.png\" alt='WordPress.com dashboard showing the \"Sites\" and \"Settings\" options highlighted.' class=\"wp-image-134915\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scroll down to the <strong>Delete site<\/strong> option and select it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As final confirmation, type your site&rsquo;s address into the text field and click <strong>Delete this site<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210531f1b4\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"992\" height=\"882\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/wordpress-com-delete-site.png\" alt='WordPress.com site settings page with the \"Delete site\" button visible at the bottom.' class=\"wp-image-134916\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-delete-a-self-hosted-wordpress-wordpress-org-site\">How to delete a self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) site<\/h2><p>To delete a <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/what-is-wordpress\">self-hosted WordPress<\/a> site, you must <strong>manually remove the website files from your hosting account using a File Manager or FTP client. Then, delete the associated database with a tool like phpMyAdmin<\/strong>.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-back-up-your-site-first\">1. Back up your site first<\/h3><p>Backing up your site before deleting it is a critical safety step. If you change your mind or make a mistake, you can fully restore your site from the backup.<\/p><p>To <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/backup-wordpress\">back up your WordPress site<\/a>, you have three main options:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use a plugin<\/strong>. Install a backup plugin like <strong>UpdraftPlus<\/strong> to schedule and store backups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do it manually<\/strong>. Download your site files with an <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/filezilla-ftp-configuration\">FTP client like FileZilla<\/a> and export the database using <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use hosting tools<\/strong>. Many hosting providers include built-in backup tools that automatically save your files and database.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-delete-wordpress-files-file-manager-or-ftp\">2. Delete WordPress files (File Manager or FTP)<\/h3><p>Your core WordPress files usually sit in your hosting account&rsquo;s <strong>public_html<\/strong> directory. You can delete them using either your host&rsquo;s File Manager or an FTP client.<\/p><p>Here&rsquo;s how to do it with File Manager:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your host&rsquo;s control panel and open the <strong>File Manager<\/strong> app.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210532665e\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/cloudpanel-file-manager-selected-1024x498.png\" alt=\"Host control panel interface with File Manager option highlighted.\" class=\"wp-image-134917\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Navigate to your site&rsquo;s root directory, typically <strong>public_html<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open the <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-config-php\">wp-config.php<\/a> file and find the line that says:<\/li>\n<\/ol><pre class=\"EnlighterJSRAW\" data-enlighter-language=\"generic\" data-enlighter-theme=\"\" data-enlighter-highlight=\"\" data-enlighter-linenumbers=\"\" data-enlighter-lineoffset=\"\" data-enlighter-title=\"\" data-enlighter-group=\"\">define( 'DB_NAME', 'your_database_name' );<\/pre><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e2105327f5d\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"457\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/cloudpanel-file-manager-wp-config-php-db-name-highlighted-1024x457.png\" alt=\"File Manager showing wp-config.php file with the database name highlighted.\" class=\"wp-image-134918\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Note down the database name, as you&rsquo;ll need it to delete the database later. Then close the file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select all files and folders within the <strong>public_html<\/strong> directory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the <strong>Delete<\/strong> function to permanently remove them. Be careful not to delete unrelated files if you host multiple sites or apps in the same directory.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e21053298f1\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"630\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/cloudpanel-file-manager-public-html-delete-highlighted-1024x630.png\" alt=\"File Manager with all files inside the public_html directory selected for deletion.\" class=\"wp-image-134919\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-delete-the-wordpress-database\">3. Delete the WordPress database<\/h3><p>Deleting your site&rsquo;s files doesn&rsquo;t remove its database, which stores all your content, settings, and user information.<\/p><p>Follow these steps to delete the associated <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/wordpress-database\">WordPress database<\/a>:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access your hosting control panel and open the database management tool, whether <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong>, <strong>MySQL Databases<\/strong>, or a proprietary tool provided by your host.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locate the database name you noted earlier in <strong>wp-config.php<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select the database and choose the <strong>Delete<\/strong> or <strong>Drop<\/strong> option to permanently remove it.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210532d9ea\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"501\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/cloudpanel-databases-delete-highlighted-1024x501.png\" alt=\"Hosting control panel showing database list with the delete option highlighted.\" class=\"wp-image-134920\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-temporarily-disable-or-unpublish-a-wordpress-site\">How to temporarily disable or unpublish a WordPress site<\/h2><p>To temporarily disable or unpublish a WordPress site, you can <strong>install a maintenance mode plugin like LightStart, make your site private from the WordPress.com dashboard, or redirect your domain to a different URL<\/strong>.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use a maintenance mode plugin<\/strong>. Enable <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/wordpress-maintenance-mode\">WordPress maintenance mode<\/a> on your self-hosted site by installing a plugin like <strong>LightStart<\/strong>. Once activated, choose a maintenance page template and customize it. When finished, the plugin displays the maintenance page to visitors while you still have full administrator access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make your site private<\/strong>. For WordPress.com users, the platform has a built-in feature. In a web browser, go to <strong>Settings &rarr; Site visibility &rarr; Coming soon<\/strong>. Meanwhile in the mobile app, navigate to <strong>Site Settings &rarr; Privacy &rarr; Private<\/strong>. This setting makes the site visible only to you until you&rsquo;re ready to publish again.<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210533119b\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/wordpress-com-settings-coming-soon-selected-1024x573.png\" alt=\"WordPress.com site settings page with the &ldquo;Coming soon&rdquo; visibility option selected.\" class=\"wp-image-134922\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Redirect your domain<\/strong>. You can temporarily <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-redirect-a-domain\">redirect your domain<\/a> to send visitors to another URL, such as a social media profile or a landing page. Log in to your domain registrar, open the <strong>DNS<\/strong> or <strong>Domain Forwarding<\/strong> settings, and enter the new destination URL.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site-on-hostinger\">How to delete a WordPress site on Hostinger<\/h2><p>For Hostinger users, you can delete it through our custom control panel, hPanel, either with the Auto Installer feature or by manually deleting your website files and database.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-delete-via-auto-installer\">Delete via Auto Installer<\/h3><p>The easiest way to remove a WordPress installation on Hostinger is by using the Auto Installer feature.<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to <strong>hPanel<\/strong> with your Hostinger account and navigate to <strong>Websites &rarr; Website list<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Dashboard<\/strong> next to the website you want to delete.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e21053353b4\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"308\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/hpanel-websites-dashboard-highlighted-1024x308.png\" alt=\"hPanel Websites section with the Dashboard button highlighted next to a site.\" class=\"wp-image-134925\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From the left sidebar of your dashboard, go to <strong>Website &rarr; Auto Installer<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the <strong>three-dot menu<\/strong> next to your WordPress website URL and select <strong>Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e2105339041\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/hpanel-websites-website-auto-installer-delete-highlighted-1024x577.png\" alt=\"hPanel Auto Installer screen with the delete option highlighted for a WordPress site.\" class=\"wp-image-134926\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A confirmation window appears. Check the boxes to confirm you want to delete the application, files, and database, then click <strong>Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-delete-manually-in-hpanel-files-database\">Delete manually in hPanel (files + database)<\/h3><p>For more control, you can delete your WordPress website manually by removing all its files and the database.<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From your website&rsquo;s dashboard of hPanel, go to <strong>Files &rarr; File Manager &rarr; public_html<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open the <strong>wp-config.php<\/strong> file to find your database name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select all files and folders inside <strong>public_html<\/strong> and click the <strong>trash bin (Delete) icon<\/strong> on the top bar.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210533b564\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"379\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/hpanel-file-manager-public-html-delete-highlighted-1024x379.png\" alt=\"hPanel File Manager with all files in the public_html directory selected and the delete option highlighted.\" class=\"wp-image-134927\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Return to the website dashboard and select <strong>Databases &rarr; Management<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find the correct database in the list, click the <strong>three-dot menu &rarr; Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e210533cd7e\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"445\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/12\/hpanel-websites-databases-management-delete-highlighted-1024x445.png\" alt=\"hPanel Databases management screen with the delete option highlighted for a WordPress database.\" class=\"wp-image-134928\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"6\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the pop-up window, confirm the deletion.<\/li>\n<\/ol><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a class=\"hgr-tutorials-cta hgr-tutorials-cta-wordpress-hosting\" href=\"\/ca\/wordpress-hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/New-WP_in-text-banner-1024x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-111781\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-additional-considerations-when-deleting-your-site\">Additional considerations when deleting your site<\/h2><p>Before deleting your WordPress site, consider the following long-term effects:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>SEO consequences<\/strong>. Deleting your site causes it to be removed from search engine indexes like Google, and you lose all existing search rankings permanently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Removing cached versions from Google<\/strong>. Even after deletion, cached versions of your site may still appear in search results for some time. To speed up removal, use the <strong>Google Search Console Removals<\/strong> tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keeping or deleting your domain<\/strong>. Your domain name is registered separately from your hosting account. You can let it expire, sell it, or keep it for a future project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Internet Archive<\/strong>. The <strong>Wayback Machine<\/strong> may have archived snapshots of your website. To erase them, you must contact the Internet Archive directly with a removal request.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-to-do-after-deleting-your-wordpress-site\">What to do after deleting your WordPress site?<\/h2><p>After deleting your WordPress site, <strong>decide what to do with your domain name and how to prepare for a new project<\/strong>. Whether you plan to start over or move on, managing the transition properly is key to maintaining your online presence.<\/p><p>Here are the most common paths forward:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start fresh<\/strong>. If you&rsquo;re ready to build a new website, learn <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-install-wordpress\">how to install WordPress<\/a> on your hosting account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prioritize security<\/strong>. For your next project, follow our <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/wordpress-security-checklist\">WordPress security checklist<\/a> to protect your site from the beginning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Migrate your backed-up content<\/strong>. If you deleted your site after backing it up because you plan to move it, see our guide on <a href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-move-my-wordpress-to-a-new-domain\">how to move WordPress to a new domain<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>If you&rsquo;re building a new site, <a href=\"\/ca\/wordpress-hosting\">Hostinger&rsquo;s WordPress hosting service<\/a> provides a strong foundation. Our plans include helpful features like one-click WordPress installation, automatic updates, free SSL certificates, and 24\/7 expert support to help you succeed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can delete a WordPress site permanently by removing it from your WordPress.com account or uninstalling the software from your self-hosted WordPress.org instance. The process is simple, but it&rsquo;s crucial to understand the difference between the two platforms and the options you have before you begin. WordPress.com is a hosted service where the platform manages [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":140141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"How to delete a WordPress site (WordPress.com vs .org)","rank_math_description":"Learn how to delete a WordPress.org or WordPress.com site. We also cover unpublishing or disabling your site temporarily.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"how to delete a wordpress site","footnotes":""},"categories":[22694,22692],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-website-management","category-wordpress"],"hreflangs":[{"locale":"en-US","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site","default":0},{"locale":"pt-BR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/br\/tutoriais\/como-desinstalar-o-wordpress","default":0},{"locale":"en-UK","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/uk\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-wordpress","default":0},{"locale":"en-MY","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/my\/tutorials\/wordpress\/how-to-delete-wordpress","default":0},{"locale":"en-PH","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ph\/tutorials\/wordpress\/how-to-delete-wordpress","default":0},{"locale":"pt-PT","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/pt\/tutoriais\/como-desinstalar-o-wordpress","default":0},{"locale":"en-IN","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-wordpress","default":0},{"locale":"en-CA","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site","default":0},{"locale":"en-AU","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/au\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site","default":0},{"locale":"en-NG","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/how-to-delete-a-wordpress-site","default":0}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=705"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140140,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions\/140140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}