Maintaining a streamlined and current website can often lead to the need to remove outdated or irrelevant content. If you’re managing a site using WordPress, the ability to delete pages is a straightforward procedure.
It’s a practical skill to have as you reorganise your site, particularly if you’re undergoing a rebrand or attempting to keep your domain’s presentation crisp and relevant.
When executing changes to your website, it’s not just about adding; sometimes, subtraction is just as vital. Whether it’s for reasons of security, to protect sensitive information, or to keep your visitors engaged with up-to-date content, knowing how to effectively manage your site’s pages is essential.
This guide is designed to educate you on how to delete pages in WordPress.
Key Takeaways
- Learn to efficiently manage your WordPress site by deleting unnecessary pages.
- Understand the steps to securely remove pages, safeguarding sensitive information.
- Discover how to recover pages should you need to restore previously deleted content.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source content management system designed to empower you to build and maintain your own website with ease. It’s a robust platform that does not call for in-depth knowledge of web development, opening up endless possibilities even for those new to website creation.
- User-friendly: Whether it’s a blog, business site, or digital store, WordPress provides the tools to craft a site that meets your needs.
- Flexibly dynamic: Through a vast selection of themes and plugins, you can add a personalised flair and functionality to your site.
- Community-driven: A vast network of developers and users actively collaborate, sharing insights and helping each other enhance their WordPress experience.
- Cost-effective: Being free grants you the freedom to experiment and extend your online presence without initial investment.
From setting up an engaging blog to creating a full-fledged company website with various pages, WordPress makes it straightforward for you.
Engage with a WordPress plugin to add specialized features, or tailor content management to make ‘My Site’ truly your own. Remember, WordPress is made to be user-centric, ensuring that your digital platform truly embodies your vision and objectives.
Deleting a WordPress Page
To remove a page from your site:
- Navigate to Pages on your WordPress interface.
- Tick the checkbox next to the page title.
- Press the Move to Trash button to shift the page to the trash area.
To delete multiple pages:
- Utilise the Bulk Actions dropdown.
- Select Move to Trash.
- Click Apply.
For a permanent deletion:
- Click the Trash link at the top of All Pages.
- Locate the page’s permalink.
- Choose Delete Permanently to erase it completely.
Restoring Vanished WordPress Pages
To recover a deleted WordPress page, you may:
- Click Restore in the Trash section to return the page to your site.
- Revert to a previous backup version to reinstate the missing page.
Proactively prevent 404 errors and maintain SEO by immediately redirecting to active content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Excluding Pages from Your WordPress Menu
If you want to prevent a page from appearing in your WordPress menu, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Appearance section in your dashboard.
- Select Menus.
- Find the page you wish to exclude.
- Remove it by deselecting the checkbox or clicking ‘Remove’ if it’s already in your menu structure.
Deleting a WordPress Page Permanently
To permanently delete a page, do the following:
- Go to Pages in your WordPress dashboard.
- Hover over the page you want to remove.
- Select ‘Trash’.
- Then, to permanently delete it, click on the ‘Trash’ link at the top of the page list.
- Locate your page and click ‘Delete Permanently’.
Hiding a Page in WordPress Without Deletion
You can hide a page without permanently deleting it by changing its visibility. Here’s how:
- Edit the page.
- Locate the ‘Publish’ panel.
- Click on ‘Edit’ next to ‘Visibility’.
- Select ‘Private’.
- Then, update the page to hide it from public view.
Removing Unwanted WordPress Pages
To eliminate undesired pages from your WordPress site, simply follow these steps:
- Click on ‘All Pages’.
- Click ‘Trash’ beneath the page name you want to remove.
- Then, permanently delete it from the ‘Trash’ area if necessary.
Unpublishing a Page in WordPress
You can unpublish a WordPress page by doing the following:
- Edit the page.
- Click on the ‘Edit’ link next to the ‘Status’ within the ‘Publish’ box.
- Change the status to ‘Draft’.
- Then, click the ‘OK’ button followed by the ‘Update’ button.
Deleting Pages with Elementor in WordPress
When working with Elementor, first, open the page you wish to delete.
Click ‘Edit with Elementor’, then from the panel on the left-hand side, access the ‘Settings’ menu.
From there, choose ‘Actions’ and click ‘Delete’.
Confirm the deletion and the page will be removed.