Table of contents
Core WordPress files you can safely deleteUnused media files and revisionsWhy WordPress uses scheduled actionsCache and temporary filesBackup files stored on the serverDeleted plugin and theme remnantsAutomate space cleanup with scheduled tasksNext stepsAdditional resources
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WordPress Guide → Admin → Scheduled Actions

WordPress files to delete to clean up and regain space

Is your WordPress site running out of server space—or slowing down for no clear reason? You might be surprised by how many unnecessary files are hiding inside your installation. From leftover update files to bloated cache folders, there are plenty of things you can delete safely to make your site leaner and faster.

Let’s walk through which WordPress files you can remove without breaking your site, and how to clean them up the right way.

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Core WordPress files you can safely delete

WordPress core comes with a few files that aren’t essential once your site is set up. Over time, you may also accumulate old installation- or update-leftovers. Here’s what you can delete and how.

Step 1: Log in to your hosting file manager or use FTP

To delete core files, you’ll need access to your site’s root directory. You can do this one of two ways:

  • Via cPanel or hosting file manager: Go to your hosting dashboard and open the File Manager. Navigate to the public_html or root folder.
  • Via FTP/SFTP: Use an FTP client like FileZilla. Connect using your FTP credentials, and locate your WordPress installation folder.

Step 2: Locate and remove unneeded core files

Look for these specific files in your root directory:

  • readme.html – This file comes with every WordPress install and serves no functional purpose. It can also reveal your WordPress version to hackers.
  • license.txt – Contains the GPL license for WordPress. You don’t need it for your site to work.
  • wp-config-sample.php – A sample configuration file. Once your site is installed, this is no longer needed.
  • install.php – Used during manual installation, but unnecessary after setup.
  • Old .zip or .tar.gz files – These might be leftover from updates or manual uploads

To delete: Right-click each file in the file manager or FTP interface and select Delete. If you’re unsure about a file, always back it up before deleting.

Step 3: Remove unused default themes

If you’re using a custom or premium theme, you don’t need all the default WordPress themes like Twenty Twenty-One, Twenty Nineteen, etc.

  1. Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Identify themes you aren’t using.
  3. Click on each one and choose Delete in the bottom right corner.

Keep just your active theme and possibly one default theme as a fallback.

Step 4: Remove unused plugins

Inactive plugins can still take up space and introduce security vulnerabilities.

  1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
  2. Deactivate any plugin you no longer use.
  3. Once deactivated, click Delete underneath the plugin name.

Unused media files and revisions

Images and files you no longer use can build up quickly—especially if you experiment with layouts or frequently change images.

Step 1: Scan for orphaned media files

Orphaned files are ones that exist in your /wp-content/uploads/ folder but aren’t attached to any page or post.

Use the Media Cleaner plugin to detect these:

  1. Install and activate Media Cleaner.
  2. Go to Media > Cleaner in your dashboard.
  3. Click Scan. The plugin will show a list of files it thinks are unused.
  4. Manually review the list. If it looks good, click Delete or Trash.

Tip: Always enable “Test Mode” first so you can preview what’s being deleted.

Step 2: Delete old post revisions

WordPress stores every revision of a post or page, which clutters your database over time.

Use WP-Optimize to delete them:

  1. Install and activate WP-Optimize.
  2. Go to WP-Optimize > Database.
  3. Check the box for Clean all post revisions.
  4. Click Run Optimization.

Alternatively, if you’re comfortable with phpMyAdmin or have database access, run this SQL query:

DELETE FROM wp_posts WHERE post_type = "revision";

Cache and temporary files

Caching plugins and themes often create temporary files to help your site load faster. These files can accumulate over time and should be cleaned regularly.

Step 1: Clear plugin-generated cache

If you’re using a caching plugin, clear the cache from its settings panel:

  • WP Super Cache: Go to Settings > WP Super Cache > Delete Cache.
  • W3 Total Cache: Go to Performance > Dashboard > Empty All Caches.
  • LiteSpeed Cache: Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Toolbox > Purge All.

To manually remove cached files:

  1. Connect to your site via FTP or file manager.
  2. Navigate to /wp-content/cache/.
  3. Right-click and delete the contents (but not the folder itself).

Step 2: Remove temp and session files

Some plugins generate .tmp, .log, or .bak files. These may be located in:

  • /wp-content/uploads/
  • /tmp/ (if your host gives you access)
  • Plugin folders under /wp-content/plugins/

Sort folders by size to see if anything is unusually large. Download and inspect any file if you’re unsure before deleting.

Backup files stored on the server

While backups are critical, storing too many on your server wastes disk space and creates security risks.

Step 1: Identify backup folders

Backup plugins often store files in these locations:

  • /wp-content/backups/
  • /wp-content/updraft/ (for UpdraftPlus)
  • /wp-content/ai1wm-backups/ (for All-in-One WP Migration)
  • Custom folders named after plugins

Use your file manager or FTP to check the sizes of these folders.

Step 2: Download and delete old backups

If you find multiple backups:

  1. Download any that you want to keep locally.
  2. Right-click and delete older versions via file manager or FTP.

You can also configure your backup plugin to store backups in the cloud (like Google Drive or Dropbox) and automatically delete old backups.

Deleted plugin and theme remnants

Even when you delete a plugin or theme, it might leave files or database entries behind.

Step 1: Manually check for leftover folders

  1. Open /wp-content/plugins/ and /wp-content/themes/.
  2. If you see folders for plugins or themes you’ve deleted, right-click and delete them.

Step 2: Clean up your database

Use Advanced Database Cleaner to remove orphaned data:

  1. Install and activate the plugin.
  2. Go to WP DB Cleaner > Tables and look for any orphaned or unused entries.
  3. Select and delete them cautiously.

Always back up your database before performing any cleanup.

Automate space cleanup with scheduled tasks

To keep your WordPress site tidy without doing it manually every month, set up automated maintenance tasks.

Set up WP-Cron for cleanups

If you use plugins like WP-Optimize or Media Cleaner:

  1. Go to each plugin’s settings panel.
  2. Look for scheduling or automation options.
  3. Set weekly or monthly cleanups for revisions, database tables, and media.

For more reliability, consider disabling WP-Cron and setting up a real server cron job via cPanel or your host’s dashboard.

Create recurring cache purges

If you’re using LiteSpeed Cache:

  1. Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Settings > Purge.
  2. Enable Scheduled Purge Time and choose how often it should run.
  3. Save changes.

This ensures that cache doesn’t build up and take over your storage.

Additional resources

How to use your WordPress admin login page →

How to find, use, and troubleshoot your admin page

How to add a login button to your WordPress homepage →

Learn how to add a login button to your WordPress site for easy user access and navigation.










Easy WordPress website maintenance tips →

7 simple steps to keep on regular rotation