How to delete your WordPress website and all its content

Deleting a WordPress site is a bit like pulling the power cord on a machine that somehow keeps humming anyway. You think, “This will be easy – just delete and done,” but WordPress has other ideas.

It isn’t just a matter of removing your posts and pages; you’re also dealing with databases, backups, and domain configurations that stubbornly cling to life. Meanwhile, search engines ensure that your half-deleted blog about artisanal bread from 2013 still shows up long after you’ve moved on.

We’re going to cut through the layers of WordPress bureaucracy, helping you dismantle your site with precision and finality. 

Learn why, in a world of endless digital clutter, the power to delete is as critical as the power to create.

Preparing to safely delete your WordPress site

Deleting a WordPress site demands careful preparation, especially because the steps for deleting a WordPress.com site differ from those for a WordPress.org site. 

We’ll walk you through both approaches to ensure you don’t accidentally lose data you might need later or leave behind vulnerabilities that could cause problems.

Before doing anything else, back up your site. Back everything up. Seriously, if you delete your site without a backup and later realize you need that one blog post from 2015, you’re out of luck.

For WordPress.org users, backing up includes your database, site files, themes, and plugins. Use a tool like Solid Backups, a cloud backup solution that offers straightforward site archiving and easy recovery options.

Better yet, host with a platform like Liquid Web, which offers free daily backups because they understand that people make mistakes.

If you’re on WordPress.com, the process is simpler but no less important. You can export your site’s content through the Tools > Export option in your dashboard, which will generate an XML file of your posts, pages, and media. Download and store this file securely before moving forward.

Next, you’ll need to make an inventory of your setup. Think of this as the “packing up your house before you move” stage.

For WordPress.org, list your plugins, themes, and any custom configurations. You don’t want to realize after the fact that you needed that obscure SEO plugin’s settings for your next project. 

WordPress.com users should take screenshots of custom theme tweaks, CSS, or widgets – anything you might want to replicate elsewhere.

Finally, disconnect third-party tools. Your site is probably tangled up in a web of integrations: analytics, marketing automation, maybe even some weird API you set up years ago and forgot about.

Disconnect these now, or risk them throwing errors into the void after your site is gone. Also, check for any recurring subscriptions tied to your site – there’s nothing worse than paying for a service that’s tracking traffic to a 404 page.

Deleting your WordPress.org site: Step-by-step guide

To delete a self-hosted WordPress site, use your hosting control panel to locate and delete the folder where WordPress and all related content is installed. 

The exact steps vary between hosting providers, but the general idea involves using the file manager to empty out the folder with your WordPress installation.

In cPanel, for example, you can find it by going to Tools > Files > File Manager.

From here, find and open the public_html folder, click Select All at the top, then click Delete to clear the folder.

You can also go through SFTP to access and clear out the public_html folder if you have the login credentials for your hosting backend. These login details usually differ from your WordPress login details, so you should contact your host to confirm if you’re unsure.

How to delete a WordPress.com website

To delete a WordPress site managed by WordPress.com, you’ll need to go to Settings > General from your dashboard, scroll down until you find Delete your site permanently, click on it, and then follow the instructions.

If you’d previously changed your admin interface style to use wp-admin, you can find the option to delete your site by going to Hosting > Site Settings instead. Everything after that should be the same as described above.

Alternatives to permanent site deletion

Before you delete your WordPress site and send it into the digital void, ask yourself what exactly you’re trying to achieve. Depending on your goals, there may be better options that save time, effort, and – let’s be real – regret.

Deletion is final; these alternatives offer flexibility.

Option 1: Make your site private

If your goal is simply to hide your site from public view, making it private is far easier than deleting it. WordPress.com offers a simple toggle under Settings > Privacy to restrict access.

For WordPress.org, you can use a plugin like My Private Site to block visitors while retaining all your content and settings.

This option is perfect for archiving a project or keeping a site under wraps until it’s ready to shine again.

Option 2: Migrate to a different hosting provider

If you’re fed up with WordPress because your site is slow, your host is unreliable, or you’re paying too much for mediocre service, don’t hit delete – just switch hosting providers.

The problem likely isn’t WordPress; it’s where your site lives.

WordPress-specialized hosts like Liquid Web offer faster load times, top-tier customer support, and practical tools like free backups and staging environments, making your site easier to manage and less of a headache.

Migrating to a better host isn’t as terrifying as it sounds. Tools like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration can handle the grunt work of moving your files, database, and settings.

Better yet, managed hosting companies like Liquid Web provide free migration services, so you don’t have to mess around with FTP clients or worry about breaking your site in the process.

Option 3: Change your domain name

If your old domain feels as outdated as your MySpace profile, don’t panic and nuke your entire site. Changing your domain is surprisingly easy.

Let’s say your site’s current URL is coolblogaboutcats.biz, but now you’re all about snakes. Instead of starting over, just update your domain to betterblogaboutsnakes.com.

Most hosting providers make it easy to swap domains. With your new domain secured, updating it in WordPress is as easy as going to Settings > General and changing the Site URL and WordPress URL values.

Your site gets a fresh, on-brand identity, and you don’t have to destroy everything in the process. Problem solved, and now your site actually makes sense again.

Option 4: Reset your site

Sometimes, you just want a blank slate. Use a plugin like WP Reset to wipe your content and settings without dismantling the entire infrastructure. This is a fast, efficient way to restart without losing your hosting setup, theme, or plugins.

Start fresh with Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting

Deleting your WordPress site might feel like the nuclear option, but sometimes it’s necessary. Whether you’re closing the chapter on an old project, rebranding, or just tired of battling slow load times and clunky performance, it’s understandable to want a fresh start.

But remember, there’s more to a clean break than hitting “delete” – especially if you’re considering rebuilding later.

If you’re planning a reboot, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is your hosting provider. A bad host will set you up to fail: they’re slow to respond and will leave you to deal with problems alone.

Switching to a WordPress-optimized host like Liquid Web can save you from those headaches. With faster load times, free daily backups, and excellent support, Liquid Web makes managing your site easy and frustration-free.

So, if you’re ready to build something better, start with a solid foundation. Check out Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting to make your next site faster, more secure, and actually fun to manage.