What happens when you delete a WordPress site
Deleting a WordPress website means removing the site files, the database that stores your content, and the domain connection — so the site no longer appears online and cannot be recovered unless you have a backup. The process is permanent. Most people delete a site because they no longer need it, want to start fresh, or are moving to a different platform.
The steps differ depending on whether you host WordPress yourself (self-hosted) or use a managed service like WordPress.com. Self-hosted sites give you more control but require you to delete files directly. WordPress.com sites can be deleted from your account dashboard in a few clicks.
Before you delete anything, back up your site if there is any content you might need later — even if you do not plan to restore the whole site, you may want to keep text, images, or contact information.
Key Takeaways
- WordPress.com sites can be deleted from your account settings in minutes, while self-hosted sites require you to remove files from your hosting provider.
- Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone, so read a backup of your site content before you start if you think you might need it later.
- If you own a domain name separately from your hosting, deleting the website does not delete the domain — you must cancel the domain registration separately if you no longer want it.
- Self-hosted sites require you to access your hosting control panel (usually cPanel or Plesk) and delete the site folder, then drop the database from your hosting account.
Deleting a WordPress.com site
Log into your WordPress.com account and go to Settings for the site you want to delete. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page and look for a section called "Danger Zone" or "Delete Site" — the exact label varies by account type. Click the delete option.
WordPress.com will ask you to confirm by typing the site URL or your site name. This confirmation step prevents accidental deletion. Once you confirm, the site is removed from the internet when ready. Any email forwarding tied to that site stops working, and the site URL becomes available for someone else to register.
If you paid for a domain through WordPress.com, deleting the site does not cancel the domain registration. You must go to Domains in your account settings and cancel the registration separately, or it will renew and you will be charged.
Deleting a self-hosted WordPress site
Self-hosted sites live on a web server you rent from a hosting company. To delete one, you need to remove the site files and the database. Log into your hosting control panel — most providers use cPanel, though some use Plesk or another system. Your hosting company sent you login details when you signed up.
In cPanel, look for a file manager or use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to connect to your server. Navigate to the folder where your WordPress files live — usually called public_html or a folder with your domain name. Select all the WordPress files and folders and delete them. This removes the site from the internet.
Next, delete the database. In cPanel, find MySQL Databases or Databases. Look for the database name associated with your WordPress site — it usually starts with your hosting username followed by an underscore. Select it and delete it. This removes all your posts, pages, comments, and user accounts.
Backing up before you delete
A backup is a copy of your site files and database saved to your computer or cloud storage. If you delete your site and later realize you need something from it, a backup is your only way to recover that content.
For WordPress.com sites, go to Settings and look for Export or read Your Content. This downloads an XML file containing your posts and pages. Images are not always included, so check what the export contains before you delete.
For self-hosted sites, use a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup to create a backup file, or ask your hosting company if they offer automated backups. read the backup file to your computer before you delete anything. If your hosting company keeps automatic backups, ask how long they keep them — some providers store backups for 30 days after deletion, which gives you a window to recover if you change your mind.
What to do with your domain name
Your domain name (the URL like example.com) is separate from your website. Deleting the website does not delete the domain. If you registered the domain through your hosting company or WordPress.com, you must cancel the registration separately or it will renew and you will be charged.
Log into your domain registrar account — the company where you registered the domain. Look for your domain in the account and find the option to cancel or not renew. Most registrars let you set domains to not renew at the end of the current registration period, so you are not charged again. If you want the domain to expire when ready, some registrars offer a cancellation option, though you may not receive a refund.
If you want to keep the domain but are not using it, you can leave it registered and let it point nowhere, or point it to a straightforward holding page. This costs money each year but keeps someone else from registering it.
Removing WordPress from a shared domain
If you have multiple sites on one hosting account and only want to delete one, the process is different. You delete only the folder for that specific site, not the entire hosting account.
In your file manager or FTP, navigate to the folder containing just that WordPress installation. Delete the folder and its contents. Then go to your hosting control panel and delete only the database for that site, leaving other databases intact.
If the site had its own domain, that domain will no longer point to anything. If it was a subfolder of your main domain (like example.com/blog), that subfolder will no longer exist, but your main site keeps working.
If you cannot access your hosting account
If you forgot your hosting login or no longer have access to the email address tied to your account, contact your hosting company's support team. You will need to verify you own the account — usually by providing the credit card used to pay for hosting or answering security questions you set up when you created the account.
If you inherited a site from someone else or took over an account, the original owner may need to transfer ownership to you before you can delete it. This process varies by hosting company, so ask support what documentation they need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my site after I delete it?
Not from WordPress itself — deletion is permanent. Your only option is a backup you saved before deleting. If your hosting company keeps automatic backups, contact them within their backup retention window (usually 30 days) to ask if they can restore it. After that window closes, recovery is not possible.
Do I need to cancel my hosting account to delete my WordPress site?
No. Deleting the site files and database removes the WordPress installation, but your hosting account stays active. You can create a new site on the same account or keep the account for other purposes. To stop paying for hosting entirely, you must cancel the hosting account separately.
What happens to my email if I delete my WordPress site?
If you set up email addresses through your hosting company or WordPress.com tied to your domain, deleting the site may affect them. Check with your hosting provider or WordPress.com about whether email accounts are deleted along with the site, or if you need to cancel them separately.
Can I delete just part of my WordPress site instead of the whole thing?
Yes. You can delete individual posts, pages, or plugins from inside WordPress without deleting the entire site. Log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Posts or Pages, and delete specific items. If you want to remove a plugin, go to Plugins and deactivate or delete it. The site itself stays online.
Do I lose my domain name when I delete my WordPress site?
No. Your domain registration is separate from your website. Deleting the site does not cancel the domain, and you will continue to be charged for it each year unless you cancel the registration with your registrar.