How to Delete a WordPress Theme Safely

Jan 24, 2025

WordPress is a great platform for website building. People create their sites using different themes. In due course of time, some of these themes become redundant, and you might want to get rid of them. Deleting such themes is always a good idea, as this will keep your site clean and safe. Here is a step-by-step guide to deleting a WordPress theme safely.

Why Delete Unused Themes?

Some unused themes can occupy space and slow down your website. They may also pose security issues if they are not updated. This will reduce risk and enhance the performance of your website.

Things to Do Before Deleting a Theme

Before you proceed with deleting a theme, you have to do the following:

Check If It's in Use

• Go to your WordPress Dashboard.

• Click on "Appearance" > "Themes."

• Ensure the theme you want to delete is not an activated theme.

• If it is on, switch to another theme.

Backup Website

• Don't forget to backup before making changes.

• Use the UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy plugin.

• Save the generated backup file to a safe place.

Look at your customizations.

• If the theme was customized, check if the customizations are needed.

• Export or save your customizations if needed.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme

Now that you have prepared for it, you can delete the theme. Here's how:

Log In to Your Dashboard

• Log into your WordPress website.

• Click "Appearance" > "Themes."

Select the Theme to Delete

• Find the theme you want to delete.

• Click on it to reveal the details.

Delete Theme

• In the bottom-right corner, click the "Delete" button.

• A confirmation message will pop up. Click "OK" to confirm.

Alternative: Delete via File Manager or FTP

If you can't delete the theme from the dashboard, use File Manager or FTP:

Access Your Hosting Account

• Log in to your hosting account and open the File Manager.

• Alternatively, connect to your site with an FTP client like FileZilla.

Locate the Theme Folder

• Go to the "wp-content/themes" folder.

• Locate the folder of the theme that you want to delete.

Delete the Folder

• Right-click on the folder and choose "Delete."

• Confirm the deletion.

Final Steps after Deleting a Theme

After removing the theme, check that your website is functioning properly; check for any errors or something that is not working as before. Also, clean up any plugins or files related to the deleted theme.

Conclusion

WordPress theme deletion is pretty straightforward if one proceeds with the right steps: always check if the theme is active, backup your site, and look at your customizations before deletion. You will be able to maintain your website fast, safe, and organized by deleting unused themes.