Mastering WordPress: How to Delete a WordPress Theme Safely

Deleting a WordPress theme is crucial for optimizing your website’s security and performance. Learn the best methods to remove unused themes safely.

Introduction

Installing multiple WordPress themes is part of the journey to find the perfect design for your website. However, it’s equally important to know how to delete unused themes to ensure your site’s security and efficiency. In this guide, we’ll explore four methods to delete a WordPress theme: from the WordPress dashboard, using Hostinger’s hPanel, through File Manager, and with WP-CLI. We’ll also discuss the benefits of removing unused themes and provide tips on which themes to keep.

Why You Should Delete Unused WordPress Themes

Before diving into the methods, let’s explore why you should consider deleting unused WordPress themes:

Improved security: Outdated themes may have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
Enhanced performance: Fewer themes can lead to faster site performance and easier maintenance.
More storage space: Removing themes frees up valuable server space.
Reduced maintenance: Fewer themes mean fewer updates to manage.
Clearer site management: Avoid confusion among multiple users by keeping only essential themes.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme From the Dashboard

The WordPress dashboard offers the simplest way to delete themes. Here’s how:

Go to Appearance → Themes in your dashboard.
Hover over the theme you wish to delete and click Theme Details.
Select the Delete option at the bottom right corner.
Confirm by clicking OK.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme Using hPanel

Hostinger users can manage themes via hPanel:

Log into your hosting account and navigate to WordPress → Security.
Find the theme list and click the Delete icon beside the inactive theme.
Read the disclaimer and confirm the deletion.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme Using File Manager

If you can’t access your dashboard, use File Manager:

Access File Manager from your hosting control panel.
Navigate to public_html/wp-content/themes.
Right-click the theme folder you want to delete and select Delete.
Decide whether to skip the trash bin, then confirm the deletion.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme Using WP-CLI

WP-CLI is a powerful tool for advanced users:

Log in to your server via SSH.
Activate a different theme if needed using: wp theme activate <theme>
Delete a theme with: wp theme delete <theme>
Delete multiple themes: wp theme delete <theme_1> <theme_2>
Force delete an active theme with: wp theme delete <theme> --force
Delete all themes except the active one: wp theme delete --all

Call to Action

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What Else Should You Delete From WordPress?

After deleting a theme, clean up any remaining clutter:

Widgets and shortcodes: Remove unused ones from your site.
Demo content: Delete demo images and files.
Child themes: Remove if the parent theme is deleted.
Custom post types: Ensure related content is correctly displayed.
Database entries: Remove any leftover tables or entries.

When to Keep Inactive WordPress Themes

There are cases where keeping inactive themes is beneficial:

Multisite networks: Themes may be needed for development or testing.
Child themes: Keep the parent theme to ensure functionality.
Backup purposes: Inactive themes can serve as backups.
Occasional use: Keep themes for special events.

Conclusion

Regularly deleting unused WordPress themes enhances security and performance. Choose the deletion method that best suits your needs:

Dashboard: Ideal for straightforward deletion.
hPanel: Perfect for Hostinger users managing multiple sites.
File Manager: Useful when dashboard access is blocked.
WP-CLI: Great for bulk deletions and automation.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to manage and delete WordPress themes effectively. For more questions, check out our FAQ section below or leave a comment.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme FAQ

What Happens if I Delete a WordPress Theme?

Deleting a theme removes its files, freeing up space. Ensure it’s inactive first to avoid display errors.

Will Changing My WordPress Theme Delete Everything?

Switching themes won’t delete content, but theme-specific features may be lost.

Can I Delete Inactive Themes WordPress?

Yes, deleting inactive themes improves security and performance.

Starter-Pack HTML Section

Apr 02, 2024
Jordana A.
6min Read

Installing multiple WordPress themes is part of the journey of finding the right one for your website. However, removing unused themes is just as important for security and efficiency reasons.
This WordPress guide will walk you through four ways to delete themes ‒ from the WordPress dashboard, using Hostinger’s hPanel, through File Manager, and with WP-CLI. We’ll explore the top use cases for each method to help you select the best one for your needs.
Additionally, you’ll learn the benefits of removing unused WordPress themes and how to choose which ones to keep.

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