So if you want a fresh start or want to experiment with WordPress development, design, and theme, whatever the reason is, this blog will help you do that.
However, it’s important to note that delete a WordPress site by removing the files from the server will make the site’s files unavailable, but your site may still appear in search results and be cached by search engines. To ensure your site is permanently deleted from WordPress.org hosting, follow the instructions provided in the text.
When to Delete a WordPress Website From the Internet Permanently and Why
You might find the need to permanently delete a WordPress website from the internet for various reasons. You can achieve this by deleting the WordPress files from your server, which will render your website unavailable for visitors.
However, it’s important to understand that even after removing your site’s files, it may still show up in search results, cached snapshots, and web archives like the Wayback Machine, which is a digital library of the web.
Erasing all traces of a website from the internet is quite challenging. Many websites aggregate content from others, display screenshots, and provide statistics and comparisons.
This article outlines steps to make it difficult for others to find your deleted website and its content.
Please note that this article is specifically about deleting your self-hosted WordPress.org website.
With that clarification, let’s dive into how to properly and permanently remove a WordPress site from the internet.
Step 1: Always Begin with a Full Backup!
Your first step should be creating a comprehensive backup of your WordPress site. Even if your intention is to delete your site entirely, it’s crucial to make a backup.
One can never predict what may occur in the future. If you have a change of heart or need to retrieve some of the content you deleted, that backup will come in handy.
Also read: Top WordPress Backup Plugins of 2023
Step 2: Removing WordPress Files
Use these instructions to delete WordPress files from your server. This process will delete the WordPress software along with your themes, plugins, images, and other media files.
- Access your WordPress hosting account’s dashboard.
- After logging in, find and click on the ‘File Manager’ icon.
The ‘File Manager’ offers a user-friendly web interface for managing server files. Navigate to the root directory and select all files then click on delete all files associated with WordPress.
Step 3: Using robots.txt to Prevent Search Engine Indexing
After deleting your website, it’s essential to prevent search engines from indexing it. While it’s important to note that the robots.txt file is a guideline that most major search engines adhere to, there’s a possibility that some lesser-known trackers may disregard it.
Here’s how to create and configure a robots.txt file:
- Generate a new robots.txt file through the file manager in cPanel or via FTP.
- Open the newly created file and insert the following lines:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /
These lines instruct user-agents, including popular ones like Googlebot crawlers, not to access any URLs under your domain name.
Step 4: Deindexing Your Content from Search Engines
Search engines typically persist in showing content from temporarily downed websites, hoping for their return. To inform search engines that your content is no longer available, follow these steps, which involve using the .htaccess file:
- Create a new file in the root directory of your website and name it .htaccess.
- Edit the .htaccess file and add the following code:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/robots.txt
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.example\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ – [L,G]
Make sure to replace “example.com” with your own domain name.
This code will redirect all requests to your site and generate a 410 error status code, indicating that the content is gone. It allows crawlers to access your robots.txt file.
It’s important to note that even after taking these steps, the deindexing process may still take some time. You can expedite the process further by requesting the removal of cached content through webmaster tools.
Final Say
Knowing how to delete a WordPress website or blog permanently is an essential skill for website owners. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can safely and securely remove your site while preserving your data through backups. Whether you’re rebranding, shutting down a project, or optimizing your digital presence, the ability to delete a WordPress site is a valuable tool in your website management arsenal.
FAQs on Delete A WordPress
1. Can I restore my WordPress site after deletion?
Once you’ve deleted your WordPress site and database, it’s generally not possible to restore it. This is why creating backups before deletion is crucial. If you have a backup, you can restore your site to a previous state.
2. What if I want to temporarily hide my site instead of permanent deletion?
If you wish to hide your site temporarily, you can use the “Maintenance Mode“ plugin or a coming soon page plugin. These plugins will display a notice to your visitors that the site is under maintenance, allowing you to work on it without deleting it.
