To permanently delete a WordPress site, first check where it is hosted. On WordPress.com, use the site’s Hosting Dashboard and Settings deletion flow. If WordPress is installed with a third-party host, delete it through that provider instead. Back up anything you may need, and check subscriptions and domains before confirming: deleting a site does not necessarily cancel them.
How do I permanently delete a WordPress site?
The steps depend on the host, not just on whether the site uses WordPress software.
- WordPress.com: Delete the site from its Hosting Dashboard using the steps below.
- Self-hosted WordPress: Use the hosting provider’s dashboard or contact its support team. WordPress.org does not host that site for you.
If you are unsure, check the site’s hosting account or billing records. Confirm that you are signed into the account that owns the site before proceeding.
Delete a WordPress.com site
WordPress.com’s site-deletion guide, last reviewed August 28, 2026, recommends exporting your content or downloading a backup first if you may want a copy. Deletion removes the site and its content.
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- Open the Hosting Dashboard and select the site you want to remove.
- Choose Settings in the left sidebar.
- Scroll to Delete site and select Delete.
- If prompted, open Manage Purchases and cancel or remove each active purchase. Return to the deletion flow when finished.
- Enter the full site address to confirm that you have selected the correct site.
- Select Delete Site.
WordPress.com says visitors will see a message that the site was deleted by the author. The deleted site can be restored during the 30-day restoration window; after that, its data is permanently removed. The site address cannot be reused. See WordPress.com’s site-deletion guide for the current workflow and policy details.
What happens to domains, subscriptions, and your account?
Deleting a site is not the same as closing your WordPress.com account. WordPress.com states, “Deleting your site does not close your WordPress.com account.” Your account and registered domains remain, and a domain may continue renewing unless you cancel it separately.
Also check what happens to active purchases. The site-deletion flow may require you to remove them. Canceling a subscription can stop auto-renewal while leaving the purchase active until its expiry, so cancellation alone may not satisfy the deletion flow.
Closing your account has a wider effect: it deletes every site owned by that account and retires the username. WordPress.com requires active subscriptions to be removed and registered domains to be transferred or removed first. Its account-closure guide says account data can be restored within 30 days, then is purged; the username remains unavailable. Read WordPress.com’s account-closure instructions before choosing that option.
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If a third-party hosting provider runs your WordPress installation, use that provider’s dashboard to delete the site or its associated hosting plan. There is no single deletion sequence that applies to every host. Check the provider’s controls and data-retention policy to understand what deletion removes and whether any retained copies or backups remain.
Keep a full backup first if you may need the site for recovery or records. WordPress.org’s Data Erasure Request page explains that it cannot remove or provide access to data stored on WordPress sites hosted or administered by third parties; the hosting provider controls that site.
If you use Jetpack
Disconnecting a self-hosted site from Jetpack or removing it from the WordPress.com app only removes the connection or listing. It does not delete the site from the host. Use the hosting provider’s controls for site removal. See the WordPress.com Apps instructions for this distinction.
If the site is part of WordPress Multisite
The WP-CLI command wp site delete is for removing an individual site from a WordPress Multisite network, not for deleting a standalone WordPress installation or hosting account. It accepts a site ID or --slug. The --keep-tables option removes the site from the network’s list without dropping its tables. Consult the WP-CLI command reference and confirm the target before using it.
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Choose deletion only if you want the site gone
WordPress.com offers alternatives for different goals. These actions have different effects, so choose based on whether you want to preserve the address, hide the site, or remove only a connection.
Quick Recap
| Action | Effect | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Delete a site | Removes the site and content; its address cannot be reused. A 30-day restoration window applies. | You intend to remove that WordPress.com site. |
| Reset a site | Removes content for a fresh start while retaining the address and certain purchases. | You want to start over at the same address. See WordPress.com’s reset instructions. |
| Make a site private | Hides it from visitors while keeping its content. | You want to stop public access without deleting the site. |
| Disconnect Jetpack | Removes a self-hosted site’s connection or listing in WordPress.com or Jetpack; hosting remains in place. | You want to stop managing or seeing the site through that connection. |
| Close your account | Deletes every site owned by the WordPress.com account and retires the username. | You intend to close the whole account, not just one site. |
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