How to Delete WordPress Themes (Quick)

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How to Delete WordPress Themes (Quick)

Intro

Keeping your WordPress site tidy and up-to-date is essential for multiple reasons. Unwanted themes not only occupy disk space but can also be a security risk. Each installed theme is a doorway for potential hackers, especially if it’s not kept updated. Deleting unused WordPress themes is a simple process that clears the pathway for your WordPress site’s optimum functionality. This guide will explain how to delete WordPress themes effectively.

Step 1: Accessing Your WordPress Themes

The first step in deleting your WordPress themes is to gain access to your theme library. This is done by logging in to your WordPress dashboard. Follow these steps to get to that point:

  1. Open your web browser and type in yourwebsite.com/wp-admin replacing “yourwebsite” with your actual website URL.
  2. Enter your username and password and click Log In.

Once logged in, navigate to Appearance > Themes in WordPress dashboard units. Here you will see all the themes that are currently installed on your WordPress site.

Step 2: Deactivating the Theme

Before deleting, ensure that the theme you want to delete is not the active one. To change the active theme, follow these instructions:

  1. Under the themes section, hover over another theme and click on Activate.
  2. A confirmation message will be displayed to assure you that the theme is now active.

Please remember to switch to a theme that you’re going to keep, as WordPress does not allow the deletion of an active theme.

Step 3: Deleting the Theme

Now, it’s time to delete the required theme. Follow these steps:

  1. Under the themes section again, hover over the theme you wish to delete.
  2. Click on Theme Details.
  3. Click on Delete in the bottom-right corner of the details window.

The theme will now be deleted from your WordPress site!

Considerations When Deleting Themes

There are a few points that you should remember before deleting a WordPress theme.

  • Make sure you won’t use the theme in the future. If there’s a slightest chance that you may use it, consider leaving it.
  • Before deleting, ensure that there are no sections on your website coded with the specific theme.
  • Always remember to keep your active theme updated, as outdated themes can lead to vulnerabilities and potential security breaches.

Theme Deletion Using FTP

It is also possible to delete a theme using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). You may need to consider this if you have a lot of themes to delete or if your WordPress admin panel is inaccessible.

  • Access your website files via FTP using a client such as FileZilla
  • Navigate to /wp-content/themes/. Inside the themes directory, you’ll find directories for each installed theme.
  • Find the theme you want to delete. Right click on the directory and select Delete.
  • Your FTP client will ask for confirmation, click Yes. Your theme will now be deleted.

Conclusion

Keeping your website clean and protected involves regular housekeeping, and deleting unrequired themes is a part of it. We hope this guide proved helpful in deleting WordPress themes. Remember to keep your active themes updated and your website will thank you!

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