Remove WordPress Themes: A Step-by-Step Guide

In WordPress, themes play a crucial role in the appearance and functionality of your website. However, there may come a time when you need to delete a theme from your WordPress site. Whether it’s to make room for a new theme or simply to declutter your site, the process of removing a theme is straightforward. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to delete a theme in WordPress and remove themes from your WordPress site.

Deleting a WordPress theme is essential, but it’s important to note that you cannot delete the currently active theme. To start, you must first change your active theme to a different one. All WordPress sites must have an active theme to function properly.

If you have content from the old theme that you want to remove, you can easily delete it from your WordPress dashboard. However, it’s worth mentioning that themes provided by WordPress.com cannot be deleted as they are not stored on your site.

Reasons to Delete Unused WordPress Themes

Deleting unused WordPress themes is a crucial practice with numerous benefits. Let’s explore why you should delete WordPress themes and the advantages of removing unused themes from your site.

Improved Security

One of the primary reasons to delete unused WordPress themes is the enhanced security it provides. Leaving unused themes on your site increases the potential for hacking attempts. By eliminating these themes, you minimize security risks and protect your site from unauthorized access or vulnerabilities.

Enhanced Performance

Deleting unused themes can significantly improve the performance of your WordPress site. By removing unnecessary files and reducing backup sizes, you streamline your site’s resources. This optimization results in faster loading times, efficient resource management, and a smoother user experience for your visitors.

Time and Effort Savings

Another benefit of deleting unused themes is saving valuable time and effort. When you remove these themes, you eliminate the need for updates and maintenance. Instead, you can focus your attention on the active themes, ensuring they are up-to-date and optimized.

Storage Space Optimization

Unused themes occupy storage space on your hosting server, which can lead to increased costs or hinder site performance. By deleting these themes, you free up valuable storage space, allowing for better site performance or potential cost savings if your hosting plan is storage-limited.

Improved Database Performance

Deleting unused themes can also have a positive impact on your site’s overall database performance. Unnecessary themes add clutter to your database, potentially slowing down queries and impacting the responsiveness of your site. Removing these themes helps optimize your database, leading to improved performance and faster site operations.

In summary, deleting unused WordPress themes offers several benefits, including enhanced security, improved site performance, time and effort savings, storage space optimization, and better database performance. By taking the necessary steps to remove these themes, you can ensure a streamlined and efficient WordPress experience.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme via the Admin Area

Deleting a WordPress theme is a straightforward process that can be done through the WordPress dashboard. Follow these simple steps to remove a theme from your site:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin area.
2. Navigate to Appearance in the left sidebar and click on Themes.
3. On the Themes page, you will see a list of installed themes. Locate the theme you want to delete and click on it.
4. A theme details window will open, displaying information about the theme. At the bottom of the window, you will find the Delete button.
5. Click on the Delete button to confirm the deletion of the theme.

This method is the most convenient if you have access to the admin area of your WordPress site. It allows you to quickly and easily remove unwanted themes without the need for any technical skills.

Example:

“Deleting a WordPress theme is a breeze with the admin area. I just log in to my WordPress site, go to Appearance → Themes, select the theme I want to delete, and click the Delete button. It’s so simple!” – Jane Doe

By deleting themes via the admin area, you can keep your WordPress site clean and organized. It helps to improve site performance and security by removing unnecessary files and reducing the risk of outdated or vulnerable themes. Remember to always select a different active theme before deleting the one you no longer need.

How to Delete a WordPress Theme via FTP/SFTP

If you don’t have access to the WordPress dashboard but have FTP/SFTP access to your site, you can delete a theme manually. Follow the step-by-step guide below:

1. Connect to your site using an FTP client.
2. Navigate to the wp-content/themes directory.
3. Locate the theme folder you want to delete.
4. Delete the theme folder.

This method is useful if you cannot access the admin area of your site but still have file access to your hosting server.

Remember, it’s always important to take proper precautions before making any changes to your WordPress site. Create a backup of your site and test the deleted theme on a staging site if possible.

Pros and Cons of Deleting a WordPress Theme via FTP/SFTP

By following the instructions above, you can successfully delete a WordPress theme via FTP/SFTP.

Backup and Testing Before Deleting a WordPress Theme

Before deleting a WordPress theme, it is crucial to take a backup of your site. This ensures that you have a copy of your website in case any issues arise after deleting the theme. There are two main methods you can use to take a backup: using a backup plugin or utilizing your hosting provider’s backup system.

Backup Plugin:

If you prefer using a backup plugin, there are several options available in the WordPress repository. Some popular backup plugins include UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, and VaultPress. Choose a backup plugin that suits your needs and install it on your WordPress site. Follow the plugin’s instructions to create a full backup of your website.

Hosting Provider’s Backup System:

Many hosting providers offer backup systems that allow you to easily create backups of your website. These backups are typically stored on separate servers, providing an additional layer of security. Check with your hosting provider to see if they offer a backup system. If they do, follow their instructions to create a backup of your site.

Once you have taken a backup of your site, it is recommended to test the site with the theme deleted on a staging site before deleting it from the live site.

What is a Staging Site?

A staging site is a separate environment where you can test changes to your website without affecting the live site. It allows you to make sure that everything works correctly before applying the changes to your live site.

To test the deleted theme on a staging site, you can follow these steps:

1. Create a staging site using a staging plugin or through your hosting provider’s staging feature.
2. Copy your live site to the staging site using the plugin or feature.
3. Delete the theme on the staging site following the same steps mentioned in the previous sections.
4. Test the staging site thoroughly, making sure all functionalities and content are working as expected.

If you encounter any issues during the testing phase, you can refer back to the backup taken earlier. This allows you to easily revert any changes and serve as a safety net for your website’s stability.

Testing the deleted theme on a staging site before deleting it from the live site ensures that any potential problems are identified and resolved beforehand. It provides a controlled environment where you can troubleshoot any issues without impacting the user experience on your live site.

Conclusion

Removing themes in WordPress is a straightforward process that can have a significant impact on your website’s security, performance, and overall maintenance. By following the step-by-step guide provided, you can easily delete unwanted themes from your WordPress site.

It is important to remember to take a backup of your site before deleting a theme, as this ensures that you can restore your site if any issues arise. Additionally, testing the site with the theme deleted on a staging site before making changes to the live site can help identify and resolve any potential problems.

By removing unused themes, you can enhance the security of your website by reducing the risk of hacking attempts. It can also improve the performance of your site by reducing the number of files and backup sizes, ultimately saving time and effort. Additionally, freeing up storage space on your hosting server can lead to cost savings or better overall performance.