How to Delete a WordPress Theme in WordPress

How to Delete a WordPress Theme in WordPress Dashboard (Recommended)

✅ Step 1: Login to WordPress Admin

• Visit your website’s admin URL (usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin)

• Enter your username and password

✅ Step 2: Navigate to Appearance → Themes

• In the left-hand menu, click on Appearance

• Then click Themes

✅ Step 3: Locate the Theme You Want to Delete

• You’ll see all installed themes, including the active theme (currently in use).

• You cannot delete the active theme. First switch to another theme (e.g. Twenty Twenty-Four or Astra) if needed.

✅ Step 4: Click on the Theme Details

• Hover over the inactive theme you want to delete

• Click the “Theme Details” button

✅ Step 5: Delete the Theme

• In the bottom-right corner of the theme details pop-up, click the “Delete” button

• Confirm deletion when prompted

✅ Success! The theme is now completely removed from your WordPress installation.

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📁 How to Delete a WordPress Theme via FTP or cPanel File Manager

This method is useful if:

• You are locked out of the dashboard

• You want to clean up multiple themes quickly

• A theme is causing errors and can’t be removed via the dashboard

🔧 Option A: Using FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

Step 1: Connect via FTP

• Use an FTP client like FileZilla

• Enter your host, username, password, and port (usually 21)

Step 2: Go to Your Themes Directory

Navigate to:

Step 3: Delete the Theme Folder

• Locate the folder of the theme you wish to delete

• Right-click the folder and select Delete

🔧 Option B: Using cPanel File Manager

Step 1: Login to cPanel

• Typically accessed at yourdomain.com/cpanel

Step 2: Open File Manager

• Navigate to:

Step 3: Delete the Theme Folder

• Select the theme folder

• Click Delete in the top menu (or right-click → Delete)

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⚠️ Important Notes Before Deleting a Theme

• Backup your site before deleting anything.

• Only delete themes you are absolutely sure you won’t use.

• Keep at least one default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four) as a fallback.

• If you’re deleting a theme previously customised, make sure to backup any customisations from functions.php, style.css, or child theme files.