How to Delete Categories in WordPress
Categories in WordPress help organise your content and improve navigation for your visitors. However, as your site evolves, you may find some categories are no longer needed. Deleting these unused or irrelevant categories can help streamline your site’s structure.
Step 1: Log into Your WordPress Admin Dashboard
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Open your browser and go to your website’s admin login page. This is usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin.
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Enter your administrator username and password.
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Click Log In to access the dashboard.
Step 2: Go to the Categories Page
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In the left-hand navigation menu, hover over or click on “Posts”.
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From the expanded submenu, click on “Categories”.
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This will open the Categories management screen, where all your current categories are listed.
Step 3: Locate the Category You Want to Delete
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Browse through the list or use the search box to find the specific category you wish to remove.
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Hover your mouse over the category name.
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Several links will appear below the name, including Edit, Quick Edit, Delete, and View.
Step 4: Click Delete
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Click the “Delete” link under the category name.
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A confirmation prompt may appear depending on your WordPress configuration.
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Confirm the deletion.
Important Note: Deleting a category does not delete the posts associated with it. Instead, any posts under that category will be automatically moved to the default category (usually “Uncategorized” unless you’ve set a different default).
Step 5: Bulk Delete Categories (Optional)
If you want to delete multiple categories at once:
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Tick the checkboxes next to the categories you want to remove.
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At the top of the category list, open the Bulk Actions dropdown.
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Select “Delete” and click the “Apply” button.
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All selected categories will be removed after confirmation.
Step 6: Reassign Posts (Recommended for Better Organisation)
Although WordPress reassigns posts to the default category, it’s a good idea to review and reassign posts manually:
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Go to “Posts” > “All Posts”.
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Use the filter or search to find posts previously in the deleted category.
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Edit the posts and assign them to more relevant, existing categories.
Conclusion
Deleting unused or redundant categories in WordPress is a simple but effective way to maintain your site’s organisation and SEO health. Remember to set a clear default category and periodically review your content taxonomy for clarity and consistency.
