How to Safely Delete a WordPress Theme You No Longer Use

Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: WordPress 7.1

Remove themes you do not use. Inactive themes stay on the server, and if one falls out of date its files can still be attacked.

Steps

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard (https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
2. Open Appearance › Themes.
3. Click the theme you want to remove (it must not be the active theme).
4. In the Theme Details window, click Delete at the bottom right and confirm.

Note: Keep one default WordPress theme (such as Twenty Twenty-Five) installed as a fallback. Do not delete the parent theme of an active child theme.