Overview
This article explains how to delete WordPress if it was installed using the DreamHost WordPress installer in the panel.
These instructions will delete your website content. View the following article instead if you only would like to deactivate WordPress automatic updates:
DreamPress sites
If your WordPress site is configured on a DreamPress hosting plan, the steps to delete or downgrade differ from those in this article. View the following articles instead for more information:
What is deleted from the server?
Several files may be deleted depending on where WordPress is installed within your website. For example, it could be installed in:
- The Primary web directory (example.com)
- In a Subdirectory (example.com/blog)
Make sure to read through the following sections before deleting your WordPress installation.
Confirm where WordPress is installed
To confirm where WordPress is installed on your website:
- Navigate to the Install WordPress page.
- Click Manage my Apps.
- Click your website name.
The primary web directory
If it's located in the primary web directory, you will see a forward slash next to the WordPress icon.
The primary web directory is the directory your website loads files from first. In general, this directory is the name of your website. For example, if your site is named example.com, your web directory would be /home/username/example.com also.
If this is where you've installed your DreamHost WordPress install, be very careful when deleting it in the panel. If you delete the DreamHost WordPress install stored in your primary web directory, ALL FILES in the web directory and all subdirectories are deleted. This means that if you have any subdirectories like example.com/images or example.com/blog, those are also deleted.
Make sure to only use this option if you want everything deleted from your website including all other files under this web directory. If you need any of those files or subdirectories, make sure to back them up before removing the DreamHost WordPress install.
A subdirectory
If WordPress is located in a subdirectory, it will show a forward slash followed by the subdirectory name.
Deleting a subdirectory install will only delete the files within that specific subdirectory. For example, if your site was example.com/blog, only files within that /blog subdirectory are deleted, however, the empty /blog subdirectory will remain. No files are deleted above this directory, so anything within the /example.com directory remains untouched.
The difference between Removing and Deleting
Remove from List
Clicking the Remove from List button deactivates a DreamHost WordPress install so it is no longer managed by DreamHost. If you wish to continue using this WordPress install, you will then be responsible for keeping it updated.
This option removes it from the list, but it does NOT delete any files.
Delete all files
Clicking the Delete all Files button deletes everything in the WordPress installation directory and removes it from the panel. Only use this option if you want ALL content under your WordPress installation deleted as noted above.
Make sure to back up any data you do not want to be deleted before clicking this button.
Delete a WordPress install
- Navigate to the Install WordPress page.
- Click Manage my Apps.
- Click your website name.
- Click the Delete all Files button.
- A warning message appears after you click Delete all Files:
- Click Ok to confirm.
Delete the database
When you click Delete all Files, only the files on the web server are deleted. Your WordPress database remains in your panel untouched. To delete your database:
- Navigate to the MySQL Databases page.
- To the right of your database, click the Delete DB button.