Need to bulk delete WordPress posts efficiently? WordPress provides intuitive tools for managing content in the admin dashboard, but handling hundreds of posts manually can be tedious. Drawing from years of hands-on WordPress site management, we'll guide you through two reliable methods to streamline the process.
This native WordPress feature is straightforward and ideal for most users, allowing quick selection and deletion of multiple posts at once.
Start by navigating to Posts » All Posts. Click the checkbox at the top to select all posts on the current page.
To deselect specific posts, uncheck them individually. Then, from the Bulk actions dropdown (labeled as 'General Options' in some views), choose Move to Trash.
Click Apply to trash the selected posts.
By default, this selects up to 20 posts per page. To handle hundreds, click Screen Options in the top-right corner, increase Number of items per page to your desired amount (e.g., 100 or 999), and hit Apply.
Now bulk select and delete as before.
Note: Trashed posts remain recoverable for 30 days before permanent deletion from your database.
Targeting Posts by Author, Category, or Tag
Filter posts first by clicking links for specific authors, categories, or tags. For instance, select the 'News' category to view and bulk delete its posts.
WordPress's built-in tools suffice for basic needs, but for precise filtering—like deleting posts from the last X days or older than a set period—a plugin offers more control.
Install and activate a reliable bulk delete plugin (see our step-by-step WordPress plugin installation guide).
Access Bulk WP » Bulk Delete (plugin-specific menu). Use filters for date ranges, instant deletion (bypassing trash), scheduling, categories, custom taxonomies, post types, and more.
This tool also handles comments, pages, users, and custom fields.
These methods have helped us optimize countless WordPress sites. For more, check our top WordPress plugins for business websites.
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