How to Delete a Starter Template in WordPress?

Starter templates in WordPress are pre-designed layouts that make it easier for users to create websites quickly. They often come with themes or plugins, allowing users to import complete site designs with just a few clicks. However, there may come a time when you need to delete a starter template, whether it?s to start fresh, remove unnecessary clutter, or switch to a different design. This article will guide you through the process of deleting a starter template in WordPress, ensuring that you can maintain a clean and efficient website.

Why Delete a Starter Template?

1. To Start Fresh: Sometimes, the best way to revamp your website is to start from scratch.
2. Unwanted Clutter: Removing unused templates can help keep your WordPress dashboard organized.
3. Performance Optimization: Fewer templates and plugins can lead to faster load times and better performance.
4. Switching Designs: When you decide to switch to a different design or theme, deleting old templates can prevent conflicts and confusion.

Steps to Delete a Starter Template in WordPress

Step 1: Backup Your Site

Before making any significant changes to your website, it?s crucial to create a backup. This ensures that you can restore your site to its previous state if anything goes wrong. You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup to create a backup.

Step 2: Access the WordPress Dashboard

Step 3: Locate the Starter Template

Starter templates are often associated with specific themes or plugins. For example, Astra and Elementor have their own starter templates. To find the template you want to delete, you need to determine whether it?s part of a theme or a plugin.

Step 4: Deleting Starter Templates Associated with Themes

If your starter template is part of a theme, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Themes Section: Go to Appearance > Themes.
2. Activate a Different Theme: You can?t delete a theme that is currently active. Activate a different theme first.
3. Delete the Theme: Hover over the theme you want to delete, click on the Theme Details button, and then click the Delete button at the bottom-right corner of the pop-up window.

Step 5: Deleting Starter Templates Associated with Plugins

1. Navigate to the Plugins Section: Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Deactivate the Plugin: Find the plugin associated with your starter template, and click Deactivate.
3. Delete the Plugin: After deactivating the plugin, click Delete.

Step 6: Removing Imported Content

Deleting the theme or plugin doesn?t always remove the content imported by the starter template. You may need to manually delete pages, posts, and other content that came with the template:

1. Delete Pages: Go to Pages > All Pages, select the pages you want to delete, and choose Move to Trash from the bulk actions dropdown.
2. Delete Posts: Go to Posts > All Posts, select the posts you want to delete, and choose Move to Trash from the bulk actions dropdown.
3. Delete Media: Go to Media > Library, select the media files you want to delete, and choose Delete Permanently from the bulk actions dropdown.

Cleaning Up After Deletion

After deleting the starter template and its associated content, it?s a good idea to perform a few cleanup tasks to ensure your site runs smoothly:

1. Clear Cache: If you?re using a caching plugin, clear your cache to ensure all changes are reflected on the front end of your site.
2. Optimize Database: Use a plugin like WP-Optimize to clean up your database by removing unnecessary data and optimizing tables.
3. Check for Broken Links: Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker to identify and fix any broken links resulting from the deletion of content.

Alternative Method: Using a Plugin to Reset WordPress

If you want to delete all starter templates and start with a clean slate, you can use a plugin like WP Reset. This plugin allows you to reset your WordPress site to its default state, deleting all themes, plugins, and content. Here?s how to use it:

1. Install WP Reset: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for WP Reset, and install it.
2. Activate WP Reset: Once installed, activate the plugin.
3. Reset Your Site: Navigate to Tools > WP Reset, scroll down to the Site Reset section, and click the Reset Site button.

Conclusion

Deleting a starter template in WordPress involves several steps, but it?s a straightforward process once you understand the basics. By following this guide, you can efficiently remove unwanted templates and maintain a clean, organized website. Remember to always backup your site before making significant changes, and take the time to clean up any leftover content and optimize your site for the best performance.