Delete Pages
This friendly guide introduces the safe way to remove content from your Umbraco 17 website. It helps beginners understand the difference between "Unpublishing" (hiding a page) and "Deleting" (moving it to the Bin). You'll learn how to keep your site tree organized while ensuring you have a safety net if you change your mind.
Understanding the Recycle Bin
In Umbraco 17, deleting a page doesn't mean it's gone instantly. Every deleted item moves to the Recycle Bin at the bottom of your content tree. This acts as a staging area—think of it like the "Trash" or "Recycle Bin" on your computer. With this foundation, you can confidently clean up your site knowing that anything moved here can be restored until you choose to empty the bin permanently.
Choosing Between Hide and Delete
Before jumping into deletion, consider if you just want to take the page offline. Unpublishing keeps the page exactly where it is in your tree but removes it from the live web. Deleting moves the entire page (and any sub-pages it has) into the Recycle Bin. Start by right-clicking a page to see your options—if you're finished with a seasonal promotion or an old draft, the Delete tool is your best friend for a clean workspace.
For a visual walkthrough of managing content and the backoffice interface in Umbraco 17+, you can refer to the official Umbraco HQ overview:
Note: This video covers the latest features and interface updates relevant to the v17+ environment.
Other Related Tutorials
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[Tutorial] Deleting and Restoring Pages (Official Docs)
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[Tutorial] Working with the Recycle Bin
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[Tutorial] Managing Media Deletions
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[Tutorial] Restoring Cloud Content (Umbraco Cloud)
Action Steps to Delete a Page
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Locate the Page: In the Content section, find the page you want to remove.
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Open the Menu: Click the three dots (...) next to the page name or right-click it.
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Select Delete: Click the Delete (Trash) option.
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Confirm: A prompt will ask for confirmation. If the page has "child pages," Umbraco will warn you that they will be moved to the bin as well. Click OK.
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Check the Bin: Scroll to the bottom of the left-hand menu to find your item in the Recycle Bin.
Pro-Tip: If you need to bring a page back, right-click it inside the Recycle Bin and select Restore. To permanently clear space and improve site performance, right-click the Recycle Bin icon itself and select Empty recycle bin.
Where Next?
Now that you know how to "Delete Pages" to clear out the Recycle Bin, what do you do with content that you want to keep but don't want the public to see?
Perhaps you have a seasonal promotion that has ended, or a page that needs a major update before it's ready for prime time again. Instead of moving these to the bin, you can simply "turn them off." Your next step is learning how to "Hide Pages" (also known as Unpublishing).
We’ll show you how to take a page offline instantly while keeping all your hard work safe and sound in the Backoffice for future use!