3 Easy Ways to Delete All Comments in WordPress

WordPress is a powerful content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites easily, including those built with top ecommerce WordPress themes. However, if you are handling a website that has a large number of comments—especially spam or unwanted ones—you may want to delete them all at once. In this guide, we will discuss four different methods to delete all comments in WordPress.

Why Would You Want to Delete All Comments?

Before we move to the methods, let’s first understand why someone might need to delete all comments on their WordPress site:

• Spam Overload: If your site has received thousands of spam comments, managing them manually is nearly impossible.
• Resetting a Website: If you are redesigning your website and want a fresh start, removing all comments can be helpful.
• Low-Quality Engagement: If your comments section is filled with irrelevant or inappropriate comments, deleting them can improve the quality of your site.
• Disabling Comments Permanently: Some website owners prefer to disable comments completely to avoid moderation issues.

Method 1: Deleting All Comments Manually in WordPress Dashboard

If your website does not have too many comments, you can delete them manually from the WordPress dashboard. Follow these steps:

1. Log into WordPress – Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the Comments Section – Click on ‘Comments’ in the left-hand menu.
3. Select All Comments – Use the checkbox at the top to select all comments on the current page.
4. Choose ‘Move to Trash’ – From the ‘Bulk Actions’ dropdown, select ‘Move to Trash’ and click ‘Apply’.
5. Repeat the Process – WordPress displays comments in batches, so repeat the steps until all comments are removed.

Limitations: If you have thousands of comments, this method can be time-consuming as WordPress only allows you to delete comments in small batches at a time.

Method 2: Using a WordPress Plugin to Delete All Comments

If your site has a large number of comments, using a plugin can make the process much easier. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Install a Plugin – Go to ‘Plugins’ > ‘Add New’ in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for ‘Delete All Comments’ Plugin – Some popular options include ‘WP Bulk Delete’ and ‘Delete All Comments of WordPress’.
3. Install and Activate – Click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate’ the plugin.
4. Use the Plugin – After activation, navigate to the plugin settings and follow the instructions to delete all comments in one click.
5. Verify the Deletion – Check the ‘Comments’ section to ensure that all comments have been removed.

Advantages: This method is fast and efficient, especially for large websites with thousands of comments.

Method 3: Deleting All Comments Using phpMyAdmin (Database Method)

If you prefer a more technical approach, you can delete all comments directly from your WordPress database using phpMyAdmin.

Steps to Follow:

1. Access phpMyAdmin – Log in to your web hosting control panel (cPanel) and find the ‘phpMyAdmin’ option.
2. Select Your WordPress Database – In phpMyAdmin, locate the database associated with your WordPress site.
3. Find the ‘wp_comments’ Table – Look for a table named wp_comments. (The prefix may be different if you changed it during installation.)
4. Run a SQL Query – Click on the ‘SQL’ tab and enter the following query:

DELETE FROM wp_comments;
DELETE FROM wp_commentmeta;

5. Execute the Query – Click ‘Go’ to run the query and delete all comments.
6. Verify the Changes – Refresh your WordPress comments section to ensure they are gone.

Warning: This method is powerful, but it directly modifies your database. Always backup your database before executing SQL queries.

Additional Tips

• Backup Your Website – Before deleting all comments, always create a full backup of your website in case you need to restore them.
• Prevent Spam Comments – Install an anti-spam plugin like ‘Akismet’ or enable reCAPTCHA to reduce spam.
• Disable Comments If Needed – If you don’t want to deal with comments at all, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Discussion’ and disable comments on your site.

Conclusion

Deleting all comments in WordPress can be done manually, using a plugin, or through phpMyAdmin. The best method depends on the number of comments and your technical expertise. If you have a small number of comments, the manual method works fine. However, for larger sites, using a plugin or database query is more efficient. Additionally, removing unnecessary comments can contribute to WordPress speed optimization by reducing database clutter.

By following the right approach, you can clean up your website quickly and keep it free from unnecessary or spammy comments!