How to Delete All Comments in WordPress? (4 Methods)

Managing comments in WordPress is essential for maintaining a clean and engaging website. Over time, a site can accumulate thousands of comments, including spam, irrelevant discussions, or outdated feedback.

Deleting all comments becomes necessary when resetting discussions, improving website performance, or dealing with an influx of spam. While WordPress provides built-in tools to manage comments, bulk deletion requires more efficient methods.

This guide explores how WordPress experts delete all comments while maintaining site integrity and performance.

Why Delete All Comments in WordPress?

Comments can be a great way to encourage engagement and discussions on a WordPress site, but there are situations where removing all comments becomes necessary. Whether your site is overloaded with spam, filled with outdated discussions, or undergoing a complete reset, bulk deleting comments can help maintain a clean and professional online presence.

Understanding the reasons for deleting all comments can guide you in making the right decision for your website’s performance and user experience. There are several reasons why you may need to remove all comments from your WordPress site:

• Spam Overload: If your site has accumulated a large number of spam comments.
• Resetting Discussions: When you want to start fresh without any previous comments.
• Removing Unwanted Content: If your website has irrelevant or inappropriate discussions.
• Database Cleanup: To improve website performance by reducing database size.

No matter the reason, keeping your comment section under control is essential for maintaining a well-organized and high-performing website. By identifying why you need to delete all comments, you can take the appropriate steps to clean up your site while implementing strategies to prevent unwanted comments in the future.

How to Delete All Comments in WordPress?

WordPress comments can be a great way to engage with visitors, but they can also become a source of spam, clutter, or unnecessary discussions. If you’re managing a high-traffic website, spam comments can slow down performance and even pose security risks.

There are multiple ways to delete all comments, depending on your website size and technical expertise. Some methods offer quick and user-friendly solutions, while others are more advanced and efficient for large websites.

Here’s how you can delete all comments in WordPress using different methods.

Using the WordPress Dashboard

If you have a small number of comments, deleting them manually from the WordPress admin panel is straightforward. This method works best for websites with a few hundred comments but is inefficient for larger ones.

Steps:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to Comments from the left menu.
• Click on All Comments to view them.
• Select all comments on the page using the checkbox at the top.
• Open the Bulk Actions dropdown, choose Move to Trash, and click Apply.
• Go to the Trash tab, select all comments, and click Delete Permanently.

Limitations:

• WordPress displays only 20 comments per page by default, meaning you’ll have to repeat the process multiple times for large numbers.
• No filtering options—you cannot target specific types of comments (like spam or pending ones).
• Time-consuming for websites with thousands of comments.

Best for: Small websites or occasional cleanup.

Using a Plugin

If you have a large number of comments, manually deleting them isn’t practical. A WordPress plugin offers a faster and easier solution. Plugins also provide extra features, such as filtering and automatic cleanup.

Popular Plugins for Deleting Comments:

• WP Bulk Delete
• Delete All Comments Easily
• Disable Comments

Steps:

• Go to Plugins > Add New in your dashboard.
• Search for WP Bulk Delete, click Install Now, then Activate.
• Navigate to WP Bulk Delete > Delete Comments.
• Choose which comments to delete (approved, pending, spam, trash).
• Click Delete Comments to remove them permanently.

Advantages:

• Faster and more efficient than manual deletion.
• No technical skills required—just install and run.
• Allows filtering (e.g., deleting only spam or pending comments).

However, plugins add extra load to your website, so it’s best to deactivate them once the task is done.

Best for: Medium to large websites that need an easy, non-technical solution.

Using phpMyAdmin (Database Method)

If your site has thousands of comments, deleting them directly from the WordPress database via phpMyAdmin is the fastest way. This method is ideal for developers or site owners who are comfortable with database management.

Steps:

• Log in to your hosting cPanel and open phpMyAdmin.
• Select your WordPress database from the left sidebar.
• Click on the SQL tab.
• Enter the following SQL query:

DELETE FROM wp_comments;
DELETE FROM wp_commentmeta;

• Click Go to execute the query.

Why Use This Method?

• Fast and efficient for large websites.
• Deletes all comments in one go, regardless of number.
• Bypasses WordPress limitations on bulk actions.

Caution: Backup Your Database First!

Since SQL queries directly modify the database, any mistake can lead to data loss. Always create a backup before running queries.

Best for: Large websites with thousands of comments and users who are comfortable with SQL.

Using WP-CLI (Command Line Method)

WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface) is an advanced tool for developers that allows bulk comment deletion through the command line. It’s the most efficient method for large sites but requires SSH access.

Steps:

• Access your server via SSH.
• Navigate to your WordPress root directory.
• Run the following command:

wp comment delete $(wp comment list --format=ids) --force

Advantages:

• Extremely fast—deletes thousands of comments in seconds.
• No need for plugins or database access.
• Automated and efficient for developers managing multiple sites.

Requirements:

• SSH access to your hosting server.
• WP-CLI installed on your server.

Best for: Developers or advanced users managing large WordPress sites.

With multiple ways to delete comments, you can select the method that best suits your needs. Whether you prefer a simple dashboard action or a more technical approach, each option ensures that your site remains free from unwanted discussions and clutter.

If you need help managing comments and other UGC on your website, our professional WordPress development company can help.

After deleting comments, it’s also important to implement preventive measures to maintain a clean and organized comment section.

How to Prevent Spam Comments in WordPress?

Deleting all comments can help clean up your WordPress site, but without proper safeguards, spam and unwanted discussions can quickly return. To maintain a clutter-free and engaging comment section, it’s essential to implement strategies that reduce spam and improve moderation.

Here are some best practices:

Enable an Anti-spam Plugin

Plugins like Akismet, Anti-spam Bee, and CleanTalk are designed to automatically filter out spam comments. They utilize algorithms and databases of known spam sources to identify and block unwanted submissions, freeing you from manual screening.

Configuration is typically straightforward, often requiring just an API key or a few setting adjustments.

Use reCAPTCHA

Adding reCAPTCHA to your WordPress site offers a layer of human verification to your comment forms, making it harder for bots to submit spam. Google’s reCAPTCHA is a popular choice, offering various versions, including the “invisible” reCAPTCHA that minimizes user interaction.

This method effectively distinguishes between human users and automated spam bots. A plugin like Advanced Google reCAPTCHA could be helpful.

Disable Comments on Old Posts

Spammers often target older posts that may have lower moderation activity. WordPress allows you to automatically close comments on posts older than a specified number of days.

This simple setting can significantly reduce the volume of spam comments you receive.

Manually Approve Comments

While time-consuming, manual approval gives you complete control over the comments that appear on your site. Enable comment moderation in WordPress settings, and all comments will be held for your review before publication.

This method is particularly effective for smaller sites or those with highly engaged communities.

Use a Third-Party Commenting System

Platforms like Disqus and Commento offer alternative commenting systems that often include built-in spam filtering and moderation tools. They can also enhance user engagement with features like social login and threaded discussions.

These services take the load of comment management off of your server, and often have very strong spam filters.

By taking proactive steps to prevent spam, you can ensure that your website’s comment section remains a valuable space for meaningful discussions. Implementing the right tools and settings will save time, enhance user experience, and keep your site free from unnecessary clutter.

FAQs on WordPress Delete All Comments

To Summarize

Effectively managing comments in WordPress is crucial for maintaining a clean and professional website. Whether you’re dealing with an overwhelming amount of spam, resetting discussions, or improving site performance, deleting all comments can be a necessary step.

With multiple methods available–from using the WordPress dashboard and plugins to executing database queries and WP-CLI commands–you can choose the approach that best fits your needs. However, removing comments is only part of the solution.

Implementing preventive measures, such as anti-spam plugins and stricter moderation settings, will help keep your comment section organized and relevant. If you need help with these strategies, consult with our WordPress development professionals today!