---
title: delete_users
description: "## What is the delete_users permission in WordPress? The delete_users permission allows you to delete other user accounts in WordPress. However, the delete_users permission can not be used by itself. Before you can delete users, you also need [the list_users…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/delete-users/"
updated: "2026-10-14"
category: WordPress Permissions / WordPress Permissions
---

# delete_users

## What is the delete_users permission in WordPress?

The delete_users permission allows you to delete other user accounts in WordPress.

However, the delete_users permission can not be used by itself. Before you can delete users, you also need [the list_users permission](https://publishpress.com/docs/list_users/). With both of those permissions, you can go to the Users > All Users screen and use the "Delete" button.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/delete-users-1024x580.png)

However, there is a heirarchy of users in WordPress. Even with the delete_users permission you can not delete users with more permissions that you. This is the WordPress heirarchy:

- Subscriber (lowest level)
- Contributor
- Author
- Editor
- Administrator (highest level)

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## Who has the delete_users permission?

By default, the delete_users permission is only given to [Super Admins](https://publishpress.com/links/super-admin) and Administrators.

Users not in these roles are not allowed to delete users.

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## How can you control who has the delete_users permission?

You can control who has the delete_users permission by installing the [PublishPress Capabilities](https://publishpress.com/links/capabilities) plugin.

- After installing [PublishPress Capabilities](https://publishpress.com/links/capabilities), go to "Capabilities" in your WordPress admin menu.
- Using the dropdown in the top-left corner, choose the role you want to edit.
- Click the "Users" tab.
- Check or uncheck the “delete users” box.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/delete-users-1024x443.png)

---

## All the WordPress user permissions

- [create_users](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/create_users/)
- [delete_users](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/delete-users/)
- [edit_users](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/edit-users/)
- [list_users](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/list_users/)
- [promote_users](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/promote_users/)
- [remove_users](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/remove_users/)