---
title: delete_themes
description: "## What is the delete_themes permission in WordPress? The delete_themes permission allows users to remove themes from a WordPress site. However, this permission can not be used unless you also have the [edit_theme_options](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/edit_theme_options/) and [switch_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/switch_themes/) permissions. If you have the…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/delete_themes/"
updated: "2026-10-14"
category: WordPress Permissions / WordPress Permissions
---

# delete_themes

## What is the delete_themes permission in WordPress?

The delete_themes permission allows users to remove themes from a WordPress site.

However, this permission can not be used unless you also have the [edit_theme_options](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/edit_theme_options/) and [switch_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/switch_themes/) permissions.

If you have the delete_themes, [edit_theme_options](https://publishpress.com/links/edit_theme_options) and [switch_themes](https://publishpress.com/links/switch_themes) permissions, you will see these links in the WordPress admin area:

![Appearance Menu](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/appearance-menu.png)
Appearance Menu

- Go to "Appearance", then "Themes".
- On this screen, you can choose choose any theme that is not currently in use. In the image below, I can choose "Twenty Nineteen" or "Twenty Seventeen".

![Themes Not Used](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/themes-not-used-1024x313.png)
Themes Not Used

- After clicking on a theme that is not in use, you will see this red "Delete" link. If you click this link and then the "OK" button, you will completely remove this theme from your site.

![Delete Theme Link](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/delete-theme-link-1024x676.png)
Delete Theme Link

---

## Who has the delete_themes permission?

The delete_themes permission is available on single WordPress sites and on multisite networks.

By default, the delete_themes 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 the site's theme files.

---

## How to control who has the delete_themes permission

You can control who has the delete_themes 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.
- Go to the "Themes" tab.
- Check the box "delete themes".
- Click "Save Changes".

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/delete-themes-1024x480.png)
Delete Themes Box

---

## All the WordPress theme permissions

- [delete_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/delete_themes/)
- [edit_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/edit_themes/)
- [edit_theme_options](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/edit_theme_options/)
- [install_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/install_themes/)
- [switch_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/switch_themes/)
- [update_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/update_themes/)