Are you looking for the simplest way to disable automatic empty trash in WordPress? Here is all you need to learn.
WordPress is a widely used content management system that powers millions of websites worldwide. As a website owner or administrator, you may have noticed that WordPress automatically empties the trash after a certain period of time.
This automatic process is designed to free up disk space and improve the performance of your website. However, there may be times when you want to limit or disable automatic empty trash in WordPress.
In this article, we will explain how to do this in a few simple steps.
What Is The Trash Feature In Wordpress?
The Trash feature in WordPress is a built-in function that allows website administrators and editors to temporarily store deleted content before it is permanently deleted.
The feature is available for posts, pages, comments, and other content types, and it provides a safety net for users who may accidentally delete important content and need to restore it.
When a user deletes content in WordPress, such as a post or page, it is moved to the Trash folder instead of being permanently deleted. This allows the user to restore the content if needed. For example, if a user accidentally deletes a page and later realizes that they need it, they can simply restore it from the Trash folder.
The Trash folder is located within the WordPress dashboard and can be accessed by clicking on the “Trash” link in the left-hand menu. This displays a list of all the deleted content that is currently in the Trash folder, along with the date it was deleted and the option to restore or permanently delete it.
By default, WordPress automatically empties the Trash folder after 30 days. This means that any content that has been in the Trash folder for more than 30 days will be permanently deleted.
However, website administrators and editors can modify this setting to adjust the automatic emptying period or disable it altogether.
Limiting Automatic Empty Trash In Wordpress With A Plugin:
Limiting automatic empty trash in WordPress can be done using a plugin. A plugin is a software component that adds a specific feature or functionality to a WordPress website.
There are several plugins available that can help to modify the automatic emptying period or disable the Trash feature altogether.
In this section, we’ll take a look at two popular plugins that can be used for this purpose.
1. WP Disable Empty Trash:
WP Disable Empty Trash is a lightweight plugin that allows website administrators to modify the automatic emptying period for the Trash folder. It is a simple and easy-to-use plugin that does not require any coding knowledge.
To use WP Disable Empty Trash, follow these steps:
Step 1: Install And Activate The Plugin:
To install the plugin, go to the WordPress dashboard, click on Plugins > Add New, search for “WP Disable Empty Trash,” and then click on “Install Now.” Once the plugin is installed, click on “Activate” to activate it.
Step 2: Configure The Plugin Settings:
To configure the plugin settings, go to Settings > WP Disable Empty Trash. From here, you can modify the automatic emptying period for the Trash folder. You can choose from several options, ranging from 1 day to 365 days. Once you have selected your preferred option, click on “Save Changes” to apply the changes.
Step 3: Test The Plugin:
To test the plugin, delete some content from your WordPress website and check to see if it is still in the Trash folder after the automatic emptying period has passed. If the content is still in the Trash folder, the plugin is working correctly.
2. Disable WP Trash:
Disable WP Trash is another popular plugin that allows website administrators to disable the Trash feature altogether. It is a lightweight and easy-to-use plugin that does not require any coding knowledge.
To use Disable WP Trash, follow these steps:
Step 1: Install And Activate The Plugin:
To install the plugin, go to the WordPress dashboard, click on Plugins > Add New, search for “Disable WP Trash,” and then click on “Install Now.” Once the plugin is installed, click on “Activate” to activate it.
Step 2: Configure The Plugin Settings:
To configure the plugin settings, go to Settings > Disable WP Trash. From here, you can choose to disable the Trash feature for posts, pages, and/or comments. Once you have selected your preferred options, click on “Save Changes” to apply the changes.
Step 3: Test The Plugin:
To test the plugin, delete some content from your WordPress website and check to see if it is still in the Trash folder. If the content is not in the Trash folder, the plugin is working correctly.
Limiting Automatic Empty Trash In Wordpress With Code:
Limiting automatic empty trash in WordPress can also be done by modifying the code of your website. This method requires some coding knowledge and should only be attempted by those who are comfortable with editing code.
In this section, we’ll take a look at how to limit or disable the automatic emptying of the Trash folder by modifying the code of your WordPress website.
To limit the automatic emptying of the Trash folder in WordPress, you can modify the code in your website’s functions.php file. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Access The Functions.Php File:
The functions.php file is located in the “wp-content/themes/[your-theme-name]/” directory of your WordPress installation. You can access this file by logging into your website’s FTP account or by using the file manager in your hosting control panel.
Step 2: Add Code To The Functions.Php File:
To limit the automatic emptying of the Trash folder, add the following code to your website’s functions.php file:
// Set the automatic emptying period for the Trash folder to 60 days
define( ‘EMPTY_TRASH_DAYS’, 60 );
This code sets the automatic emptying period for the Trash folder to 60 days. You can modify the number in the code to set the automatic emptying period to your preferred length of time.
Step 3: Save The Changes:
Once you have added the code to the functions.php file, save the changes and upload the file to your website’s server.
That’s it! The Trash folder on your WordPress website will now automatically empty itself after the specified number of days has passed.
To disable the Trash feature altogether, add the following code to your website’s functions.php file:
// Disable the Trash feature
define( ‘EMPTY_TRASH_DAYS’, 0 );
This code sets the automatic emptying period for the Trash folder to 0 days, effectively disabling the Trash feature. Any content that is deleted from your WordPress website will be permanently deleted immediately.
Stopping Wordpress From Automatically Emptying Trash Using Wpcode:
WPCode is a popular WordPress plugin that allows you to add code snippets to your website without having to modify any of the core files. Here’s how to use WPCode to stop WordPress from automatically emptying the trash folder:
Step 1: Install And Activate Wpcode:
To get started, you’ll need to install and activate the WPCode plugin on your WordPress website. You can do this by navigating to the “Plugins” section of your WordPress dashboard and searching for “WPCode”. Install and activate the plugin.
Step 2: Access The Wpcode Settings:
Once you have activated the WPCode plugin, navigate to the “WPCode” section of your WordPress dashboard. This is where you will add the code snippet to disable the automatic emptying of the trash folder.
Step 3: Add The Code Snippet:
In the WPCode settings, you will see a field where you can add your code snippet. To stop WordPress from automatically emptying the trash folder, add the following code snippet:
define( ‘EMPTY_TRASH_DAYS’, 365 );
This code snippet sets the automatic emptying period for the trash folder to 365 days, meaning that WordPress will not automatically empty the trash folder for one year.
Step 4: Save The Changes:
Once you have added the code snippet, save the changes and exit the WPCode settings. That’s it! WordPress will no longer automatically empty the trash folder on your website.
Note: If you want to disable the trash feature altogether, you can use the following code snippet instead:
define( ‘EMPTY_TRASH_DAYS’, 0 );
This code snippet will disable the trash feature, meaning that any content that is deleted from your WordPress website will be permanently deleted immediately.
In summary, WPCode is a useful plugin that allows you to add code snippets to your WordPress website without having to modify any of the core files.
By adding a code snippet to WPCode, you can stop WordPress from automatically emptying the trash folder or disable automatic empty trash.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q: What Happens When the trash folder is disabled?
A: When the trash folder is disabled in WordPress, any content that is deleted from the website will be permanently deleted immediately. There will be no option to restore deleted content.
Q: Is it safe to Modify the code of my WordPress website?
A: Modifying the code of your WordPress website can be risky if you are not familiar with coding. It is always recommended to make a backup of your website before making any changes. If you are not comfortable with modifying code, it is better to use a plugin to achieve the desired result.
Q: Can I Change the Automatic Emptying Period for the trash Folder?
A: Yes, you can change the automatic emptying period for the trash folder by modifying the code in your website’s functions.php file or by using a plugin like WPCode. The default automatic emptying period in WordPress is 30 days, but you can change this to any number of days that you prefer.
Q: What happens to the Contents of the Trash folder after the Automatic Emptying Period has Passed?
A: Once the automatic emptying period for the trash folder has passed, WordPress will permanently delete the contents of the trash folder. There is no option to restore deleted content after it has been permanently deleted.
Q: Can I Recover Deleted Content from the Trash Folder?
A: Yes, you can recover deleted content from the trash folder as long as it has not been permanently deleted. WordPress stores deleted content in the trash folder for the duration of the automatic emptying period. To recover deleted content, simply navigate to the trash folder and restore the item(s) you wish to recover.
Q: Can I Limit the Automatic Emptying of the Trash Folder for Specific post types?
A: Yes, you can limit the automatic emptying of the trash folder for specific post types by modifying the code in your website’s functions.php file. There are various tutorials available online that demonstrate how to do this. Alternatively, you can use a plugin like WP Disable to achieve this result.
Sum Up:
In conclusion, WordPress’s trash feature can be a useful tool for recovering accidentally deleted content. However, the automatic emptying of the trash folder can lead to the permanent deletion of content that you may want to restore later.
By limiting or disabling the automatic emptying of the trash folder, you can have greater control over what is permanently deleted from your website. This can be achieved using either plugins or code snippets.
It is important to note that modifying the code of your WordPress website can be risky if you are not familiar with coding, so using a plugin is often the safer and easier option.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can limit or disable the automatic empty trash folder in WordPress and have greater control over the content on your website. We hope that you found this article super helpful.
