At a glance
Move or delete all topics
Before you can fully delete a category, you must delete or move all of its topics.
If you have multiple topics to delete or move, clicking the Topic list icon near the top of the category’s topic list will allow you to select multiple topics at once.
Once you have selected all of the topics you want to delete or move, look for the gear icon button near the top left. Select that, then choose the option to delete/move all of the selected messages in one go.
Delete the category
Once the category has been cleared of all topics, find the category edit wrench icon button near the top right of the topic list and select it:
From there, find the Delete Category button near the bottom of the page and select it to finish deleting the category.
Note: If the button is gray, there is something preventing you from deleting the category. There may be a topic you missed or some other factor that needs to be addressed. When you select the button, you should be given instructions and/or be given a link to the oldest topic that needs to be deleted/moved.
Exception – “Uncategorized”
There is one exception that can’t be deleted in this fashion! Some Discourse instances may make use of the Uncategorized feature (default disabled). If you are trying to delete the “Uncategorized” category, the system won’t allow you to do it as it is a special category. Keep in mind that you may have renamed this category. If you see…
This category is special. It is intended as a holding area for topics that have no category; it cannot be deleted.
follow these steps to remove it:
- Move or delete all topics under the category.
- Turn off the
allow uncategorized topicssite setting in your admin panel.
The “Uncategorized” category will no longer appear in your category list, and your users will no longer be able to post topics without specifying a category.