After more than ten years of managing a WordPress website, we’ve faced situations where it was necessary to unpublish a page. While it’s a straightforward process, there are several methods available, each tailored to different requirements.
Whether you’re refreshing content, making significant edits, or temporarily removing information, knowing how to unpublish a page is a vital skill for every WordPress user.
In this article, we will explore four easy methods to unpublish a WordPress page. From quick individual adjustments to bulk actions, we will discuss techniques that suit various scenarios.
When to Unpublish Pages in WordPress
When creating a WordPress website, you publish pages for your visitors to view. However, there are occasions when you may want to unpublish a page to make it invisible to your website’s audience.
For instance, you might want to shift your WordPress blog’s focus. You may have also unintentionally published a draft that needs to be unpublished.
As time goes on, a post may become outdated or lose its relevance. Many website owners choose to archive old posts or include an old post notification at the top of the page. However, if you intend to update the post later, it’s advisable to unpublish it instead.
This way, it stays in the WordPress admin dashboard as a draft that you can modify.
Let’s explore several effective methods to unpublish a page on your WordPress website. Use the quick links below to navigate directly to the method of your choice:
- Method 1: Unpublish a Single WordPress Page Quickly and Easily
- Method 2: Unpublish Multiple WordPress Pages Using the Bulk Tool
- Method 3: Set a WordPress Page to Private or Password Protected
- Method 4: Restrict Access to a WordPress Page for Members Only
Method 1: Unpublish a Single WordPress Page Quickly and Easily
Unpublishing a page or post removes it from public view on your WordPress site while still allowing you to edit and republish it later.
The simplest approach is to convert the page to a draft. This way, visitors won’t see the page, but it will remain accessible as a draft in your WordPress dashboard. If you’ve identified errors or wish to enhance the content, this is an ideal solution.
To change a published page to a draft, navigate to Pages » All Pages. Hover over the desired page and click the ‘Edit’ link when it appears.
This action will take you to the page editor screen.
Click the ‘Switch to draft’ button located at the top of the page.
A popup will appear asking if you are sure you want to unpublish the post. Keep in mind that removing a live post from your site may lead to broken links and could impact your WordPress SEO, so consider this decision carefully.
If the page you are unpublishing has good search engine rankings and is attracting visitors, we recommend redirecting the URL to another relevant page to maintain your SEO standings.
For further information, check out our beginner’s guide on creating 301 redirects in WordPress.
If you are ready to unpublish the post, click the ‘OK’ button.
This action will convert the live post into a draft.
If you no longer need the page at all, you might want to delete it, similar to sending a file to the recycle bin on your computer.
To delete the page, click the ‘Move to trash’ button in the right-hand menu, and WordPress will move the page to the trash.
By default, WordPress automatically deletes items in the trash after 30 days, giving you time to reconsider your decision.
To recover a page, simply navigate to Pages » All Pages and then click on the ‘Trash’ link.
To restore a page, just click on its ‘Restore’ link.
Method 2: How to Unpublish Multiple WordPress Pages Using the Bulk Tool
If you’re redesigning your website or migrating to a new domain, you may find that you have numerous pages that are no longer necessary.
Rather than unpublishing each page one by one, you can quickly unpublish or delete them all at once. To do this, navigate to Pages » All Pages and select the checkbox next to all the pages you wish to unpublish.
Next, click on the ‘Bulk actions’ dropdown menu and choose ‘Edit’.
Then, click on ‘Apply’ to proceed.
In addition to bulk unpublishing, you can also add posts and pages or assign posts to categories and tags in bulk.
You can now utilize the settings to modify all the selected posts. For instance, you can make them all sticky posts or change the author if you manage a multi-author blog.
To convert multiple published pages into drafts, open the ‘Status’ dropdown and select the ‘Draft’ option. Then, click on the ‘Update’ button.
Alternatively, you can move several pages to the trash by selecting ‘Move to Trash’ from the ‘Bulk options’ dropdown.
Then, simply click on ‘Apply’ to confirm.
Method 3: How to Make a WordPress Page Private or Password Protected
Password-protecting a page keeps specific sections of your WordPress blog confidential.
This feature is beneficial for creating a dedicated space on your website for colleagues, members, or for developing a client portal in WordPress.
It is also useful for limiting access to your site while you are working on it, ensuring that only authorized testers, clients, or coworkers can view the site.
To start, open the page you wish to password-protect. Click the ‘Public’ button next to ‘Visibility.’
Next, choose the ‘Password Protected’ option and enter a password in the ‘Use a secure password’ field. Anyone with this password will have access to the content, so select a strong password that includes letters, numbers, and symbols.
Once you’ve done that, click the ‘Update’ button to apply your changes.
Now, WordPress will prompt visitors for a password before granting access to this page.
Alternatively, you can set the page to private, making it visible only to logged-in users with the Editor or Administrator roles in WordPress.
To do this, click the ‘Public’ button next to ‘Visibility’ and select ‘Private’ instead.
A popup will confirm if you want to make the page private.
Simply click the ‘OK’ button to proceed.
Next, navigate to Pages »All Pages, where you can view all your published, draft, password-protected, and private pages in one place.
The image below illustrates a published page alongside those marked as private and password-protected.
For additional details on managing private WordPress content, refer to these helpful guides:
- How to Create a Private Post in WordPress
- How to Share Private Posts with User Groups in WordPress
- How to Change Private and Protected Posts Prefix in WordPress
Method 4: Creating a Members-Only Page in WordPress
If you run a membership site, you can restrict access to a page based on the user’s membership level. Non-members will need to register to view the page, making it an effective strategy for collecting email addresses and expanding your email list.
You might also consider charging a fee for access to your exclusive, members-only content. This approach can help you generate income through your WordPress blog.
The most effective way to create a members-only page is by using the MemberPress plugin.
Discover the top WordPress membership plugin that allows you to create various subscriber tiers, publish exclusive content for members only, and accept credit card payments directly on your WordPress site.
This user-friendly plugin enables you to sell online courses, offer premium downloads, manage drip content, and much more with ease.
It features robust access control options that allow you to easily restrict access to specific WordPress pages with just a few clicks.
For further information on how to restrict access to certain pages, check out our comprehensive guide on creating a paywall in WordPress.
Alternative: Activate Maintenance Mode for Your Entire WordPress Site
Need to make temporary fixes to your website? Instead of unpublishing pages, consider putting your WordPress site into maintenance mode.
This approach informs your visitors that several pages on your site are currently unavailable, without the need to unpublish them all.
The easiest way to enable maintenance mode on your WordPress site is by using SeedProd. This plugin allows you to create an attractive maintenance or coming soon page using its intuitive drag-and-drop page builder and over 180 templates.
Creating a custom maintenance page enhances user experience by keeping visitors informed about your site’s status and anticipated return date. This approach can also foster trust in your brand by showcasing your commitment to site improvement.
Alternatively, you can activate maintenance mode through your WordPress hosting provider. For further information, refer to our guide on how to make your WordPress blog completely private.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to unpublish a WordPress page. You might also be interested in our comprehensive guide on WordPress post revisions and our list of essential pages every WordPress blog should include.
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