Accidentally deleting a WordPress category can be frustrating, especially if the category had important posts or was part of your website’s structure. Unfortunately, WordPress does not have a built-in “undelete” feature for categories. However, you can potentially recover the deleted category by restoring a backup, using a plugin, or manually recreating it if you have the necessary details. Here’s a detailed guide on how to attempt to undelete a WordPress category.
Method 1: Restore from a Backup- Undelete a WordPress Category
The most reliable way to undelete a WordPress category is to restore your site from a backup. This method assumes that you have a recent backup of your site.
Step 1: Identify the Backup
Log into Your WordPress Admin Dashboard
- Go to Tools > Backups or the backup plugin you are using (e.g., UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy).
Find a Recent Backup
- Look for a backup that was made before the category was deleted.
Step 2: Restore the Backup- Undelete a WordPress Category
Download the Backup
- If you have a downloadable backup, save it to your computer.
Restore the Backup
- Follow the instructions of your backup plugin to restore the backup. Typically, this involves:
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- Navigate to the plugin’s restore section.
- Selecting the backup file.
- Initiating the restore process.
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Note:
Restoring a backup will revert your entire site to the state it was in at the time of the backup, which means any changes made after the backup will be lost. Make sure to backup your current state before restoring an older backup.
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Method 2: Use a Database Plugin
If you don’t have a recent backup or don’t want to restore the entire site, you can use a database plugin to try and recover the deleted category.
Step 1: Install a Database Plugin
Navigate to Plugins > Add New:
- Search for “WP phpMyAdmin” or “WP Database Backup.”
- Install and activate the plugin.
Step 2: Access the Database- Undelete a WordPress Category
Open phpMyAdmin:
- If you are using a hosting service with cPanel, you can access phpMyAdmin directly from there.
- If you are using a plugin, follow the plugin instructions to access the database.
Step 3: Recover the Category- Undelete a WordPress Category
Find the wp_terms Table:
- Look for the table named wp_terms (the prefix might be different if you changed it during installation).
Look for Deleted Entries:
- Browse the wp_terms table to find the deleted category. If it was recently deleted, it might still be there.
Restore the Category:
- If you find the deleted category, you can manually insert it back into the wp_terms table.
Note:
Working directly with the database can be risky if you are not familiar with SQL. Make sure to create a backup of your database before making any changes.
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Method 3: Manually Recreate the Category
If you have the details of the deleted category, you can manually recreate it in WordPress.
Step 1: Add a New Category- Undelete a WordPress Category
Navigate to Posts > Categories:
- Enter the name, slug, parent category (if applicable), and description of the deleted category.
Reassign Posts to the New Category:
- Go to Posts > All Posts.
- Use the bulk edit feature to reassign posts to the newly created category.
Method 4: Use a Revision Plugin- Undelete a WordPress Category
Some plugins might help you recover deleted content if they track revisions or have undo features.
Step 1: Install a Revision Plugin
Navigate to Plugins > Add New:
- Search for “WP Revisions Control” or “Simple History.”
- Install and activate the plugin.
Step 2: Check for Recoverable Data- Undelete a WordPress Category
Navigate to the Plugin’s Section:
- Check if the plugin provides any options to recover recently deleted categories.
Note:
These plugins are more focused on post revisions, but they might offer some help depending on their features.
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Undelete a WordPress Category
While WordPress does not offer a straightforward way to undelete a category, you can potentially recover it using backups, database plugins, or manually recreating it. Always ensure you have a regular backup schedule to avoid losing important data. If you accidentally delete a category, act quickly to increase the chances of recovery. If you’re not comfortable with any of these methods, consider reaching out to a professional for assistance.
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