Only Site Managers have permissions to delete media items. This includes files, icons, images, local videos, and remote videos. Content maintainers can only remove items from pages; they are still stored on the site and can be inserted back.

1 Recommended Process for Deleting Files
- 1.1 Permanently delete a media item
2 NEW: When to Use File Delete
- 2.1 Access File Delete
3 Important Warnings
4 Best Practices

Recommended Process for Deleting Files

Before deleting the media, make sure it is no longer in use, as deleting the media item will not remove it from pages, which can lead to errors.

The safest and preferred method is to delete the media item and ensure the associated file is removed automatically.

Permanently delete a media item

The following steps will permanently delete a media item from the website.

From the administration bar, select Workbench, then select My Dashboard.
Navigate to Media.

Select the drop-down arrow next to either File, Icon, Image, Local video, or Remote video (depending on the content to be deleted), then select Manage.
Locate the content you want to delete by searching for it by the media item’s name (which defaults to the file name for files, icons, images, and local video, but may have been modified). You can also filter by Published status, or navigate between media types/search all media types using the Type drop-down menu.

Select the checkbox next to the media you want to delete from the site. From the Action drop-down menu, select Delete media.
Select Apply to selected items.
A new page and prompt will appear. For everything except remote video, you will be asked if you want to "Also delete the associated files?" - make sure this box is checked. Unchecking this box removes the media item without removing the file.

Select Delete.

NEW: When to Use File Delete

Use File Delete only in these cases:

The media item was deleted without checking 'Also delete associated file.'
The media item was deleted during an older period when this option didn’t exist or didn’t work correctly.
You need to remove orphaned files from older site versions.

Access File Delete

The File Delete option is a new feature added in October 2025 in WCMS release 3.2.25.

From the administration bar, select Workbench, then select My Dashboard.
Navigate to Media.
Go to File and select manage from the drop down.
Select the Files tab.
Find the file you want to delete.
Select Delete file.

Important Warnings

Deleting files in use can break pages.
If a file is linked in older revisions, reverting to those revisions later may cause issues.
Bulk deletion is not supported out-of-the-box; files must be deleted one at a time.

Best Practices

Always delete through Media, not Files.
Keep 'Also delete associated file' checked.
Name files and media items clearly for easy searching.
For replacing files:
- Option 1: Replace the file in the existing media item (keeps links intact but adds numbering).
- Option 2: Delete media and file, create a new media item (removes numbering but requires relinking).