4  Delete a site

Sometimes the only way to delete a site is to delete all the files it uses.

If the domain a site uses has lapsed, it can no longer be accessed from the internet. The only way to delete all of the site's files is to use cPanel's File Manager page, which this procedure details. Of course, this will leave the site with no content, which will probably result in a 404 error page if the site can be accessed.

This procedure involves deleting all the Smallsite Design files and its single folder (begins like sd.2025-06-23-13-43-22.e09ac) from the site root folder. The site for the account will be in the public_html folder in the account home folder, or a folder in it named with something resembling the domain name for an addon domain if it was created using the Create an addon domain procedure.

If deleting files or folders from the hosting account's domain root folder (public_html), any add-on domain root folders there will need to be excluded from deletion using step 5. The only folder that must be deleted to remove a site is the one beginning like sd.2025-06-23-13-43-22.e09ac.

Steps

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The role to perform this procedure is: Site owner.

To delete a site's files:1Log into the cPanel console⬒︎

if not already.

2Open the File Manager page⬒︎

by clicking on the File Manager link in the Files section.

3List the site root's contents⬒︎

by clicking on the site's folder in the folder list, which will be public_html or one within it.

The .well-known folder is used by cPanel during the generation and renewal of the site certificate and can be left there. A cgi-bin folder may be shown and though not used by Smallsite Design, it can also be left there.

4Select the items to delete⬒︎

by performing:

4-1Select the first item⬒︎

by clicking on the folder starting with sd.

The item's background is highlighted.

4-2Select the last item⬒︎

by pressing and holding the Shift key and clicking on the last item, which is usually the robots.txt file.

All the items up and including the last clicked are also highlighted.

5Exclude add-on domain root folders⬒︎☰︎

by performing:

5-1Deselect a domain root folder⬒︎☰︎

by, while all the items are selected, holding the Ctrl | command key and clicking on one of the domain root folders to keep.

If deleting files or folders from the hosting account's domain root folder (public_html), and add-on domains were created using the Create an addon domain procedure, their root folders will be within that folder, and so must be excluded from being deleted. The only folder that must be deleted to remove a site is the one beginning with something like sd.2025-06-23-13-43-22.e09ac.

The item will be deselected.

5-2Repeat for other folders6Delete the items⬒︎

by performing:

6-1Initiate the delete⬒︎

by clicking the ✖ Delete button under the page banner.

6-2Use the option to completely delete⬒︎

by clicking the Skip the trash and permanently delete the files checkbox.

6-3Confirm the deletion⬒︎

by clicking the Confirm button.

The files are deleted and the list updated. The File Manager page can be closed unless needed for another operation.