DELETE OLD POSTS AND PICTURES
Complete setup & support guide
From your first read-only scan to scheduled housekeeping. Follow the Free workflow first, then configure Automation Pro if you need recurring jobs.
In this guide
1. Prepare before cleanup
2. Install the Free plugin
3. Scan and review old content
4. Review images before deletion
5. Use Quick Cleanup deliberately
6. Check the outcome
7. Install and activate Automation Pro
8. Configure recurring jobs in Pro
9. Troubleshooting
10. Get help
1. Prepare before cleanup
Make a current backup of both the database and uploaded files. Confirm how you would restore it. Start on a staging copy when possible, and keep posts or images you are uncertain about. A cleanup history entry is a record, not a recovery copy.
2. Install the Free plugin
In WordPress, open Plugins → Add New, search for Delete Old Posts and Pictures – Content Cleanup by Wizehawk, install it, and activate it. You can also upload the official ZIP using Upload Plugin. Open Content Cleanup in the admin sidebar. If you are upgrading from the old interface, the current workflow is Scan → Review → Clean.
3. Scan and review old content
Open Old Content. Choose the content type, status, and age in months, then run the scan. The preview shows up to 100 of the oldest matches. Read the titles and inspect the pages before selecting anything. Start with a small set you recognize, such as abandoned drafts. Choose Move to Trash for recoverable cleanup; only choose permanent deletion when you intend to remove the content for good. Read and confirm the action, then review the result. Repeat the scan to see what remains.
4. Review images before deletion
Open Old Media, set the age threshold, and scan. Review each preview, filename, date, and file size. Protected means a known reference was found and the item cannot be selected. Review means the image needs closer inspection, for example because it is attached to content. Candidate is not a guarantee that an image is unused. Check pages, builders, custom fields, CSS, and any external uses relevant to your site. Select only images you have checked. Media deletion is permanent: WordPress removes the attachment and associated generated image files. The plugin rechecks known protections immediately before deletion.
5. Use Quick Cleanup deliberately
Open Quick Cleanup and choose an age threshold. Review the available cleanup counts. Old drafts are moved to Trash; old content already in Trash, spam comments, and trashed comments are permanently deleted. Each cleanup handles up to 100 items. Review the result before running another batch. A count larger than the batch limit does not mean the action failed.
6. Check the outcome
Open History to inspect recent actions; it retains the last 50. Check the affected parts of your site, including pages that previously used removed images. If content was moved to Trash by mistake, open the appropriate WordPress content list and restore it from Trash. For permanent deletion, use your backup restoration process.
7. Install and activate Automation Pro
Pro is an add-on to Free. After purchase, download the Pro ZIP without extracting it. Open Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, select the ZIP, install, and activate it. Keep the Free plugin installed and active. Open Content Cleanup → Automation Pro; this is a tab within Content Cleanup, not a separate sidebar menu. Enter your license key and activate it. Once activated, Pro updates use the normal WordPress plugin update workflow.
8. Configure recurring jobs in Pro
First prove your manual cleanup rules on a small set. In Automation Pro, choose daily, weekly, or every 30 days. Enable only the rules you want and set a separate age threshold for each: old drafts, trashed content, spam comments, and trashed comments. Drafts go to Trash; the other cleanup jobs permanently delete matching items. Optionally enable the scheduled media scan and choose its age threshold. This creates candidate, review, and protected counts; it never deletes images automatically. Review every enabled rule before selecting Enable scheduled cleanup and saving Pro Automation. Inspect Last scheduled report and History after a run. WordPress scheduling depends on cron processing, so a quiet site may run jobs later than expected.
9. Troubleshooting
No results: check the selected content type, status, and age threshold. Only 100 items: previews and cleanup batches are deliberately limited; review or clean one batch and scan again. An image is protected: inspect its actual use rather than trying to force deletion. Automation Pro is missing: confirm both Free and the Pro add-on are active. Rules are unavailable: check license activation. No scheduled report: confirm automation and the desired rules are enabled, the license is active, and WordPress cron is running. Your host can help diagnose delayed cron tasks.
10. Get help
Use the WizeHawk contact page. Include the plugin name, Free or Pro, WordPress and plugin versions, the tab and action used, and what you expected versus what happened. A screenshot of the results can help. Do not include passwords or license keys. Free includes documentation and best-effort email with no guaranteed response time. Pro includes priority email for installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.