Whether you’re revamping your content, correcting a hasty publish, or hiding a page that’s “not quite ready for prime time,” learning how to unpublish a page in WordPress is a skill every website owner should master. It might seem like a small thing, but an outdated or broken page can make your site look like it belongs in 2009—and not in a good way.
Let’s explore the different ways you can unpublish pages the right way, all while keeping your SEO and user experience intact.
Why Would You Want to Unpublish a Page?
Not all content ages like fine wine. Some pages grow stale, some just stop serving your business, and others need a facelift. You might want to unpublish a page because:
- The information is outdated (think expired offers or discontinued services)
- You’re working on a major content revamp
- You want to restrict access to certain users or team members
- The page isn’t aligned with your new branding or direction
Instead of deleting pages—which can hurt SEO and create broken links—knowing how to unpublish a page in WordPress helps you preserve your site’s structure while still maintaining control.
How to Unpublish a Single WordPress Page
The fastest way to hide a single page from the public is to convert it back to a draft.
Here’s how:
- Head to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Pages > All Pages.
- Hover over the page you want to unpublish and click Edit.
- In the editor, click the “Switch to Draft” button.
- Confirm the popup asking if you’re sure you want to unpublish.
Voilà. Your page is now hidden but safely stored for future edits. Just don’t forget it exists—you’d be surprised how many people accidentally ghost their own content.
Oh, and if the page was getting traffic from Google, consider adding a 301 redirect to another page to avoid losing SEO juice.
How to Unpublish Multiple Pages Using Bulk Actions
If you’re doing some digital spring cleaning, the bulk unpublish feature will save you hours (and likely a headache or two).
Here’s what to do:
- Navigate to Pages > All Pages.
- Check the boxes next to the pages you want to unpublish.
- From the Bulk Actions dropdown, select Edit and click Apply.
- In the new settings panel, change the status to Draft and hit Update.
This will hide all selected pages from public view while keeping them safe in your dashboard. It’s like putting them in digital Tupperware—safe, sound, and ready for later.
Make It Private or Password-Protected (No Need to Ghost Everyone)
Sometimes you want your page off the public web but still accessible to a specific audience. That’s where making it Private or Password Protected comes in.
To make a page private:
- Edit the page and find the Visibility setting under the Status & Visibility panel.
- Click Private, then Update.
- Only logged-in Admins and Editors will be able to see the page.
To password-protect a page:
- In the same Visibility settings, choose Password Protected.
- Enter a strong password and click Update.
- Now only those with the password can access the page.
This is perfect for client previews, internal pages, or secret landing pages you’re not ready to shout about just yet.
Make the Page Members-Only (For Advanced Users)
For more robust content restriction, consider installing a membership plugin like MemberPress or Paid Memberships Pro.
These tools allow you to:
- Lock pages by membership level
- Display custom messages to non-members
- Offer exclusive content (and even charge for it)
It’s an excellent option for course creators, subscription services, or any site offering gated content. Plus, it’s a professional way to keep content controlled without worrying about whether someone found your “hidden” URL.
Temporarily Unpublish Your Entire WordPress Site
Need to pause everything? You don’t need to frantically unpublish page by page. Instead, put your site into Maintenance Mode.
Option 1: Use a Plugin
Plugins like SeedProd or WP Maintenance Mode let you:
- Show a “Coming Soon” or “Under Construction” message
- Customize your message and design
- Work behind the scenes without disrupting UX
Option 2: Manually Add a .maintenance File
Feeling techy? You can manually enable maintenance mode by uploading a .maintenance file to your WordPress root directory using FTP and inserting the code:
| <?php $upgrading = time(); ?> |
Don’t worry—removing the file puts your site back online.
SEO Considerations When Unpublishing Pages
If you’re wondering how to unpublish a page in WordPress without tanking your SEO, pay attention here:
- Use 301 redirects to guide visitors and search engines to related pages.
- Update internal links and menus to avoid broken navigation.
- If a page is temporary, use a 302 redirect instead.
- Use the “noindex” tag for private or password-protected content if you don’t want Google indexing it.
For long-term management, consider plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to help with redirects and meta settings.
Automate the Process: Schedule Page Unpublishing
Using the PublishPress Future plugin, you can schedule your pages to automatically revert to draft, archive, or delete at a future date.
This is ideal for:
- Event pages
- Promotional offers
- Time-sensitive blog posts
Why do the work yourself when WordPress can do it for you?
Final Thoughts: Unpublishing Done Right
Learning how to unpublish a page in WordPress isn’t just about removing content—it’s about doing it smartly, strategically, and without leaving broken links (or confused visitors) in your wake.
Whether you’re hiding a page temporarily, updating a campaign, or cleaning house, you now have all the tools to do it right.
And if this all sounds like a lot to handle, don’t worry—we’re here to help.
🚀 Need Help? Call the Pros
At SE Rank Pro, a trusted digital marketing company in Chandigarh, we help businesses like yours manage and optimize their WordPress sites—from unpublishing pages to full redesigns, SEO upgrades, and everything in between.
Let us take care of your WordPress headaches, so you can focus on growing your business. Because your website deserves better than “Oops, this page doesn’t exist.”
Ready to take control of your content? Let’s talk.
