CMS: Deleting a Collection
Remove unnecessary CMS (Content Management System) collections by deleting them. Before you delete a collection, make sure it is not connected to any pages or elements on your site. You cannot delete a collection while other collections still reference its data — you first need to remove those references.
Deleting a collection in the CMS
You can delete collections that you no longer need at any time. If the collection you are deleting is connected to any page or site elements, they will become disconnected when you delete.
Before deleting a collection:
Connections: Make sure the collection is not connected to your site pages or elements.
References: You cannot delete a collection that other collections reference. The Relations column on the CMS page shows which collections use the collection's data. Learn more about managing your collections from the CMS dashboard.
Backups: You can create a manual backup of your collections, in case you need to restore them later.
Exports: You can also export your collection to a CSV file if you want to save the data outside of Wix.
Important:
If you delete a category collection, all categories in that collection are removed from the items they were assigned to. The connected 'Category' field in any items collection then shows a warning state because its source category collection no longer exists. You can either restore the deleted category collection or delete the broken 'Category' field.
To delete a collection:
Go to CMS in your site's dashboard.
Click the More Actions icon
on the relevant collection.
Select Delete collection.
Click Yes, delete collection to confirm you want to delete the collection.
Click Delete.
Consequences of deleting connected collections
Review the table below to find out what happens when you delete a collection that was connected to your site pages or elements.
If the collection was connected to a: | This happens in your Editor: | This happens in your published site: |
Dynamic dataset | All of the connections are removed. The dynamic dataset panel is blank. | A 500 error page displays. |
Regular dataset | All of the connections are removed. The dataset settings panel displays the removed collection's name with a warning sign. | The page displays elements with their default content (e.g. default text in text elements). |
Page element | The connected page elements are disconnected. | The connected page elements are disconnected. The static value of the element displays. User Input elements remain functional but display an error upon submitting. |
Table, Gallery or Repeater | The connected element is disconnected. | Repeaters and galleries disappear completely from the page. Tables display empty. |
Used in a dataset filter (by reference field or by dataset) | The dataset filter is removed because no items match the filter settings. | N/A |
Connected to the labels and values in a dropdown element | The labels and values listed in the Manage Dropdown List panel appear instead of collection items. If none are listed, the dropdown list does not open when clicked. | Same as in your editor. |
Used in a reference field in another collection | You cannot delete the collection while the reference field exists. Remove or update the reference fields in the referencing collections first. | N/A — deletion is blocked while other collections reference the collection's data. |
Connected to a page element as a reference field | The page elements are disconnected. The Connect panel displays the removed collection's name with a warning sign or prompts you to create a collection if you have none. | The static value of the element is displayed. User Input elements remain functional but display an error upon submitting. |
FAQs
View the most frequent questions and answers about deleting collections below.
How do I delete a collection that other collections reference?
You first need to remove the references to the collection.
On the CMS page, hover over the number in the collection's Relations column to see which collections use its data, then click Open next to a referencing collection. From there, remove the reference field that uses the collection's data, or update it to point to a different collection. After you remove all the references, follow the steps above to delete the collection.
Learn more about managing your collections from the CMS dashboard.
What should I check before deleting a collection?
Before deleting a collection, we recommend checking the following:
Are there dynamic pages connected to the collection? If so, convert them to regular pages or delete the pages unless you plan to connect a different collection. Visitors to your live site will encounter a 500 error when attempting to view dynamic pages associated with the deleted collection.
Are any datasets connected to this collection? Make sure to remove any connected dataset filters that are in use. This includes datasets set to filter by reference field or by dataset. If your filter settings are unmatched, the dataset will be empty.
Is this collection referenced in another collection? You cannot delete a collection while other collections reference its data. Check the Relations column in the CMS dashboard to see which collections use the collection's data, then remove the reference fields or update them to point to a different collection.
By checking these factors, you can ensure a smooth deletion process and prevent any problems or disruptions on your site.
How do GDPR and other laws affect my data?
Restoring a backup does not affect the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) status of a field. If necessary, you can change PII manually in your collections.
Wix deletes and restores collections in compliance with GDPR regulations.
Can I delete Wix App collections?
You cannot delete Wix App collections from your CMS because the data is stored in the apps themselves. Go to the relevant Wix App (e.g. Wix Stores, Wix Bookings) to remove content that appears in a collection.