When you no longer need a site or subsite, such as one created for a completed project, you can delete it to free up space. To delete a site or subsite in Office 365 or SharePoint Server, you need to be an admin or have Full Control permissions.
Delete an Office 365 group-connected site
When you create a team site in Office 365, a corresponding Office 365 group is automatically created. Office 365 group-connected team sites are also created when you create an Office 365 group in Office 365. To delete a SharePoint Online site connected to an Office 365 group, you need to delete the Office 365 group itself. You won't see the Delete this site option in SharePoint Online site settings, even if you're an administrator. To learn how to delete a group in Office 365, see Delete a group.
Note: When you delete a group, there can be a delay before the site is removed from SharePoint.
Delete a subsite or sites not connected to an Office 365 group
When you delete a site, you’re also deleting any subsites, content, and user information that are part of the site, including documents, document libraries, lists and list data.
Note: You need to have Full Control permissions to delete a site or subsite. If you don't have this level, talk to your site administrator or manager. See Understanding permission levels in SharePoint.
If you’re sure you want to delete the site, and you have the correct permissions, follow these instructions:
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Navigate to the site or subsite you want to delete.
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Click Settings
at the top of the site or subsite, and then click Site settings.
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Click Delete this site under the Site Actions heading on the Site Settings page.
Note: If Delete this site doesn’t appear on the Site Settings page, you may not have permission to delete this site, or you're trying to delete a top level Office 365 group-connected site.
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On the Delete This Site page, verify that you are deleting the correct site, and then click Delete.
Delete a SharePoint Server site or subsite
When you delete a site, you’re also deleting any subsites, content, and user information that are part of the site, including documents, document libraries, lists and list data.
Note: You need to have Full Control permissions to delete a site or subsite. If you don't have this level, talk to your site administrator or manager. See Understanding permission levels in SharePoint.
If you’re sure you want to delete the site, and you have the correct permissions, follow these instructions:
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Navigate to the site or subsite you want to delete.
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Click Settings
at the top of the site or subsite, and then click Site settings.
If you're using SharePoint Server 2010, click Site Actions
and then click Site Settings.
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Click Delete this site under the Site Actions heading on the Site Settings page.
Note: If Delete this site doesn’t appear on the Site Settings page, you may not have permission to delete this site, or you're trying to delete a top level Office 365 group-connected site.
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On the Delete This Site page, verify that you are deleting the correct site, and then click Delete.
Deleted a site by accident?
If you accidentally delete a site in SharePoint, it can usually be restored from the site collection recycle bin by a site collection administrator. See Restore deleted items from the site collection recycle bin.
Looking for info on groups, deleting lists, libraries, documents, and permissions?
Delete libraries or lists
Delete a document library in SharePoint
Delete columns in lists or libraries
Delete a column in a SharePoint list or library
Delete a file, folder, link or list item
Delete a file, folder, or link from a SharePoint document library
Delete list items in SharePoint Online
Permissions
Understanding permission levels in SharePoint
Edit and manage permissions for a SharePoint list or library
Groups and group connected sites in Office 365
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Updated April 20, 2017 thanks to customer feedback.
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