Title: Maybe Perma Delete
Author: featurenotabug.
Published: <strong>May 15, 2026</strong>
Last modified: May 15, 2026

---

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![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/maybe-perma-delete.svg)

# Maybe Perma Delete

 By [featurenotabug.](https://profiles.wordpress.org/featurenotabug/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/maybe-perma-delete.1.0.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/maybe-perma-delete/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/maybe-perma-delete/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/maybe-perma-delete/#installation)
 * [Development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/maybe-perma-delete/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/maybe-perma-delete/)

## Description

It can be quite annoying when you want to delete a post but it only has a Trash 
link. You then need to go into the trash to delete it for real. This plugin allows
you to delete a post permanently by turning the trash links into a permanent delete
link when you hold down the Esc key on your keyboard.

**Maybe Perma Delete** adds a convenient way to permanently delete content directly
from the admin without the risk of pressing it accidentally:

 * **Esc-hover in post tables**: Hold the Esc key while hovering over the Trash 
   action in post, page, or custom post type lists. The link will change to **Delete
   permanently** for that specific row.
 * **Esc-hover on the post edit screen**: On the single post edit screen, hold Esc
   while hovering over the **Move to Trash** link to turn it into **Delete permanently**.
 * **Bulk actions**: The bulk actions dropdowns always include a **Delete permanently**
   option alongside the default Trash action.

## Installation

 1. Upload the `maybe-perma-delete` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory,
    or install the plugin via the WordPress Plugins screen.
 2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** screen in WordPress.
 3. Go to any posts, pages, or custom post type list, or open a single post edit screen,
    and use the Esc key with the delete actions as described.

## FAQ

### Does this replace the default trash behavior?

No. The default **Move to Trash** behavior remains available everywhere. Maybe Perma
Delete only adds an additional way to permanently delete items when you explicitly
choose it.

### Does this work with custom post types?

Yes, the plugin hooks into the standard admin post list and edit screens, so any
custom post type that appears there will inherit the same behavior.

### Can I recover items that I permanently delete?

No. When you use **Delete permanently**, the content is hard-deleted from the database.
Make sure you have backups if you need the ability to restore deleted content.

### Does this work with media / the media library?

Yes, but it only makes sense when media trash is manually enabled in your WordPress
configuration. By default, media files are permanently deleted already. To enable
trash for media, add the following to your `wp-config.php`:

    ```
    define( 'MEDIA_TRASH', true );
    ```

Once enabled, media files will have a Trash action, and Maybe Perma Delete will 
work with them just like posts and pages.

### Does this affect front-end behavior?

No. The plugin only modifies admin-side delete options and JavaScript. It doesn’t
change your front-end or theme output.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“Maybe Perma Delete” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ featurenotabug. ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/featurenotabug/)

[Translate “Maybe Perma Delete” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/maybe-perma-delete)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/maybe-perma-delete/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/maybe-perma-delete/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/maybe-perma-delete/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/maybe-perma-delete/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.0

Initial release:
 * Esc-hover delete behavior in post tables for posts, pages, media,
comments and all relevant custom post types. * Esc-hover delete behavior on the 
post edit screen for both the classic editor and Gutenberg. * Bulk **Delete permanently**
actions alongside default trash actions.

## Meta

 *  Version **1.0.0**
 *  Last updated **2 weeks ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **6.9.4**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 *  Language
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/maybe-perma-delete/)
 * Tags
 * [delete](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/delete/)[force](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/force/)
   [permanent](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/permanent/)[trash](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/trash/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/maybe-perma-delete/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/maybe-perma-delete/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/maybe-perma-delete/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ featurenotabug. ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/featurenotabug/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/maybe-perma-delete/)