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Deleting a Subdomain

Learn how to safely delete a subdomain from your AllAccessible site, including what data will be removed, important restrictions, and the 30-day grace period for data recovery.

Written by Frank

Deleting a Subdomain

πŸ“‹ Overview

Learn how to safely delete a subdomain from your AllAccessible site, including what data will be removed, important restrictions, and the 30-day grace period for data recovery.

Who This Is For

  • Site administrators and account owners who need to remove subdomains

  • Users managing multiple subdomains who want to consolidate

What You'll Learn

  • When you can (and cannot) delete a subdomain

  • What data is permanently removed

  • The 30-day soft-delete grace period

  • Step-by-step deletion process

  • How to verify successful deletion


⚠️ Important: Subdomain Deletion Restrictions

🚫 You Cannot Delete the Last Subdomain

If your site has only one subdomain, you cannot delete it. Each AllAccessible site must have at least one active subdomain.

What to do instead:

  • If you want to remove your entire site and all its data, you must delete the site instead

  • If you want to change the subdomain name, add a new subdomain first, then delete the old one

πŸ‘₯ Who Can Delete Subdomains?

Only users with admin or owner permissions can delete subdomains.

If you see a message that you don't have permission to delete, contact your site administrator or organization owner.


πŸ—‘οΈ What Gets Deleted?

When you delete a subdomain, the following data is permanently removed after 30 days:

  • βœ… Audit Data - All accessibility scan results and reports

  • βœ… Widget Configuration - Custom widget settings and appearance

  • βœ… Usage Analytics - Historical analytics and visitor data

  • βœ… Accommodation Requests - User accommodation submissions and history

  • βœ… AI-Generated Content - Auto-generated alt text and descriptions

⚠️ Important: The widget will immediately stop working on the deleted subdomain's pages.


⏰ 30-Day Grace Period (Soft Delete)

When you delete a subdomain, it enters a 30-day grace period:

Timeline

Status

Day 0-30

Data is marked as deleted but still exists in our database

After 30 Days

All data is permanently and irreversibly removed

πŸ’‘ During the Grace Period:

  • The subdomain will not appear in your dashboard

  • The widget will not function on the subdomain

  • Data cannot be recovered through the dashboard interface

πŸ”„ To Recover During Grace Period:

  • Contact AllAccessible support at [email protected]

  • Provide your site URL and subdomain name

  • Support can restore the subdomain if within 30 days


πŸ“‹ How to Delete a Subdomain

Step 1: Navigate to Subdomain Settings

  1. Log in to your AllAccessible dashboard

  2. Go to Sites in the main navigation

  3. Click on your site

  4. Click on the subdomain you want to delete

  5. Click Settings in the subdomain navigation

Step 2: Scroll to the Danger Zone

At the bottom of the subdomain settings page, you'll find the Danger Zone section with a red border.

Step 3: Click "Delete Subdomain"

Click the red Delete Subdomain button in the Danger Zone.

If you don't see this button:

  • You might not have admin/owner permissions

  • This might be the last subdomain (cannot be deleted)

  • Check for an informational message explaining why deletion is unavailable

Step 4: Review the Deletion Warning

A confirmation modal will appear showing:

  • The subdomain name that will be deleted

  • A list of data that will be permanently removed

  • A warning about the consequences

Step 5: Type the Subdomain Name to Confirm

To prevent accidental deletion, you must type the full subdomain name exactly as shown.

Example:

  • If deleting shop.example.com, type: shop.example.com

  • The name must match exactly (case-sensitive)

The Delete button will remain disabled until you type the correct subdomain name.

Step 6: Click "Yes, Delete This Subdomain"

Once you've typed the correct subdomain name:

  1. The delete button will become enabled (changes from gray to red)

  2. Click Yes, Delete This Subdomain

  3. Wait for the confirmation message

Step 7: Verify Deletion

After successful deletion:

  • You'll see a green success message: "Subdomain [name] has been successfully deleted. Data will be permanently removed after 30 days."

  • You'll be redirected to your site overview page

  • The deleted subdomain will no longer appear in your subdomain list


❓ Common Questions

Q: Can I delete a subdomain and create a new one with the same name?

A: Yes, but you should wait until after the 30-day grace period to avoid conflicts. Contact support if you need to recreate a subdomain with the same name sooner.

Q: Will deleting a subdomain affect my billing?

A: No. Subdomain deletion does not change your site's pricing tier or subscription status. Billing is based on the site level, not individual subdomains.

Q: What if I accidentally deleted the wrong subdomain?

A: Contact [email protected] immediately. If within 30 days, we can restore the subdomain and all its data.

Q: Why can't I delete my subdomain?

A: Common reasons:

  • You don't have admin/owner permissions

  • It's the last subdomain on your site (you must delete the site instead)

  • Contact your site administrator or support for assistance


πŸ”§ Troubleshooting

Issue: "Only administrators can delete subdomains" Error

Solution:

  • You need admin or owner permissions

  • Contact your organization administrator to request elevated permissions or have them perform the deletion

Issue: "Cannot delete the last subdomain" Error

Solution:

  • Each site must have at least one subdomain

  • If you want to remove everything, delete the entire site instead

  • Alternatively, add a new subdomain first, then delete the old one

Issue: Delete Button Remains Disabled

Solution:

  • Make sure you've typed the exact subdomain name (case-sensitive)

  • Double-check for typos or extra spaces

  • The format should be: subdomain.yourdomain.com


πŸ“š Related Articles

  • Deleting a Site - How to delete an entire site and all subdomains

  • Adding a Subdomain - Create a new subdomain

  • Understanding Subdomains - What are subdomains and how they work

  • Managing Multiple Subdomains - Best practices for multi-subdomain sites


πŸ’¬ Need Help?

If you're having trouble deleting a subdomain or need to recover deleted data:

  • Include: Your site URL, subdomain name, and what you're trying to accomplish

  • Recovery: Available for 30 days after deletion

Last Updated: January 5, 2025
​Applies To: All AllAccessible plans

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