CMS: Deleting a Collection
- Deleting a collection in the CMS
- Consequences of deleting connected collections
- FAQs
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
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.
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
| 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
