Are outdated or unwanted posts cluttering your WordPress category pages? If you have just a few posts, you can manually set them to Draft using the WordPress dashboard. However, when dealing with hundreds or even thousands of posts across multiple categories, manually updating them is time-consuming and inefficient. Additionally, relying on plugins to hide posts can sometimes slow down your website.
The fastest and most scalable way to bulk-hide posts in a category is by changing their status to Draft directly via phpMyAdmin. This method is lightweight, doesn’t require extra plugins, and executes instantly—making it ideal for large sites with extensive content.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This is a hack solution and not an official WordPress feature. It modifies the database directly, bypassing the WordPress admin panel. If you choose to proceed, make sure to back up your database first. If you are unsure or do not fully understand what you are doing, do not attempt this.
Step 1: Change All Posts in a Category to Draft
To hide all posts in a specific category, run this SQL query in phpMyAdmin. Replace X with your actual category ID.
UPDATE wp_posts
SET post_status = 'draft'
WHERE ID IN (
SELECT object_id FROM wp_term_relationships
WHERE term_taxonomy_id = X
)
AND post_type = 'post';
✔️ This will instantly change all posts in that category to Draft, making them invisible to visitors.
Step 2: Update Category Post Count
Even after hiding the posts, WordPress still counts them in the category. To fix this, update the dbuuk_term_taxonomy table:
UPDATE wp_term_taxonomy
SET count = (
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM wp_term_relationships tr
INNER JOIN dbuuk_posts p ON tr.object_id = p.ID
WHERE tr.term_taxonomy_id = wp_term_taxonomy.term_taxonomy_id
AND p.post_status = 'publish'
) WHERE taxonomy = 'category';
✔️ This ensures the category widget and archives no longer display hidden posts.
Step 3: Clear Cache (Optional)
If posts still appear in category widgets or menus, clearing the cache may be necessary:
- Clear WordPress cache via your caching plugin (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, etc.).
- Temporarily disable caching by adding this line to
wp-config.php:define('WP_CACHE', false);
Why This Method is Better Than Plugins
- 🚀 Instant results – No need to edit posts manually.
- 🔒 No extra plugins – Keeps your website fast.
- 🛠 Easy to revert – Simply change
'draft'back to'publish'if needed.
Final Thoughts
Using phpMyAdmin to hide posts in a WordPress category is a fast and efficient solution. If you prefer a plugin-based approach, you can try Ultimate Category Excluder. However, if you want full control with no extra load on your site, this method is the best option.
Did this method help you? Let us know in the comments! 👍
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I bulk-hide posts without using phpMyAdmin?
Yes, you can manually edit posts in the WordPress dashboard by selecting multiple posts and changing their status to Draft. However, this method is not efficient for large sites with hundreds or thousands of posts.
2. Will this method delete my posts?
No, this method only changes the post status to Draft. The posts remain in your database and can be restored to Published at any time.
3. How do I find my category ID in WordPress?
You can find the category ID by going to Posts → Categories in the WordPress admin panel. Hover over the category name, and you will see the ID in the URL at the bottom of your browser.
4. What happens if I make a mistake?
If you make a mistake, you can reverse the changes by running a similar SQL query, changing 'draft' back to 'publish'. This is why it’s crucial to back up your database before making any changes.
5. Will this affect my SEO?
Yes, hiding posts may impact your SEO if those posts are indexed by search engines. If you plan to hide posts permanently, consider using noindex meta tags or a redirection plugin to manage SEO impact.
