How to Fix ‘Error Moving to Trash’ Error from WordPress

Last modified: June 18, 2026

FAQ

If WordPress shows the message “Error in moving the item to Trash” when you try to delete a post or page, the good news is that it is almost always a quick fix. The error means WordPress could not move the item from your live content into the Trash, and it usually comes down to one of a handful of common causes rather than anything seriously broken.

Normally, deleting a post or page is a one-click job: WordPress moves it to the Trash, where it sits until you empty the Trash to remove it for good. When that hand-off fails, you see the error instead and the item stays where it was.

The sections below walk through the usual culprits in the order worth checking, from the quickest fixes to the rarer ones. Work through them and you should have the item in the Trash within a few minutes.

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Caching Issue

The first thing to check is that it is not your own computer that is causing the problem with a caching issue. To check this, first delete all your cache from the browser and then log back into your WordPress website. Head over to your WordPress posts or pages and see if the page/post has been moved now.

Alternatively, load your WordPress admin in another browser. Then double check that the page has been moved. Alternatively, you might need to clear the cache of your website. This can be done easily but the process depends on your caching plugin.

Plugin Conflict

Another problem is that you might have a plugin conflict that is causing the problem. All you have to do with this is to deactive the plugins on your WordPress website. This can be done manually, one-by-one through the Plugin Management screen or all at once through an FTP client and then reactivating each of the plugins one at a time until the problem reappears.

When you’ve discovered which plugin was causing the problem, you can then delete it from the website and find a replacement plugin.

You might also want to check your theme, as this can sometimes cause a problem.

Database Corruption

The other problem that could happen is that there is a database corruption. This can be harder to identify and therefore you might want to speak to a website developer to check for this. If it is a database issue, you need to reinstall an older version of the database. You should have a backup of your database that is regularly updated.

Incorrect File Permissions

Another problem that you might have is incorrect file permissions. You will need to correct them to ensure that you have administration rights. You can correct them through your hosting file manager or an FTP client by setting folders to 755 and files to 644, which restores normal read and write access for the account that runs WordPress.

If your file permissions have been changed, it could be because your website has been hacked. You should take steps to find out if it has been corrupted and then take the steps to recover your website and keep control.

Still Stuck? Check the REST API and Memory Limit

If none of the four fixes above work, two server-side causes are worth a look. The WordPress editor moves items to the Trash through the REST API, so if a security plugin, firewall, or server rule is blocking REST API requests, the action fails with this error. Temporarily disabling your security plugin, or whitelisting the WordPress REST API, is a fast way to test for this. A low PHP memory limit or a short maximum execution time can also cut the request off before it finishes on a large site, so raising the WordPress memory limit in wp-config.php often clears it.

As a workaround while you track down the cause, select the post in the list view, choose “Move to Trash” from the Bulk Actions menu, and click Apply. The bulk action uses a different request path and will often remove an item that the inline Trash link will not.

Final Word: How to Fix ‘Error Moving to Trash’ Error from WordPress

There are many reasons why your WordPress website might not allow you to easily move a post/page to your trash folder. Use the guide above to find out what the problem might be and then correct it.

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