Edit or delete tags in WordPress: Manage keywords correctly

Over time, numerous tags can accumulate in a WordPress website, or Keywords accumulate. Some are no longer needed, others were created twice, contain typos, or are supposed to be renamed. WordPress therefore offers various options to edit existing tags or delete them completely.

For a new website, such changes are usually straightforward. However, for a website that has been around for a longer time and is publicly accessible, you should proceed with more caution. Tags can have their own archive pages and therefore their own URLs. If you change a slug or delete a tag, the accessibility of an existing URL can therefore also change.

In this guide, we will show you how to edit existing tags, adjust them using quick edit, or delete them, and what you should pay special attention to on an existing website.

Briefly explained: Editing or deleting a tag does not delete the posts associated with it. You are merely changing or removing the keyword and its association with the relevant posts.

Where can I find the existing tags in WordPress? #

First, log in to your WordPress admin area. For a standard installation, you can usually reach it via:

https://deine-domain.ch/wp-admin

Replace your-domain.ch through your actual domain.

Then open:

Posts → Tags

On the right side of the tag manager, you will find the existing tags of your website.

Depending on the WordPress version and configuration, the following information, among other things, is displayed there:

• Name of the keyword
• Description
• Slug
• Number of assigned posts

This overview is also a good starting point if you want to review and clean up your existing tag structure.

What does the number mean for a tag? #

In the column with the count, you can see how many posts are assigned to the respective keyword.

This information is especially helpful if you want to clean up old tags. You should not hastily delete a keyword that is used by numerous posts. On the other hand, for a tag with no assigned posts, you can check whether it is still needed at all.

Even tags with only a single assigned post are worth a closer look. This does not automatically mean that they have to be deleted. However, if such keywords accumulate, this can indicate an unnecessarily granular tag structure.

We explain the basics of the effective use of tags in the article Tags in WordPress: What are keywords and how do you use them correctly?.

Edit an existing tag #

If you want to completely edit an existing tag, open the tag management under Posts → Tags.

Move the mouse pointer over the desired tag. WordPress will show you various actions. Click on Edit.

Edit day #

1. Open Posts → Tags.
2. Search for the desired keyword.
3. Hover the mouse pointer over its name.
4. Click on Edit.
5. Change the requested information.
6. Click on Update, to save the changes.

Depending on the WordPress version, you can customize the tag's name, slug, and description specifically on the edit page.

Rename a tag #

The Name is the visible label of the keyword.

A change may make sense, for example, if a tag contains a typo or if you want to standardize several different spellings.

From a poorly named tag like:

WordPress Plugins

could you for example:

WordPress Plugins

do so if this designation fits better with your remaining content structure.

Before changing a name, however, you should check whether another tag with practically the same meaning already exists. Otherwise, you won't solve the actual problem of duplicate tags.

What happens to the posts when I rename a tag? #

Posts associated with the tag are not deleted by a normal rename.

WordPress manages the connection between the tag and the posts internally. For example, if you change the visible name of an existing tag, the associated posts generally remain assigned to that tag.

Therefore, you don't need to open every single post and add the renamed keyword again.

Change the slug of a tag #

In addition to the visible name, a tag has a Slug. This is used for the tag archive URL.

A catchphrase called:

WordPress Plugins

can, for example, the slug:

WordPress plugins

own.

Depending on your configuration, this can result in an archive URL like this, for example:

https://deine-domain.ch/tag/wordpress-plugins

If you change the slug, you fundamentally change the URL of this tag archive as well.

Warning: Do not rashly change the slug of an existing tag on a website that is already publicly accessible. As a result, the previous archive URL may no longer be reachable at its old address. If it has been indexed by search engines, linked internally, or linked by other websites, a suitable redirect may be necessary.

When is it a good idea to change the slug? #

With a new website, you can usually fix faulty or unattractive slugs without any issues, as long as the URLs in question do not yet have any relevant external usage.

For an existing website, a modification can make sense, for example, when:

• the slug contains an obvious typo
• an old term is no longer used
• the URL is structured unnecessarily complicated
• several taxonomies are to be cleaned up as part of a planned structural change

However, the potential benefits should be weighed against the impact of the URL change.

Just because an existing slug doesn't look perfect doesn't mean you necessarily have to change it.

What is Quick Edit? #

In addition to full site editing, WordPress also provides Quick edit available.

To do this, hover the mouse pointer over a tag in the tag overview and click on QuickEdit or rather Quick edit, depending on the language of your WordPress interface.

This allows you to change important details directly within the overview without having to open a separate edit page.

Change tag with quick edit #

1. Open Posts → Tags.
2. Search for the desired keyword.
3. Click on Quick edit.
4. Change the available information.
5. Click on Update keyword or rather the displayed storage option.

Quick editing is particularly well-suited for small corrections. If, for example, you also want to check a description or make more extensive changes, the standard editing view is clearer.

Change the description of a tag #

Tags can have a description. Whether this is actually displayed on your public website depends on your theme or the template used for tag archives.

If tag archives form an important part of your website, a helpful description can be useful.

To do this, open the relevant day via Edit, update the description and save the change.

Avoid descriptions that consist merely of a string of search terms. If the description is published publicly, it should explain to visitors in an understandable way what content they will find under this tag.

Delete a day in WordPress #

When a tag is no longer needed, you can delete it directly in the tag management.

Delete single day #

1. Open Posts → Tags.
2. Find the tag you want to remove.
3. Check how many posts are assigned to him.
4. Move the mouse cursor over the keyword.
5. Click on Delete.
6. Confirm the action if WordPress requests confirmation.

The tag is then removed from the WordPress taxonomy.

Important: Deleting a tag does not delete the posts that were assigned this keyword. The posts remain; only the connection to this tag is removed.

What happens to the tag archive page after deletion? #

A tag usually has its own archive page. If the tag is deleted, this archive is no longer available as before.

For a new website with no visitors or search engine indexing, this is usually unproblematic.

For an established website, the situation can look different. The previous tag URL could:

• have been indexed by Google or other search engines
• receive internal links from other pages or posts
• linked in a menu or navigation
• have been linked from an external website
• receive direct visitors

In such cases, you should check what should happen to the previous URL before deleting it.

When is a redirect useful? #

If a deleted or renamed tag has a relevant existing URL, a 301 redirect make sense on a content-relevant target page.

The goal should actually fit the previous content.

For example, if you merge two practically identical tags, the old tag archive can, if necessary, be redirected to the remaining, thematically matching archive.

A blanket redirection of all deleted tags to the homepage, on the other hand, is not a clean solution.

SEO Note: A redirect should provide the visitor with a meaningful new destination. If there is no suitable replacement for a deleted page, an artificial redirect to just any other URL is not automatically better.

Check internal links after a change #

If you delete a tag or change its slug, you should check whether the previous tag URL has been linked within your own website.

This can be the case, for example, in:

• Posts
• Pages
• Menus
• widgets or blocks
• custom-created overview pages
• footer or sidebar areas

Internal links should, where possible, point directly to the current target address and not permanently run through a redirect.

Delete multiple tags simultaneously #

If you want to clean up a larger tag structure, you can delete multiple keywords using a bulk action.

Delete multiple tags #

1. Open Posts → Tags.
2. Select the checkboxes of the tags you want to remove.
3. Open the selection menu Multiple actions.
4. Choose Delete.
5. Click on Take over.

During a major cleanup, you should use this function with particular caution. Check the selected tags individually beforehand and do not simply delete all infrequently used keywords at once.

Warning: A bulk cleanup on an existing website should not be based solely on the number of assigned posts. Check existing URLs, internal links, and, if applicable, the search engine traffic of the archives in question beforehand.

Can two tags be merged directly? #

WordPress does not offer a simple standard button in the normal tag management following the pattern „Merge Tag A with Tag B“.

Therefore, when two tags describe the same topic, you must proceed in a structured manner.

Suppose you own:

• WordPress Plugin
• WordPress Plugins

and would like to only in the future WordPress Plugins use.

Then you should first check the posts of the no longer needed tag and assign them the tag you want to keep. Afterwards, you can remove the superfluous keyword.

For a larger website, you should also check whether the previous archive URL requires a redirect to the remaining tag archive.

Remove or change tags directly on posts #

You can also edit the tags of an individual post directly in the WordPress editor.

Open the relevant post and look in the post settings for Keywords. There you can remove existing tags or add other suitable keywords.

This method is useful if you only want to change the assignment of a single post and the tag itself should continue to exist.

If, on the other hand, you want to completely remove a tag from the entire website, Posts → Tags the right place.

When should a tag be deleted? #

Not every rarely used tag needs to be deleted automatically. However, there are some typical situations where cleanup can be useful.

This includes, for example:

• Tags without assigned posts
• obvious typos
• duplicate keywords
• singular and plural variants of the same term
• obsolete tags with no future utility
• Keywords that were created solely as supposed SEO keywords
• Tags that are completely covered in content by another taxonomy

For an already established website, the previous usage of the archive should also be taken into account before deletion.

When should a tag better remain in place? #

A tag can be useful even if it is not used very often.

For example, a specific specialist topic may have only a few, but high-quality posts. If the corresponding archive page provides a meaningful thematic overview for visitors, there is no reason to delete it solely because of a small number of posts.

What is crucial is the benefit, not a rigid minimum number of posts.

Tags nicht nur wegen SEO löschen #

Auch beim Aufräumen einer Website solltest du nicht nach der pauschalen Regel handeln, dass alle Tag-Archive schlecht für SEO seien.

Tags sind zunächst eine normale WordPress-Funktion zur Organisation von Inhalten. Ob ein Archiv hilfreich oder überflüssig ist, hängt von dessen tatsächlicher Verwendung ab.

Eine gut gepflegte Seite mit mehreren eng zusammengehörenden Fachartikeln kann für Besucher durchaus nützlich sein. Problematisch wird es eher, wenn Hunderte nahezu leere, doppelte oder bedeutungsgleiche Archive entstanden sind.

Die bessere Frage lautet deshalb nicht:

„Sind Tags schlecht für SEO?“

sondern:

„Hilft dieses konkrete Tag-Archiv einem Besucher dabei, relevante Inhalte zu finden?“

Eine bestehende Tag-Struktur systematisch aufräumen #

Wenn eine ältere WordPress-Website sehr viele Schlagwörter besitzt, solltest du nicht sofort mit dem Löschen beginnen.

Gehe besser strukturiert vor:

1. Öffne die vollständige Tag-Übersicht.
2. Identifiziere leere und kaum genutzte Tags.
3. Suche nach doppelten oder sehr ähnlichen Begriffen.
4. Prüfe, welche Beiträge den jeweiligen Tags zugeordnet sind.
5. Entscheide, welche Schlagwörter langfristig bestehen bleiben sollen.
6. Ordne Beiträge bei Bedarf den verbleibenden Tags neu zu.
7. Prüfe relevante bestehende Archiv-URLs.
8. Richte bei notwendigen URL-Änderungen passende Weiterleitungen ein.
9. Aktualisiere interne Links auf die neuen beziehungsweise verbleibenden Ziele.
10. Entferne erst danach die nicht mehr benötigten Tags.

Dieses Vorgehen benötigt etwas mehr Zeit, verhindert aber, dass du beim Aufräumen gleichzeitig eine funktionierende Inhaltsstruktur beschädigst.

Tags, Kategorien und interne Links gemeinsam betrachten #

Bei einer grösseren Bereinigung lohnt es sich, nicht nur die Tags isoliert zu betrachten.

Prüfe gleichzeitig, welche Aufgabe deine Categories übernehmen und wie deine Beiträge untereinander intern verlinkt sind.

Wenn ein Tag exakt dieselben Beiträge enthält wie eine Kategorie, ist möglicherweise eine der beiden Strukturen redundant.

Wenn ein Tag dagegen Beiträge aus mehreren Kategorien sinnvoll zu einem gemeinsamen Fachthema verbindet, kann er einen echten Mehrwert bieten.

Wie du deine grundlegende Kategorienstruktur aufbaust, erklären wir im Artikel Creating and structuring categories and subcategories in WordPress effectively.

Typische Fehler beim Bearbeiten und Löschen von Tags #

Gerade bei älteren WordPress-Websites können unüberlegte Änderungen unnötige Probleme verursachen.

Common mistakes include:

• Slugs ändern, ohne die bisherige URL zu berücksichtigen
• Tags löschen, ohne die zugeordneten Beiträge zu prüfen
• mehrere Tags massenweise entfernen, ohne deren Nutzung zu kontrollieren
• doppelte Tags löschen, bevor Beiträge dem verbleibenden Tag zugeordnet wurden
• alte interne Links auf gelöschte Archive bestehen lassen
• jede alte Tag-URL pauschal auf die Startseite weiterleiten
• Tags allein aufgrund einer geringen Beitragszahl entfernen

Practical Tip: Bei einer neuen Website kannst du die Taxonomie relativ frei korrigieren. Bei einer etablierten Website solltest du Kategorien und Tags dagegen wie andere bestehende URLs behandeln: erst prüfen, dann ändern.

Summary #

Bestehende Tags verwaltest du in WordPress unter Posts → Tags. Dort kannst du Namen, Slug und Beschreibung eines Schlagworts bearbeiten oder nicht mehr benötigte Tags vollständig löschen. Für kleinere Änderungen steht zusätzlich die Schnellbearbeitung zur Verfügung.

Das Löschen eines Tags entfernt nicht die damit verbundenen Beiträge. Es entfernt jedoch die entsprechende Taxonomie und damit auch die bisherige Tag-Archivstruktur. Auf einer bereits länger bestehenden Website solltest du deshalb vor dem Löschen oder Ändern eines Slugs prüfen, ob die betreffende Archiv-URL intern oder extern verlinkt, von Suchmaschinen indexiert oder tatsächlich von Besuchern genutzt wird.

Bei doppelten oder ähnlichen Tags solltest du zuerst die Beitragszuordnungen bereinigen und danach das überflüssige Schlagwort entfernen. So entsteht langfristig eine übersichtliche Taxonomie mit wenigen klar definierten Tags statt einer Sammlung aus doppelten und kaum verwendeten Schlagwörtern.

Weitere Grundlagen findest du in unseren Anleitungen zu Tags and keywords in WordPress, Categories and subcategories as well as the WordPress permalink settings.