PDF still appearing online despite deletion a week ago

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  jd92 · Member · May 10, 2025 at 9:59 am

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  Hi, this is quite an urgent matter. I had a pdf on my website which I removed last week from my media files. However, the link to the file still works and appears on several websites. I urgently need it removed as they contain an article I am submitting to a journal, so it cannot be published elsewhere. I can confirm I have deleted my browser cache and the pdf is 100% no longer in my media files. Would appreciate your help!

  WP.com: Yes
  Jetpack: No
  Correct account: Yes

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to moderators and staff)

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  staartmees · Member · May 10, 2025 at 10:08 am

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  Without knowing the link to that pdf we can’t help.

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  jd92 · Member · May 10, 2025 at 10:08 am

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  I’m also in the odd position of not being able to share the url here for support as I do not wish for it to appear google searches etc. if I delete my entire website, would this ensure the deletion of the PDF?

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  jd92 · Member · May 10, 2025 at 10:20 am

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  OK, so I’ve changed the entire site address and it seems to have finally stopped the PDF appearing when I use the link. However, seems absurd I should have to do these workarounds just to get WordPress to simply delete a file. Having been searching around for answers it appears I’m not the only one whose faced this issue, so why has it not been resolved?