Removing a website created many years ago that I cannot access anymore

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  zoektkamerstudenten · Member · Feb 4, 2026 at 1:33 pm

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  Hi everyone,

  Many years ago I created a WordPress website that now I want to delete. The issue is that the email linked to the account does not exist anymore (it was a university email that has been deactivated). Due to this, I cannot even recover the password.
  
  I tried getting in touch with human support but to no avail. I could prove ownership of the site since all the materials published on it are mine. Can anyone help with this? It would even be enough to set the site to private so it does not show up in web searches.

  Thanks in advance!

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  james3265166 · Member · Feb 4, 2026 at 5:04 pm

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  Since your university email is no longer active, you are effectively locked out of the standard password reset process, but you can still regain control by using the official WordPress.com Account Recovery Form. This process is designed for this exact scenario and allows you to prove ownership by providing details like the original email address, the date the site was created, or transaction IDs if you ever purchased a domain or plan. If the automated recovery fails, your next best move is to file a Privacy or Copyright (DMCA) Takedown request; if the site contains your name, photos, or original creative work, WordPress can legally intervene to remove the content or the entire site once you verify your identity with a government ID. Lastly, don’t overlook a quick message to your University’s IT helpdesk—they can often reactivate an old inbox for 24 hours just so you can catch that one crucial password reset link.