---
schema_version: "1"
id: dbc50af80f400ac2560a5f37c54d51b545b85a2fde4f78be8b35efadb187ed4f
title: Delete a Data Category
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/service/264-0-0/category_delete.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.category_delete.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 86c24ef99796ed71e1527acc61552ccdb800949584a0bbe85e710b026e0fc3a4
description: Deleting data categories can result in long processing times, changes to the visibility and categorization of articles and questions, and other significant consequences. Read this entire topic carefully before deleting categories.
products:
  - Service Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Delete a Data Category

Deleting data categories can result in long processing times, changes to the visibility and categorization of articles and questions, and other significant consequences. Read this entire topic carefully before deleting categories.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col style="width:100%"></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience. <a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.service_editions_reference.htm&amp;language=en_US" target="_blank">View supported editions</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
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        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d171246e59">User Permissions Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d171246e59 ">To view the Data Categories page:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d171246e59 ">View Data Categories in Setup</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d171246e59 ">To create, edit, or delete data categories:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d171246e59 ">Manage Data Categories</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-service-support-264-0-0-production-enus/dd14551c-a772-4db6-9a1d-d84df8df2980/images/icon_important.png)

Important Modify the category hierarchy when user activity is low. Because the save process involves potentially large and complex recalculations, it can take a long time to complete. During processing, support reps can experience performance issues when searching for articles or questions or using category dropdown lists.

1. From Setup, enter Data Category in the Quick Find box, then select **Data Category Setup**.
2. Click a category group name.
3. Click a category name. If necessary, click **Expand All** to display all categories in the category group.
4. Press DELETE, or choose **Delete Category** from the Actions drop-down list.
5. Click **OK** in the confirmation dialog box.
6. Choose how you want to reclassify articles associated with the deleted category or the deleted category's children. In all cases, the articles retain their categories from other category groups.
    
    - Assign the deleted category's parent category.
    - Assign a different category. You can select any other category in this category group.
        
        ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-service-support-264-0-0-production-enus/dd14551c-a772-4db6-9a1d-d84df8df2980/images/icon_note.png)
        
        Note The category you select cannot be deleted itself before you save your work.
    - Do not assign the articles a new category in this category group.

Deleting a category:

- Permanently removes it. It cannot be restored. It never appears in the Recycle Bin.
- Permanently deletes its child categories.
- As applicable, removes the category and its children from the Answers, Article Management, and Knowledge tabs in all channels, and your company's public knowledge base.
- Removes associations between the category and articles or questions. You can reassign articles and questions to another category.
- Removes its mapping to visibility. Readers lose their visibility to articles and answers associated with the deleted category.