Delete a topic

We generally recommend against deleting topics, but there are a few situations in which it can be useful:

• Clearing out test messages after setting up an organization.

• Clearing out messages from an overly enthusiastic bot.

• Managing abuse.

In most other cases, renaming a topic is often a better idea, or just leaving the topic as is. Deleting a topic can confuse users who come to the topic later via an email notification.

Note that deleting a topic also deletes every message with that topic, whereas archiving a stream does not.

Delete a topic

Note that deleting all of the individual messages within a particular topic also deletes that topic. Structurally, topics are simply an attribute of messages in Zulip.

Related articles

• Edit or delete a message
• Archive a stream
• Message retention policy