Add a Delete Button in Admin Theme Screen to Improve UX

[smub]

I love the UI changes in WordPress 3.8 however I was testing a theme and went to delete it. Turned out the delete button wasn't there on the first screen. Had to click on Theme Details to find the delete button.

Moments later saw a thread in Advanced WP Group in Facebook where users raised the same question:

​https://www.facebook.com/groups/advancedwp/permalink/627267467335471/

If more experienced users are having to look and find the delete button, then I think beginners will have a really hard time.

I suggest that we take the similar approach that we do with plugins and show the delete button on all inactive themes.

I've gone ahead and created two mockups with icons from Genericons. Would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

[smub]

X Icon for Delete button

[smub]

Trash Icon for Delete Button

[designsimply]

Great feedback. Of the two mock-ups, I prefer the trash icon because the X seems like a way to close or hide something (not delete it).

However! I equally want to give the reasons behind keeping "delete" off the first screen a shot, so here's how I see them from my point of view:

1. It should not be easy to accidentally delete a blog
2. The redesign focuses specifically on de-cluttering the first screen
3. Users perceived the delete button was hard to find in user testing, but actually found it very quickly/easily when asked

Also see ​http://irclogs.wordpress.org/chanlog.php?channel=wordpress-dev&day=2013-11-04&sort=asc#m720460

[SergeyBiryukov]

Replying to designsimply:

I prefer the trash icon because the X seems like a way to close or hide something (not delete it).

The trash icon, on the other hand, implies that the theme can be restored later (like a post), which is not the case.

[smub]

Replying to designsimply:

1. It should not be easy to accidentally delete a blog
2. The redesign focuses specifically on de-cluttering the first screen
3. Users perceived the delete button was hard to find in user testing, but actually found it very quickly/easily when asked

Not sure what you mean "not easy to accidentally delete" because that is exactly the same method we follow for plugins. When plugins are inactive, the user can very easily delete it with a click. Also the theme delete button prompts a browser safe trigger that asks "Are you sure you want to delete this"... so even if the user accidentally clicks delete, they have to click on another button verify that.

I'm all for a clean view, but when clean comes at the expense of functionality then I think we should rethink the approach.

I have no problem believing that the users found the delete button. I think the problem really lies in the fact that they actually had to "find it". It shouldn't be something that the user has to search for.

Replying to SergeyBiryukov:

The trash icon, on the other hand, implies that the theme can be restored later (like a post), which is not the case.

We can always change the wording on Live Preview to just Preview and then add a button called Delete. I only used the trash icon to make it subtle while getting the job done.

[dd32]

Adding a 3rd button to the themes page is going to be pretty hard.. Having two buttons there is already a pretty big squeeze in some languages at some screen resolutions.

[designsimply]

We did user testing and that was the most effective approach, even if I agree it's a difficult balance. We went for this choice because it simplified the task for the action you do 80% of the time, while slowing slightly down the one done once in a while. But I agree, it's a balance. Let's gather more feedback and see what data points we have to improve that bit.

Let's not focus on a specific solution yet. Thanks for the feedback, this is very helpful to consider in the next steps.

[smub]

Replying to designsimply:

Let's not focus on a specific solution yet. Thanks for the feedback, this is very helpful to consider in the next steps.

Thanks for your insights.

Replying to dd32:

Adding a 3rd button to the themes page is going to be pretty hard.. Having two buttons there is already a pretty big squeeze in some languages at some screen resolutions.

Good point. Didn't think about that when I made this suggestion.

[chriscct7]

In certain languages as mentioned above, the room doesn't exist for a third button. As 2 years has elapsed since the change, most users have probably come to terms with the change in how to delete a theme at this point. Closing as wontfix