How to Delete a Trello Board (Close It First, Then Remove It)

Boards pile up fast. A client project finishes, a campaign ends, a test board you made on a quiet afternoon sits there forever, and suddenly your Trello home page is a graveyard. Clearing it out feels good, but deleting a board is one of the few things in Trello you can't take back.

So before I list the steps, I'll explain the difference between closing and deleting, because most people want the first and click the second. Everything here follows Atlassian's own Trello help pages.

Closing a Trello board versus deleting it for good

These sound alike and behave very differently:

Action	What Atlassian's help says happens
Close a board	The board is hidden and can't be edited, but it isn't deleted. You can reopen it later.
Permanently delete a board	Gone for good. Atlassian says a deleted board can't be recovered.

My rule: if there's any chance you'll need the cards, checklists or attachments again, close the board and leave it. Atlassian says as much, pointing to closing as the choice if you might want the contents later. Delete only when you're sure.

Permanently deleting a Trello board on your computer

Atlassian notes that you can only delete a board that's already closed, so the first two steps close it. Open the board on the desktop site in a browser, then:

1. Open the board menu.
2. Select Close board and confirm with Close.
3. Select Permanently delete board.
4. Check that nothing on the board is still needed.
5. Select Delete.

There's no undo after step five. If you hesitate even a little, stop at step two and come back later.

Deleting a Trello board from Android

Atlassian's help says Android can do it from the app. Open the board menu, open the board settings, choose Close board, then select Delete. The same warning applies: once you confirm, the board is permanently gone.

Why you can't delete a Trello board on an iPhone or iPad

According to Atlassian's help, the iOS app doesn't offer board deletion. You can close the board from its settings, and that already clears it from your active list. To delete it permanently, use the desktop site in a web browser.

Menus vary by app version, so if your screen looks different, the steps above on a computer are the safest route.

Who is allowed to delete a Trello board

Permissions trip people up, especially on shared boards with clients or contractors. As Atlassian describes it:

• On a free Workspace, only the board's admin can delete it. If you're not the admin, you'll need to ask them.
• Workspace admins on other kinds of Workspace can close and delete any board in it.
• A Workspace admin who isn't an admin of that board can still delete a closed board if they have its URL.

If you can't see the delete option at all, permissions are the first thing to check. Look at who the board admin is, or who runs the Workspace.

Finding a closed Trello board to delete it

Perhaps you closed the board weeks ago and now you want it gone. Atlassian's route: go to your home page, open the Boards section, scroll to the bottom and select View all closed boards. Find the board you want and select Delete.

This is also the place to check before you delete. Scan the list of closed boards and make sure you're about to remove the right one.

Before you delete a Trello board used for client work

A shared project board can hold agreements, approvals and notes that matter long after the work ends. Before you press Delete, I'd go through this short list:

• Export or copy anything you might need for your records, such as decisions, approvals or file links.
• Tell the people on the board, so nobody loses something they were relying on.
• Check no automations, calendar feeds or links elsewhere point to the board.
• Close first and wait a few days if you're unsure. Nothing is lost while it's merely closed.

Keeping a tidy record is part of running projects well. If you want to build the habit, my thoughts on project management as a core business skill are a good next read.

Trello versus other apps that use boards

Other platforms handle their boards by their own rules. If you're clearing up a Pinterest account as well, my guide to deleting a board on Pinterest has those steps, and they differ from Trello's.

Keeping your Trello workspace tidy without deleting

You don't have to delete a board to stop it cluttering your view. Closing hides it, and Atlassian's help says a closed board can be found again from your closed boards list. For a team that finishes projects regularly, a simple habit works well: close the board when the work is signed off, then review closed boards every so often and delete only the ones you're certain you'll never need.

That way a mistake does no harm. A deleted board is gone, but a closed one is only out of the way.

If you can't delete your Trello board

1. Make sure the board is closed first, because only closed boards can be deleted.
2. Switch to the desktop site in a browser, especially if you're on an iPhone or iPad.
3. Check you're the board admin, or that a Workspace admin is doing it.
4. Look under View all closed boards on your home page.
5. If the option is still missing, contact Trello through Atlassian's support pages.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete a Trello board?

Open the board menu, select Close board and confirm, then select Permanently delete board, check nothing is needed and select Delete. Atlassian says this is permanent.

Can I get a deleted Trello board back?

No. Atlassian says a deleted board can't be recovered. A closed board can be reopened, which is why closing is the safer option.

Why is there no delete option on my iPhone?

Atlassian's help says the iOS app doesn't offer board deletion. You can close the board in the app and delete it from the desktop site.

Who can delete a Trello board?

On a free Workspace only the board's admin can delete it. Workspace admins on other kinds of Workspace can close and delete any board in it.

Where do I find closed Trello boards?

Go to your home page, open Boards, scroll to the bottom and select View all closed boards.