How to Stop Akismet from Auto-Deleting Comments (2026)
Is Akismet auto delete throwing away real comments? Akismet can delete comments without you ever seeing them. Like most WordPress bloggers, I assumed Akismet sent every suspected spam comment to the Spam folder for review. Then I discovered a setting that lets Akismet silently discard the “worst” spam. Occasionally that includes real comments from readers. Here is how to stop Akismet auto delete in 2026, so you can review every comment it catches.
Quick answer: In WordPress, go to Settings > Akismet Anti-spam (or Jetpack > Akismet). Under Strictness, choose “Always put spam in the Spam folder for review” instead of “Silently discard the worst and most pervasive spam so I never see it”. Save changes. Remember that spam is still removed automatically after 15 days, so check the Spam folder regularly.
Table of Contents
Why Akismet auto deletes comments
On busy blogs, Akismet catches thousands of spam comments a day. To save you time, its “silently discard” option deletes the most obvious spam immediately instead of filling your Spam folder. That is convenient, but no filter is perfect. A genuine reader comment with lots of links or unusual wording can be thrown away without a trace.
How to stop Akismet from auto deleting comments
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Open Settings > Akismet Anti-spam. If you use Jetpack, you may find it under Jetpack > Akismet.
- Find the Strictness setting.
- Select Always put spam in the Spam folder for review.
- Click Save changes.
Other Akismet settings worth checking
- Comments: show the number of approved comments beside each comment author, which helps you spot trusted regulars.
- Privacy: display a notice under your comment form that comments are processed by Akismet, which helps with GDPR.
- Statistics: see how much spam Akismet blocks and how accurate it has been on your site.
Review spam quickly
- Open Comments > Spam once or twice a week and skim for real names and on-topic replies.
- Click Not Spam on genuine comments. Akismet learns from this.
- Click Empty Spam when you are done.
- Akismet deletes spam older than 15 days automatically, so do not leave it too long.
See how to moderate WordPress comments quickly, and keep the Trash tidy by emptying WordPress trash automatically.
Too much spam to review?
If the Spam folder is overwhelming, stop bots before they reach Akismet. A honeypot plugin or Cloudflare Turnstile blocks most automated spam, leaving Akismet to handle the rest. Here are the best plugins to stop comment spam.
FAQ
Does Akismet delete comments permanently?
Only if “silently discard” is on, or after spam has sat in the Spam folder for 15 days.
Can I recover comments Akismet discarded?
No. Silently discarded comments are never saved, which is why reviewing spam is safer.
Is Akismet still free?
Free for personal, non-commercial sites. Commercial sites need a paid plan.
Have you ever found a real comment in your spam folder? Tell us in the comments.
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When you did not purchase the Akismet plugin, it will automatically deliver spam comments so that you can purchase it. It is a marketing Kismet just take an example of antivirus software promotion, what antivirus companies do to promote their new antivirus they spread a virus on the computer and ask users for free scanning so that it detects and delete it after that they ask their customers to purchase it to avoid future virus infection the same goes for the Akismet plugin.
Most of the time I just empty the spam box without checking them. I guess I am too lazy to go thru the hundreds and hundreds of spams just to ‘resurrect’ 1 or 2 comments
Use GASP plugin and your spam will stop instantly
https://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/stop-akismet-auto-delete-spam-comments/
Wow!! WordPress is really saving so many time of a blogger. Google please bring something in Blogspot also….