[Excel VBA] How to Delete Worksheets Without Confirmation Prompts

In VBA macros, it is common to delete temporary sheets or old data at the end of a process.

However, simply using the .Delete method triggers a standard Excel confirmation message: “Data may exist in the sheet(s) selected for deletion. To permanently delete the data, press Delete.”

This pop-up halts the macro execution, preventing full automation.

This article explains how to use the Application.DisplayAlerts property to suppress this message and delete sheets automatically.

The Key: Application.DisplayAlerts Property

Application.DisplayAlerts acts like a “master switch” that controls whether Excel displays warning messages.

• Application.DisplayAlerts = False: Temporarily hides all alert messages. Confirmation dialogs like “Are you sure you want to delete?” will not appear.
• Application.DisplayAlerts = True (Default): Displays alert messages normally.

By turning this switch off temporarily, you can delete a sheet smoothly. However, it is critical to turn it back on immediately after the operation.

Complete VBA Code

The following code deletes a specific sheet without showing any confirmation message.

Sub DeleteSheetWithoutPrompt()

    ' Declare variables
    Dim sheetNameToDelete As String
    sheetNameToDelete = "TempSheet"

    ' --- 1. Turn off alert messages ---
    Application.DisplayAlerts = False

    On Error Resume Next ' Avoid error if the sheet does not exist

    ' --- 2. Delete the sheet ---
    ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(sheetNameToDelete).Delete

    On Error GoTo 0 ' Reset error handling

    ' --- 3. Turn alert messages back on (IMPORTANT) ---
    Application.DisplayAlerts = True

    MsgBox "Deleted the sheet '" & sheetNameToDelete & "' (if it existed)."

End Sub

Key Points of the Code

1. Turn off alert messages

Application.DisplayAlerts = False Set this property to False immediately before the .Delete method. This tells Excel to proceed without asking the user for confirmation.

2. Delete the sheet

ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(sheetNameToDelete).Delete Execute the .Delete method on the target sheet. Since DisplayAlerts is set to False, this action happens instantly.

3. Turn alert messages back on (Most Important)

Application.DisplayAlerts = True You must set the property back to True after the deletion is complete.

If you forget this step, Excel will remain silent for all future warnings. For example, if a user manually tries to delete a sheet later, they will not see a warning, which could lead to accidental data loss. Always remember the rule: “If you turn it off, you must turn it back on.”

Summary

To safely delete a sheet without warnings in VBA, always follow this sequence:

1. Turn off alerts: Application.DisplayAlerts = False
2. Execute .Delete on the sheet.
3. Turn alerts back on: Application.DisplayAlerts = True

This three-step pattern is a fundamental technique in VBA. It is useful not only for deleting sheets but also for other automated tasks, such as closing a workbook without saving.