diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index a0195440d..42068c043 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ module ApplicationHelper
       id name level level_string theme always_resize_images can_upload_free
       can_approve_posts disable_categorized_saved_searches
       disable_mobile_gestures disable_post_tooltips enable_safe_mode
-      hide_deleted_posts show_deleted_children style_usernames
+      show_deleted_children style_usernames
       default_image_size
     ] + User::Roles.map { |role| :"is_#{role}?" }
 
diff --git a/app/logical/post_query.rb b/app/logical/post_query.rb
index fe7972aec..ad821a336 100644
--- a/app/logical/post_query.rb
+++ b/app/logical/post_query.rb
@@ -16,11 +16,10 @@ class PostQuery
   SINGLETON_METATAGS = ORDER_METATAGS + %w[limit random]
 
   attr_reader :current_user
-  private attr_reader :tag_limit, :safe_mode, :hide_deleted_posts, :builder
+  private attr_reader :tag_limit, :safe_mode, :builder
 
   delegate :tag?, :metatag?, :wildcard?, :metatags, :wildcards, :tag_names, :to_infix, :to_pretty_string, to: :ast
   alias_method :safe_mode?, :safe_mode
-  alias_method :hide_deleted_posts?, :hide_deleted_posts
   alias_method :to_s, :to_infix
 
   # Return a new PostQuery with aliases replaced.
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ class PostQuery
     PostQuery.normalize(search, ...).with_implicit_metatags.posts
   end
 
-  def initialize(search_or_ast, current_user: User.anonymous, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false, hide_deleted_posts: false)
+  def initialize(search_or_ast, current_user: User.anonymous, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false)
     if search_or_ast.is_a?(AST)
       @ast = search_or_ast
     else
@@ -52,16 +51,15 @@ class PostQuery
     @current_user = current_user
     @tag_limit = tag_limit
     @safe_mode = safe_mode
-    @hide_deleted_posts = hide_deleted_posts
   end
 
   # Build a new PostQuery from the given AST and the current settings.
   def build(ast)
-    PostQuery.new(ast, current_user: current_user, tag_limit: tag_limit, safe_mode: safe_mode, hide_deleted_posts: hide_deleted_posts)
+    PostQuery.new(ast, current_user: current_user, tag_limit: tag_limit, safe_mode: safe_mode)
   end
 
   def builder
-    @builder ||= PostQueryBuilder.new(search, current_user, tag_limit: tag_limit, safe_mode: safe_mode, hide_deleted_posts: hide_deleted_posts)
+    @builder ||= PostQueryBuilder.new(search, current_user, tag_limit: tag_limit, safe_mode: safe_mode)
   end
 
   def search
@@ -189,19 +187,17 @@ class PostQuery
     TagAlias.aliases_for(tag_names)
   end
 
-  # Implicit metatags are metatags added by the user's account settings. rating:s is implicit
-  # under safe mode. -status:deleted is implicit when the "hide deleted posts" setting is on.
+  # Implicit metatags are metatags added by the user's account settings. rating:s is implicit under safe mode.
   def implicit_metatags
     metatags = []
     metatags << AST.metatag("rating", "s") if safe_mode?
-    metatags << -AST.metatag("status", "deleted") if hide_deleted?
     metatags
   end
 
   # XXX unify with PostSets::Post#show_deleted?
   def hide_deleted?
     has_status_metatag = select_metatags(:status).any? { |metatag| metatag.value.downcase.in?(%w[deleted active any all unmoderated modqueue appealed]) }
-    hide_deleted_posts? && !has_status_metatag
+    !has_status_metatag
   end
 
   concerning :CountMethods do
diff --git a/app/logical/post_query_builder.rb b/app/logical/post_query_builder.rb
index ac739a262..2ff19fe9b 100644
--- a/app/logical/post_query_builder.rb
+++ b/app/logical/post_query_builder.rb
@@ -70,22 +70,19 @@ class PostQueryBuilder
     COUNT_METATAG_SYNONYMS.flat_map { |str| [str, "#{str}_asc"] } +
     CATEGORY_COUNT_METATAGS.flat_map { |str| [str, "#{str}_asc"] }
 
-  attr_reader :query_string, :current_user, :tag_limit, :safe_mode, :hide_deleted_posts
+  attr_reader :query_string, :current_user, :tag_limit, :safe_mode
   alias_method :safe_mode?, :safe_mode
-  alias_method :hide_deleted_posts?, :hide_deleted_posts
 
   # Initialize a post query.
   # @param query_string [String] the tag search
   # @param current_user [User] the user performing the search
   # @param tag_limit [Integer] the user's tag limit
   # @param safe_mode [Boolean] whether safe mode is enabled. if true, return only rating:s posts.
-  # @param hide_deleted_posts [Boolean] if true, filter out status:deleted posts.
-  def initialize(query_string, current_user = User.anonymous, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false, hide_deleted_posts: false)
+  def initialize(query_string, current_user = User.anonymous, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false)
     @query_string = query_string
     @current_user = current_user
     @tag_limit = tag_limit
     @safe_mode = safe_mode
-    @hide_deleted_posts = hide_deleted_posts
   end
 
   def metatag_matches(name, value, relation = Post.all, quoted: false)
diff --git a/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb b/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb
index 8fcdc2d0d..0a6efd87c 100644
--- a/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb
+++ b/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ module PostSets
     alias_method :show_votes?, :show_votes
 
     def initialize(tags, page = 1, per_page = nil, user: CurrentUser.user, format: "html", show_votes: false)
-      @query = PostQueryBuilder.new(tags, user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?, hide_deleted_posts: user.hide_deleted_posts?)
-      @post_query = PostQuery.normalize(tags, current_user: user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?, hide_deleted_posts: user.hide_deleted_posts?)
+      @query = PostQueryBuilder.new(tags, user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?)
+      @post_query = PostQuery.normalize(tags, current_user: user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?)
       @normalized_query = post_query.with_implicit_metatags
       @tag_string = tags
       @page = page
diff --git a/app/logical/user_deletion.rb b/app/logical/user_deletion.rb
index 244fd3a06..3eab7cfb6 100644
--- a/app/logical/user_deletion.rb
+++ b/app/logical/user_deletion.rb
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ class UserDeletion
     user.last_forum_read_at = nil
     user.favorite_tags = ""
     user.blacklisted_tags = ""
-    user.hide_deleted_posts = false
     user.show_deleted_children = false
     user.time_zone = "Eastern Time (US & Canada)"
     user.save!
diff --git a/app/models/post.rb b/app/models/post.rb
index 0b87f62c3..7cf9ce042 100644
--- a/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/app/models/post.rb
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
       end
 
       def sample(query, sample_size)
-        user_tag_match(query, safe_mode: false, hide_deleted_posts: false).reorder(:md5).limit(sample_size)
+        user_tag_match(query, safe_mode: false).reorder(:md5).limit(sample_size)
       end
 
       # unflattens the tag_string into one tag per row.
@@ -1282,13 +1282,13 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
 
       # Perform a tag search as an anonymous user. No tag limit is enforced.
       def anon_tag_match(query)
-        user_tag_match(query, User.anonymous, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false, hide_deleted_posts: false)
+        user_tag_match(query, User.anonymous, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false)
       end
 
       # Perform a tag search as the system user, DanbooruBot. The search will
       # have moderator-level permissions. No tag limit is enforced.
       def system_tag_match(query)
-        user_tag_match(query, User.system, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false, hide_deleted_posts: false)
+        user_tag_match(query, User.system, tag_limit: nil, safe_mode: false)
       end
 
       # Perform a tag search as the current user, or as another user.
@@ -1298,10 +1298,9 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
       # @param tag_limit [Integer] the maximum number of tags allowed per search.
       #   An exception will be raised if the search has too many tags.
       # @param safe_mode [Boolean] if true, automatically add rating:s to the search
-      # @param hide_deleted_posts [Boolean] if true, automatically add -status:deleted to the search
       # @return [ActiveRecord::Relation<Post>] the set of resulting posts
-      def user_tag_match(query, user = CurrentUser.user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?, hide_deleted_posts: user.hide_deleted_posts?)
-        post_query = PostQuery.normalize(query, current_user: user, tag_limit: tag_limit, safe_mode: safe_mode, hide_deleted_posts: hide_deleted_posts)
+      def user_tag_match(query, user = CurrentUser.user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?)
+        post_query = PostQuery.normalize(query, current_user: user, tag_limit: tag_limit, safe_mode: safe_mode)
         post_query.with_implicit_metatags.posts
       end
 
diff --git a/app/policies/user_policy.rb b/app/policies/user_policy.rb
index 60b4b7ed8..55a13c540 100644
--- a/app/policies/user_policy.rb
+++ b/app/policies/user_policy.rb
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class UserPolicy < ApplicationPolicy
       blacklisted_tags time_zone per_page custom_style theme
       receive_email_notifications always_resize_images
       new_post_navigation_layout enable_private_favorites
-      hide_deleted_posts style_usernames show_deleted_children
+      style_usernames show_deleted_children
       disable_categorized_saved_searches disable_tagged_filenames
       disable_mobile_gestures enable_safe_mode
       enable_desktop_mode disable_post_tooltips
diff --git a/app/views/users/edit.html.erb b/app/views/users/edit.html.erb
index bddd2b007..00b3aeaaf 100644
--- a/app/views/users/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/edit.html.erb
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@
 
         <%= f.input :style_usernames, :as => :select, :label => "Colored usernames", :hint => "Color users according to their user level", :include_blank => false, :collection => [["Yes", "true"], ["No", "false"]] %>
         <%= f.input :new_post_navigation_layout, :as => :select, :label => "Navigation bar position", :include_blank => false, :collection => [["Below", "true"], ["Above", "false"]], :hint => "When browsing pools or posts, place navigation links above or below the image" %>
-        <%= f.input :hide_deleted_posts, :as => :select, :label => "Deleted post filter", :hint => "Remove deleted posts from search results", :include_blank => false, :collection => [["Yes", "true"], ["No", "false"]] %>
         <%= f.input :show_deleted_children, :as => :select, :label => "Show deleted children", :hint => "Show thumbnail borders on parent posts even if the children are deleted", :include_blank => false, :collection => [["Yes", "true"], ["No", "false"]] %>
         <%= f.input :disable_categorized_saved_searches, :hint => "Don't show dialog box when creating a new saved search", :as => :select, :collection => [["No", "false"], ["Yes", "true"]], :include_blank => false %>
         <% if policy(@user).can_enable_private_favorites? %>
diff --git a/test/functional/posts_controller_test.rb b/test/functional/posts_controller_test.rb
index b1e393409..0efe421cd 100644
--- a/test/functional/posts_controller_test.rb
+++ b/test/functional/posts_controller_test.rb
@@ -413,18 +413,6 @@ class PostsControllerTest < ActionDispatch::IntegrationTest
           assert_response :success
           assert_select "#post_#{@post.id}", 1
         end
-
-        context "with the hide_deleted_posts option enabled" do
-          should "show deleted posts when searching for status:appealed" do
-            @user.update!(hide_deleted_posts: true)
-            create(:post_appeal, post: @post)
-
-            get_auth posts_path(tags: "status:appealed"), @user
-
-            assert_response :success
-            assert_select "#post_#{@post.id}", 1
-          end
-        end
       end
 
       context "with restricted posts" do
diff --git a/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb b/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb
index e04d4eb51..44daea01f 100644
--- a/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb
@@ -789,34 +789,6 @@ class PostQueryBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       assert_tag_match([], "-status:all")
     end
 
-    should "respect the 'Deleted post filter' option when using the status: metatag" do
-      deleted = create(:post, is_deleted: true, is_banned: true)
-      undeleted = create(:post, is_banned: true)
-
-      CurrentUser.hide_deleted_posts = true
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted], "status:banned")
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted], "status:active")
-      assert_tag_match([deleted], "status:deleted")
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted, deleted], "status:any")
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted, deleted], "status:all")
-      assert_tag_match([deleted], "status:banned status:deleted")
-
-      assert_tag_match([], "-status:banned")
-      assert_tag_match([deleted], "-status:active")
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted], "-status:deleted")
-      #assert_tag_match([deleted], "-status:any") # XXX Broken
-      #assert_tag_match([deleted], "-status:all")
-
-      CurrentUser.hide_deleted_posts = false
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted, deleted], "status:banned")
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted], "status:active")
-      assert_tag_match([deleted], "status:deleted")
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted, deleted], "status:any")
-      assert_tag_match([undeleted, deleted], "status:all")
-
-      assert_fast_count(2, "status:banned")
-    end
-
     should "return posts for the filetype:<ext> metatag" do
       png = create(:post, file_ext: "png")
       jpg = create(:post, file_ext: "jpg")
@@ -1445,12 +1417,6 @@ class PostQueryBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       should "return the true count, if not cached" do
         assert_fast_count(1, "aaa score:42")
       end
-
-      should "work with the hide_deleted_posts option turned on" do
-        create(:post, tag_string: "aaa", score: 42, is_deleted: true)
-        assert_fast_count(1, "aaa score:42", { hide_deleted_posts: true })
-        assert_fast_count(2, "aaa score:42", { hide_deleted_posts: false })
-      end
     end
 
     context "a blank search" do