When you no longer need files or folders stored in Tresorit, you can delete them to free up storage space and keep your account organized.
Before you begin
- A main folder can only be deleted by its owner; files and subfolders can be deleted by any member with the appropriate permissions.
- After deleting shared files or folders, all members lose access to them.
- All active shared links and file request links will be revoked.
Deletion types
- Temporary deletion
- Permanent deletion
By default, items are temporarily deleted.
- Become hidden from the file list but still occupy storage space. To view them, enable Show deleted in the folder view.
- Can be restored at any time (no expiry) unless permanently deleted.
- The latest version of deleted items can be downloaded, but version history is no longer available.
- Actions can be tracked in
Recents and in the main folder's
Activity.
If you select Permanently delete:
- Content is removed immediately and cannot be recovered.
- Main folders are always permanently deleted (no temporary deletion available).
- Deleted main folders don't appear in
Recents; subfolders and files appear as unknown.
ℹ️ Admins can disable permanent deletion by policy. If deletion is not possible, contact your subscription admin to check the policy settings.
| Main folder | Subfolder | File | |
| Temporarily delete | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Permanently delete | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Restore | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Deletion on desktop
To delete files or folders, use right-click and select Delete. When you delete a folder, all sub-folders and files it contains will be deleted as well.
- Main folders
- Files and subfolders
⚠️ Main folders can only be permanently deleted.
- Right-click the folder.
- Select
Delete permanently.
- Confirm with Delete permanently.
ℹ️ You can select multiple items at once with Ctrl/Cmd+click.
- Right-click the file or subfolder.
- Select
Delete.
- Optional: Check Delete permanently.
- Confirm with Delete.
Delete synced folders
- In the desktop app
- On the computer
- In Tresorit Drive
- When a main folder is deleted, its local pair remains on the computer and must be removed manually if needed.
- Deleted subfolders and files are also removed from the local folder.
- If you delete a main folder, the cloud version remains but displays a sync error (lost path). Disable sync and delete the folder manually.
- Subfolders and files are only temporarily deleted in the cloud and can be restored.
- Deleted local items are moved to the computer's Recycle Bin and can also be restored.
- Main folders cannot be deleted.
- Subfolders and files are temporarily deleted.
ℹ️ See how to restore deleted files and folders.
Deletion on mobile
iOS
- Main folders
- Files and subfolders
- Multiple items
- Tap the arrow icon
next to the folder.
- Select
Delete folder permanently.
- Confirm with Delete permanently.
- Tap the arrow icon
next to the file or subfolder.
- Tap
Delete.
- Select
Delete or
Delete permanently.
- Go to the item location.
- Tap the three dots
in the upper-right corner.
- Tap
Select.
- Select the items you want to delete.
- Tap More in the lower-right corner.
- Tap
Delete.
- Select
Delete or
Delete permanently.
Android
- Main folders
- Files and subfolders
- Multiple items
- Tap the three dots
next to the folder.
- Select
Delete folder permanently.
- Confirm with DELETE PERMANENTLY.
- Tap the three dots
next to the file or subfolder.
- Tap
Delete.
- Optional: Check Delete permanently.
- Confirm with DELETE.
- Tap the three dots
in the upper-right corner.
- Tap
Select.
- Select the items you want to delete.
- Tap the three dots
in the upper-right corner again.
- Select
Delete.
- Optional: Check Delete permanently.
- Confirm with DELETE.
Deletion in Web Access
- Main folders
- Files and subfolders
- Multiple items
ℹ️ You can select multiple folders at once.
- Hover over the folder and click the three dots
on the right.
- Select Delete folder from cloud.
- Select Continue.
- Hover over the file or subfolder and click the three dots
on the right.
- Select Delete.
- Optional: Check Delete permanently.
- Confirm with Yes, I’m sure.
- Check the boxes next to the items you want to delete.
- Click the three dots
above the item list.
- Select Delete.
- Optional: Check Delete permanently.
- Confirm with Yes, I’m sure.