> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.prudra.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Delete files

> Remove individual files from a vault to free storage quota.

## Delete files

Delete an individual file from a vault without deleting the entire vault. Deletion removes the file from GCS and invalidates the CDN URL.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="SDK">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    import { initialise } from '@prudra/core';
    import { deleteVaultFile } from '@prudra/vault';

    initialise({ apiKey: process.env.PRUDRA_API_KEY! });

    await deleteVaultFile({
      vaultId: 'vlt_clx1abc123',
      fileId:  'fil_clx1abc123',
    });

    console.log('File deleted — CDN URL is now invalid');
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="cURL">
    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -X DELETE \
      https://api.prudra.dev/vaults/vlt_clx1abc123/files/fil_clx1abc123 \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer prv_test_sk_..."
    ```

    Response:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "id":        "fil_clx1abc123",
      "deleted":   true,
      "deletedAt": "2026-04-30T09:10:00.000Z"
    }
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## What deletion does

* Removes the file object from GCS immediately
* CDN cache is invalidated within minutes
* File record removed from vault manifest
* Storage quota is freed

Deletion is permanent. There is no recovery path.

## Deleting from a sealed vault

You can delete files from sealed vaults. The vault remains sealed — only the file is removed:

```typescript theme={null}
// Works even after seal
await deleteVaultFile({ vaultId: 'vlt_clx1abc123', fileId: 'fil_clx1abc123' });
```

## Error handling

| Error            | Status | Cause                                    | Resolution       |
| ---------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| `file-not-found` | 404    | File ID doesn't exist or already deleted | No action needed |
| `vault-expired`  | 404    | Vault has expired (files already gone)   | No action needed |

## Related

* [Upload files](/storage/files/upload) — add files to a vault
* [Download files](/storage/files/download) — CDN URL details
* [Delete a vault](/storage/vaults/delete) — delete the entire vault and all files