---
id: moving-folders.can-rules-delete-my-personal-files
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/can-rules-delete-my-personal-files
category: "Moving folders"
subcategory: "Rules and Auto Rules"
question: "Can a rule delete my personal files?"
alt_questions:
  - "Will rules delete my documents?"
  - "Is there a setting to stop deleting?"
  - "delete rules storage studio"
  - "Do rules only move or also delete?"
short_answer: "With \"Never delete personal files — only move them\" on (in Settings → Rules → Global overrides), every delete rule is skipped and only rebuildable app caches are cleared. Auto Rules only move personal files, and only after you approve."
tags: ["rules", "delete", "personal files"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-are-auto-rules", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-are-move-rules"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Can a rule delete my personal files?

Not with the default safeguard on. **Settings → Rules → Global overrides** has a master switch, **"Never delete personal files — only move them"**, which skips every delete rule. App-cache clean-up still runs, because caches rebuild themselves.

In Auto Rules, only regenerable caches are ever applied automatically; personal files are only ever moved, and only after you approve. Each rule is colour-coded so you can see its action at a glance: blue for move, red for delete, purple for cache clean-up.

See [What are Auto Rules?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-are-auto-rules)