{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "How Storage Studio deletes things",
  "slug": "how-deletions-work",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-deletions-work",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-deletions-work.md",
  "category": "Privacy & security",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/privacy-and-security/",
  "tags": [
    "safety",
    "privacy",
    "recycle vault",
    "deletion"
  ],
  "summary": "When Storage Studio removes your files it puts them in the Recycle Vault or the Trash so you can get them back. It deletes only from places it is allowed to, and permanent actions make you type a word first.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:16:52.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:36:59.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "The Recycle Vault comes first",
      "id": "the-recycle-vault-comes-first"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Rules that delete use the Trash",
      "id": "rules-that-delete-use-the-trash"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "What is cleared outright",
      "id": "what-is-cleared-outright"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Only from places it's allowed to",
      "id": "only-from-places-it-s-allowed-to"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Type the word for permanent actions",
      "id": "type-the-word-for-permanent-actions"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "recycle-vault",
      "label": "The Recycle Vault",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/recycle-vault"
    },
    {
      "slug": "emergency-space",
      "label": "Emergency Space",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/emergency-space"
    },
    {
      "slug": "restoring-from-the-recycle-vault",
      "label": "Restoring something from the Recycle Vault",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/restoring-from-the-recycle-vault"
    },
    {
      "slug": "app-caches",
      "label": "Clearing app caches safely",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches"
    },
    {
      "slug": "smart-care",
      "label": "Smart Care",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-trash",
      "label": "The Trash and the space it holds",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-trash"
    },
    {
      "slug": "how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe",
      "label": "How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe"
    },
    {
      "slug": "uninstalling-an-app",
      "label": "Uninstalling an app completely",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/uninstalling-an-app"
    },
    {
      "slug": "privacy-overview",
      "label": "Privacy: what stays on your Mac",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/privacy-overview"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe",
      "title": "How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe"
    },
    {
      "slug": "is-storage-studio-safe-to-install",
      "title": "Is Storage Studio safe to install?",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/is-storage-studio-safe-to-install"
    },
    {
      "slug": "privacy-overview",
      "title": "Privacy: what stays on your Mac",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/privacy-overview"
    },
    {
      "slug": "compared-with-empty-trash-automatically",
      "title": "Storage Studio and emptying the Trash automatically",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/compared-with-empty-trash-automatically"
    },
    {
      "slug": "recycle-vault",
      "title": "The Recycle Vault",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/recycle-vault"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-trash",
      "title": "The Trash and the space it holds",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-trash"
    },
    {
      "slug": "permissions-storage-studio-asks-for",
      "title": "The permissions Storage Studio asks for",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/permissions-storage-studio-asks-for"
    },
    {
      "slug": "uninstalling-storage-studio",
      "title": "Uninstalling Storage Studio",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/uninstalling-storage-studio"
    },
    {
      "slug": "uninstalling-an-app",
      "title": "Uninstalling an app completely",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/uninstalling-an-app"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "Where something goes when Storage Studio removes it",
      "outline": "- Storage Studio removes an item\n  - leads to Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache?\n- Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache?\n  - Yes: leads to Cleared, apps rebuild it\n  - No: leads to Can the Recycle Vault take it?\n- Can the Recycle Vault take it?\n  - Yes: leads to Kept in the Recycle Vault\n  - No: leads to Can it go to the Trash?\n- Can it go to the Trash?\n  - Yes: leads to Moved to the Trash\n  - No: leads to Nothing is removed\n",
      "source": "%% caption: Where something goes when Storage Studio removes it\nflowchart TD\n  A[Storage Studio removes an item] --> B{Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache?}\n  B -->|Yes| C[Cleared, apps rebuild it]\n  B -->|No| D{Can the Recycle Vault take it?}\n  D -->|Yes| E[Kept in the Recycle Vault]\n  D -->|No| F{Can it go to the Trash?}\n  F -->|Yes| G[Moved to the Trash]\n  F -->|No| H[Nothing is removed]"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The Recycle Vault window with the type-to-confirm sheet open after choosing to delete one item for good, the word field empty and the Delete permanently button greyed out",
      "caption": "Typing the word before a permanent delete"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [],
  "text": "When Storage Studio removes your files for you, it puts them somewhere you can get them back from: the Recycle Vault or, if that isn't possible, the macOS Trash. The exceptions are clutter that rebuilds itself, such as caches, old items already in the Trash, and the few permanent actions you confirm by typing a word. Where something goes when Storage Studio removes it Flowchart outline: Where something goes when Storage Studio removes it Storage Studio removes an item leads to Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache? Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache? Yes: leads to Cleared, apps rebuild it No: leads to Can the Recycle Vault take it? Can the Recycle Vault take it? Yes: leads to Kept in the Recycle Vault No: leads to Can it go to the Trash? Can it go to the Trash? Yes: leads to Moved to the Trash No: leads to Nothing is removed The Recycle Vault comes first Duplicate clean-ups, app uninstalls and files that Emergency Space clears all go through one route: the Recycle Vault. Each item keeps its original location, so Restore puts it back where it was. Items stay recoverable for about six months. If the vault can't take an item, it goes to the Trash instead. If neither is possible, nothing is removed and you're told why. See Restoring something from the Recycle Vault . Rules that delete use the Trash A rule that deletes old files moves them to the Trash on the same drive, so they're still in Finder if you change your mind. A rule pointed at a whole system folder or your home folder itself is refused. If you'd rather nothing personal is ever deleted, turn on Never delete personal files — only move them in Preferences → Rules . It skips every delete rule and stops old Trash items being emptied. App-cache cleaning still runs, because caches regenerate. What is cleared outright App and developer caches, logs and similar clutter. Apps rebuild these when they need them. Storage Studio clears only well-known cache folders, not whole app folders. See Clearing app caches safely . Old items already in the Trash. Smart Care can empty items that have sat in the Trash for 30 days or more, unless the setting above is on. See The Trash and the space it holds . Only from places it's allowed to Storage Studio deletes only inside places it has been told are safe: When it uninstalls an app, it removes only items in your Applications folders and your Library whose names match that app. When it clears up its own copies, it works only inside the Storage Studio folder on your external drive and its own settings folder. A delete rule is refused if it points at a system folder or at your home folder itself. These checks run right before anything is removed. Type the word for permanent actions A plain OK is easy to click without reading. So for actions that can't be undone, replace something already there, or cover many items at once, the button stays greyed out until you type the action word. Action Word to type Deleting an item for good from the Recycle Vault Delete Deleting a file or folder in the Data Parking window Delete, plus a small sum to answer A move that replaces what's already at the destination Replace Resetting Storage Studio RESET Capitals don't matter, and pasting is allowed. Each sheet says plainly what will happen and whether it can be undone. More answers are in the Storage Studio FAQ . See also: How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible · The Recycle Vault · Uninstalling an app completely · Privacy: what stays on your Mac",
  "markdown": "When Storage Studio removes your files for you, it puts them somewhere you can get them back from: the [Recycle Vault](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/recycle-vault) or, if that isn't possible, the macOS Trash. The exceptions are clutter that rebuilds itself, such as caches, old items already in the Trash, and the few permanent actions you confirm by typing a word.\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: Where something goes when Storage Studio removes it\nflowchart TD\n  A[Storage Studio removes an item] --> B{Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache?}\n  B -->|Yes| C[Cleared, apps rebuild it]\n  B -->|No| D{Can the Recycle Vault take it?}\n  D -->|Yes| E[Kept in the Recycle Vault]\n  D -->|No| F{Can it go to the Trash?}\n  F -->|Yes| G[Moved to the Trash]\n  F -->|No| H[Nothing is removed]\n```\n\n*Flowchart — Where something goes when Storage Studio removes it. Outline:*\n\n- Storage Studio removes an item\n  - leads to Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache?\n- Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache?\n  - Yes: leads to Cleared, apps rebuild it\n  - No: leads to Can the Recycle Vault take it?\n- Can the Recycle Vault take it?\n  - Yes: leads to Kept in the Recycle Vault\n  - No: leads to Can it go to the Trash?\n- Can it go to the Trash?\n  - Yes: leads to Moved to the Trash\n  - No: leads to Nothing is removed\n\n## The Recycle Vault comes first\n\nDuplicate clean-ups, app uninstalls and files that [Emergency Space](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/emergency-space) clears all go through one route: the Recycle Vault. Each item keeps its original location, so **Restore** puts it back where it was. Items stay recoverable for about six months. If the vault can't take an item, it goes to the Trash instead. If neither is possible, nothing is removed and you're told why. See [Restoring something from the Recycle Vault](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/restoring-from-the-recycle-vault).\n\n## Rules that delete use the Trash\n\nA rule that deletes old files moves them to the Trash on the same drive, so they're still in Finder if you change your mind. A rule pointed at a whole system folder or your home folder itself is refused.\n\nIf you'd rather nothing personal is ever deleted, turn on **Never delete personal files — only move them** in **Preferences** → **Rules**. It skips every delete rule and stops old Trash items being emptied. App-cache cleaning still runs, because caches regenerate.\n\n## What is cleared outright\n\n- **App and developer caches, logs and similar clutter.** Apps rebuild these when they need them. Storage Studio clears only well-known cache folders, not whole app folders. See [Clearing app caches safely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches).\n- **Old items already in the Trash.** [Smart Care](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care) can empty items that have sat in the Trash for 30 days or more, unless the setting above is on. See [The Trash and the space it holds](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-trash).\n\n## Only from places it's allowed to\n\nStorage Studio deletes only inside places it has been told are safe:\n\n- When it uninstalls an app, it removes only items in your Applications folders and your Library whose names match that app.\n- When it clears up its own copies, it works only inside the Storage Studio folder on your external drive and its own settings folder.\n- A delete rule is refused if it points at a system folder or at your home folder itself.\n\nThese checks run right before anything is removed.\n\n## Type the word for permanent actions\n\nA plain **OK** is easy to click without reading. So for actions that can't be undone, replace something already there, or cover many items at once, the button stays greyed out until you type the action word.\n\n| Action | Word to type |\n| --- | --- |\n| Deleting an item for good from the Recycle Vault | Delete |\n| Deleting a file or folder in the Data Parking window | Delete, plus a small sum to answer |\n| A move that replaces what's already at the destination | Replace |\n| Resetting Storage Studio | RESET |\n\nCapitals don't matter, and pasting is allowed. Each sheet says plainly what will happen and whether it can be undone.\n\nMore answers: https://storagestudio.us/faq\n\nSee also: [How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe) · [The Recycle Vault](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/recycle-vault) · [Uninstalling an app completely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/uninstalling-an-app) · [Privacy: what stays on your Mac](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/privacy-overview)\n"
}