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

# Deleting data

> Remove a check from your workspace, or permanently purge it from Watchdoc.

Deleting a check needs `manage_documents`, the same permission that gates verdict overrides.
Reading and submitting are not enough: retracting a colleague's result is a different level of
trust from producing one.

```bash theme={null}
curl -X DELETE https://api.sphinxhq.com/api/v1/document-checks/dc_8f2c... \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPHINX_API_KEY"
```

A successful delete returns `204` with no body. The check disappears from the API immediately —
a later `GET` on the same id is a `404`, and it no longer appears in `list`.

## What a plain delete does

Removes the check from your workspace. Watchdoc keeps the file and the analysis.

## Permanently purge from Watchdoc

Pass `purge=true` to permanently delete the file and all analysis data from our systems:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X DELETE "https://api.sphinxhq.com/api/v1/document-checks/dc_8f2c...?purge=true" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPHINX_API_KEY"
```

This is irreversible. There is no recovery window and no support path to undo it.

You can purge a check you already soft-deleted: `DELETE ...?purge=true` still works by id even
though the check no longer shows in `list` or `GET`.

| Erased                                | Kept                               |
| ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| The stored file and derived artifacts | The check id                       |
| Extracted fields (`extracted`)        | Submitted and completed timestamps |
| Document provenance (`provenance`)    | `decision` and `risk_score`        |
| Raw engine output                     | Whether it was billed              |
| The summary                           |                                    |
| Every flag and its evidence           |                                    |
| Feedback you sent on the check        |                                    |
| The filename and content hash         |                                    |

The check id, its timestamps and its verdict survive so the run stays reconcilable against your
invoice and your usage history. Purging does not refund a credit; the analysis already ran.

If several checks share one uploaded document, the filename and hash are only cleared once the
last of them has been purged.

## Dashboard

In the dashboard the same choice is a checkbox labelled **Permanently purge from Watchdoc**.
Ticking it swaps the confirm button to **Purge permanently**.

On the documents list you can select multiple checks on the current page and delete or purge
them together.

Members with `manage_documents` can turn on **Always purge from Watchdoc** under Workspace
settings. That only pre-ticks the dashboard checkbox. API deletes still need an explicit
`?purge=true`.