Delete files permanently from cloud storage

Last updated on 21 March 2025

Out of storage space? Learn about our 30-day retention period for deleted files and how to remove unused files and assets to free up your cloud storage space.

Why should I delete files permanently from cloud storage?

When you reach the  maximum number of files or folders  that can be stored in your Creative Cloud account, you may get an error preventing you from adding new items in your cloud storage. To fix this issue, permanently delete any files and folders you don't need and free up your storage space.

30-day retention period for deleted files

We are changing how we process deleted files and folders to improve your Creative Cloud storage quota. Beginning June 4, 2023, we will start rolling out a new removal process for files in your Creative Cloud Deleted folder. Once implemented, deleted files will be permanently deleted after 30 days. Any files older than 30 days already there in your Deleted folder will also be permanently deleted.

Note that files in the Deleted files will continue to consume space till they’re permanently deleted. Read on to find out more about how to immediately remove files from the Deleted folder if you're out of storage space. You can also recover deleted files at any time before they’re permanently deleted. 

Note:

When you permanently delete files from the Deleted folder, you cannot restore them.

Delete files permanently from Creative Cloud

Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
In the Files tab, select Deleted.

The Deleted tab includes all the deleted cloud files.
Select the files or folders that you want to permanently remove from the cloud, and then select Delete Permanently.

Note:

Press Shift + Right Arrow key (→) to select multiple files or folders to delete.

You can delete any of your files in the cloud storage.
In the confirmation message, select Delete Permanently.

Once done, your files are permanently removed from the cloud storage.

Note:

Make sure that you only close the browser window once all your selected files are deleted.

Caution:

To free up your space quota by removing synced presets in Adobe Photoshop, disable Preset Syncing. You'll be presented with a confirmation message asking whether to keep your currently synced presets or to delete them from your account. Select No to remove any Photoshop presets that are currently synced from the Creative Cloud. To learn more, see Sync Photoshop Presets.

Restore deleted files from Creative Cloud

Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
In the Files tab, select Deleted.

The Deleted tab includes all the deleted cloud files.
Select the files or folders you want to restore from the Deleted folder, then select Restore.

Note:

Press Shift + Right Arrow key (→) to select multiple files or folders to restore.

If you can't see a deleted file, it means that you have permanently deleted it.

Delete photos permanently from Lightroom storage

Sign in to Lightroom on the web.
Expand All Photos in the left sidebar, and then select Deleted.

All of your deleted files are stored in the Deleted tab for 30 days.

Left sidebar view of Lightroom interface showing the Deleted folder.
Select the files you want to delete permanently from the cloud storage, and then select the delete icon .

You can see the number of days remaining before the file is automatically deleted from cloud storage.

Note:

You can delete multiple files simultaneously by selecting them and clicking the Delete Permanently option in the bottom panel.
Once you get the confirmation message, select Delete.

Delete files permanently from Document Cloud

Sign in to the Acrobat Web.
Select the files you want to delete and select Delete from the set of displayed options on the right panel.

You can also select multiple files to simultaneously delete them.
In the confirmation pop-up window, select Delete.

Note:

If you have shared the file that you are about to delete, select Delete anyway.

Delete files permanently from Adobe Express

Sign in to Adobe Express and navigate to the file that you want to delete.
Right-click the file and select Delete from the displayed options.

You can also delete folders, which will automatically delete the files within the folder.
In the confirmation window, select Delete.
Note:
You can delete multiple files simultaneously. Select the files and, in the bottom panel, select the context menu icon > Delete.

When webpages are published using Adobe Express, a snapshot of the webpage is created and stored in your account, consuming additional quota. To free up this space, you can unpublish or delete the original webpage file. For detailed instructions on how to unpublish a webpage, see here.

Files shared for review are duplicated upon sharing, which increases quota usage. You can manage and delete these review files as needed through your account. To access your review files, see here.

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