> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.fovus.co/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.fovus.co/docs/pipeline/monitor-manage/auto-delete-pipeline.md).

# Auto-delete a pipeline

Schedule a pipeline for automatic deletion, change its timer, or remove it.

Finished pipelines sit in your workspace until someone removes them by hand — an auto-delete timer does it for you, permanently deleting a pipeline a set number of days after it finishes.

## How the timer works

The timer starts counting when the pipeline **completes** or is **terminated**, not when you set it. A pipeline that runs for a week under a 3-day timer is deleted three days after that week ends.

The **Auto-delete timer** field on the **Pipeline** tab reports the current setting. Once deletion is scheduled, the time remaining appears in parentheses after the configured value — `3 days (2 days)` is a three-day timer with two days left. The field reads **Disabled** when no timer is set.

Setting a timer requires ownership of the pipeline. A pipeline shared with you cannot be scheduled for deletion.

{% hint style="danger" %}
Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Download any results you need before the timer expires — see [Monitor your pipeline](/docs/pipeline/monitor-manage/pipeline-monitoring.md#files).
{% endhint %}

## Set or remove the timer

1. Open the pipeline from the **Pipelines** list.
2. Click **Auto delete** in the page header.

   ![Pipeline detail page with the Auto delete button highlighted in the header](https://2108897467-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhGluyldqdG6yHzilfIdu%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a96a0e7526f998d5a2af0cf20f37f223df44b833%2Fpipeline-auto-delete-detail-header.png?alt=media)
3. Enter a whole number of **Days**, from 1 to 1095 (three years).
4. Click **Schedule delete**.

   ![Auto-delete timer dialog with the Days field, Cancel, Remove, and Schedule delete](https://2108897467-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhGluyldqdG6yHzilfIdu%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f47d194f5a9832c0a9ed74fa33ad387e5fb6432e%2Fpipeline-auto-delete-timer-dialog.png?alt=media)

To change a timer that is already set, repeat these steps with a new value.

To keep the pipeline indefinitely, click **Remove** in the same dialog. The **Auto-delete timer** field returns to **Disabled**.

## Schedule several pipelines at once

1. On the **Pipelines** list, select the checkbox next to each pipeline you want to schedule.
2. Click **Auto delete** in the selection toolbar.
3. Enter a number of **Days** and click **Schedule delete**.

One value applies to every pipeline you selected. The bulk dialog has no **Remove** option — clear a timer from that pipeline's own detail page.

## Set a timer when you create a pipeline

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Web UI" %}
The create wizard carries an **Auto delete** toggle in its header, available at every step.

1. Toggle **Auto delete** on. A **Days** field appears, prefilled with `30`.
2. Change the value if you want a different timer.
3. Finish the wizard and click **Create pipeline**.

See [Run fully hosted by Fovus](/docs/pipeline/nextflow/pipeline-submission/fovus-hosted-manager.md) for the rest of the wizard.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="CLI" %}
Pass `--auto-delete-days` to [`fovus pipeline create`](https://help.fovus.co/cli/commands/pipeline/create.html):

```bash
fovus pipeline create ./my-pipeline \
  --name "RNA-seq Run 1" \
  --run-command "nextflow run main.nf" \
  --auto-delete-days 30 \
  --workflow-host remote
```

Or set `autoDeleteDays` in a JSON config file passed with `-c`:

```json
{
  "name": "RNA-seq Run 1",
  "autoDeleteDays": 30,
  "workflowHost": "remote",
  "configuration": {
    "workflowManager": "NEXTFLOW",
    "runCommand": "nextflow run main.nf"
  }
}
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Fovus applies `--auto-delete-days` only when the workflow host is **remote**. A pipeline created with `--workflow-host local` starts with no timer — set one from the pipeline detail page after it is created.
{% endhint %}

No CLI command changes the timer after creation. Use **Auto delete** on the pipeline detail page instead.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## What's next?

* [**Monitor your pipeline**](/docs/pipeline/monitor-manage/pipeline-monitoring.md) — status, jobs, files, and infrastructure
* [**Stop and resume**](/docs/pipeline/monitor-manage/stop-resume-pipeline.md) — release compute without deleting the pipeline
* [**Auto-deletion & archive**](/docs/job/auto-deletion-and-archive.md) — the equivalent timers for jobs, plus archiving


---

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