borgbackup/docs/man/borg-delete.1

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.TH "borg-delete" "1" "2026-06-16" "" "borg backup tool"
.SH Name
borg-delete \- Deletes archives.
.SH SYNOPSIS
.sp
borg [common options] delete [options] [NAME]
.SH DESCRIPTION
.sp
This command soft\-deletes archives from the repository.
.sp
Important:
.INDENT 0.0
.IP \(bu 2
The delete command will only mark archives for deletion (\(dqsoft\-deletion\(dq),
repository disk space is \fBnot\fP freed until you run \fBborg compact\fP\&.
.IP \(bu 2
You can use \fBborg undelete\fP to undelete archives, but only until
you run \fBborg compact\fP\&.
.UNINDENT
.sp
When in doubt, use \fB\-\-dry\-run \-\-list\fP to see what would be deleted.
.sp
You can delete multiple archives by specifying a match pattern using
the \fB\-\-match\-archives PATTERN\fP option (for more information on these
patterns, see \fIborg_patterns\fP).
.SH OPTIONS
.sp
See \fIborg\-common(1)\fP for common options of Borg commands.
.SS arguments
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.TP
.B NAME
specify the archive name
.UNINDENT
.SS options
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.TP
.B  \-n\fP,\fB  \-\-dry\-run
do not change the repository
.TP
.B  \-\-list
output a verbose list of archives
.UNINDENT
.SS Archive filters
.INDENT 0.0
.TP
.BI \-a \ PATTERN\fR,\fB \ \-\-match\-archives \ PATTERN
only consider archives matching all patterns. See \(dqborg help match\-archives\(dq.
.TP
.BI \-\-sort\-by \ KEYS
Comma\-separated list of sorting keys; valid keys are: timestamp, archive, name, id, tags, host, user; default is: timestamp
.TP
.BI \-\-first \ N
consider the first N archives after other filters are applied
.TP
.BI \-\-last \ N
consider the last N archives after other filters are applied
.TP
.BI \-\-oldest \ TIMESPAN
consider archives between the oldest archive\(aqs timestamp and (oldest + TIMESPAN), e.g., 7d or 12m.
.TP
.BI \-\-newest \ TIMESPAN
consider archives between the newest archive\(aqs timestamp and (newest \- TIMESPAN), e.g., 7d or 12m.
.TP
.BI \-\-older \ TIMESPAN
consider archives older than (now \- TIMESPAN), e.g., 7d or 12m.
.TP
.BI \-\-newer \ TIMESPAN
consider archives newer than (now \- TIMESPAN), e.g., 7d or 12m.
.UNINDENT
.SH EXAMPLES
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.INDENT 3.5
.sp
.EX
# Delete all backup archives named \(dqkenny\-files\(dq:
$ borg delete \-a kenny\-files
# Actually free disk space:
$ borg compact

# Delete a specific backup archive using its unique archive ID prefix
$ borg delete aid:d34db33f

# Delete all archives whose names begin with the machine\(aqs hostname followed by \(dq\-\(dq
$ borg delete \-a \(aqsh:{hostname}\-*\(aq

# Delete all archives whose names contain \(dq\-2012\-\(dq
$ borg delete \-a \(aqsh:*\-2012\-*\(aq

# See what would be deleted if delete was run without \-\-dry\-run
$ borg delete \-\-list \-\-dry\-run \-a \(aqsh:*\-May\-*\(aq
.EE
.UNINDENT
.UNINDENT
.SH SEE ALSO
.sp
\fIborg\-common(1)\fP, \fIborg\-compact(1)\fP, \fIborg\-repo\-delete(1)\fP
.SH Author
The Borg Collective
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