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How to Delete and Restore Data in ClickUp?

Gary David
8 May
2025
5
min read

ClickUp is a powerful productivity platform, but when it comes to managing deleted content, things can get confusing fast. Whether you're trying to clean up your workspace or recover a mistakenly deleted task, this guide will walk you through how deletion works in ClickUp, what can and can't be recovered, and how to keep your data safe.

ClickUp lets you delete nearly all types of content, including:

  • Tasks – individual tasks or subtasks
  • Lists – a group of related tasks
  • Folders – collections of lists
  • Spaces – top-level project areas
  • Docs – collaborative documents inside ClickUp
  • Attachments & Comments – within individual tasks
  • Custom Fields – from tasks or workspace-level settings

Each of these has different deletion rules and recovery options.

How to delete data in ClickUp?

Tasks

To delete one or more multiple tasks, follow these steps:

  1. Open the task.
  2. Click the three dots in the top right.
  3. Choose Delete.

Lists, Folders, and Spaces

To delete an entire list, folder or even space, follow these steps:

  1. Locate the item in the left sidebar.
  2. Click the three dots next to the name.
  3. Choose Delete.
  4. Confirm your action.

Please note that deleting a list or folder will automatically also delete all child tasks inside it. In general we recommend to always archive a list instead of deleting it.

Docs

To delete a ClickUp Doc, follow these steps:

  1. Open the doc.
  2. Click the three dots in the top right.
  3. Select Delete Doc.

 How to restore deleted data?

ClickUp has a Trash system for most content types. To access the trash, open the left sidebar, click on your profile avatar and choose "Trash". From there, you can:

  • Browse deleted tasks, docs, folders, etc.
  • Click Restore to recover any item within the 30-day window.

Please note that only Workspace admins can see and manage Trash contents for the entire workspace.

What can’t be recovered?

Some items don’t go to Trash or become unrecoverable after deletion:

  • Trash older than 30 days: Automatically purged.
  • Deleted Comments or Attachments: Often removed permanently on delete.
  • Custom Fields: Can’t always be restored, especially when removed from workspace settings.

There’s no built-in version history for tasks or projects like in Google Docs. If something is gone and it’s not in the Trash, it’s likely lost permanently.

How to avoid data loss

Here are some good practices to avoid data loss:

  • Set proper user permissions: Limit who can delete.
  • Use task archiving instead of deletion when cleaning up.
  • Review Trash before the 30-day window expires.
  • Regularly audit important lists or folders.

Please note that ClickUp doesn’t provide full workspace backups or allow selective restoration beyond the Trash. If you need point-in-time recovery or long-term version history, you’ll need a third-party backup solution.

Summary

Deleting and restoring data in ClickUp is straightforward - but not always forgiving. Know what you’re deleting, check the Trash regularly, and set up guardrails to avoid permanent data loss.

For teams handling sensitive or high-stakes projects, consider an automated backup tool to fill the gaps in ClickUp’s native data protection.

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