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NinjaOne Backup: Deleting File/Folder Backup Data

  • Last Updated March 9, 2026

Topic

This article provides instructions for deleting file/folder backup plans and backup data in NinjaOne.

Environment

NinjaOne Backup

Description

This guide describes your options for deleting file/folder backup plans and backup data on a device. For information on deleting Image plans and data, refer to NinjaOne Backup: Deleting Image Backup Data. 

Deleting backup data or policy plans does not disable NinjaOne Backup. refer to Disabling NinjaOne Backup for more information. 

This short video gives an overview of the backup data deletion process in NinjaOne.

The removal method you use depends on the type of data you want to remove and its location. Review the sections below for details.

Before You Delete

Data deletion is permanent. Before removing backup data, it's essential to keep these points in mind:

  • You cannot recover deleted backup data. NinjaOne retains backup data that you manually select for deletion for 72 hours before permanently deleting it. If you believe you selected the wrong data for deletion, contact NinjaOne Support immediately.
  • Deleting a device or changing its policy does not delete backup data. It prevents the backup plan configured for that policy from running, but you must still delete any previously backed-up data.
  • Disabling NinjaOne Backup does not delete data. If you are disabling the NinjaOne Backup application, we recommend removing all data before doing so.
  • When you delete data from an active plan, the next time the plan runs, the agent will perform the backup as if it were running for the first time. The result will be a full backup.

Options

Whenever a device or organization with backup data stored is deleted or rejected, NinjaOne will prompt you to choose whether to keep or permanently delete all associated backup data. 

NinjaOne File /Folder Backup allows technicians to delete the following items. Click the links below for more information on each type of deletion:

Deleting data while a job is running will cancel the job.

Delete Root Folders

The sections below describe how to remove backup data at either the device or policy level of the NinjaOne dashboard.

Delete Root Folders at the Device Level

You can delete File/folder data using the device dashboard by following these steps: 

  1. Navigate to the device dashboard in NinjaOne, place your cursor over the Backup tab, and select Manage.
    The backup plans set up at the policy level display on the page.

  2. Select the plan that contains the root folder. You can also search for specific files in a File/Folder Restore browser. File/Folder delete options allow technicians to delete at the root folder, sub-root folder, and file levels in a File/Folder plan.
     

    FFD1.png
    Figure 1: Manage (click to enlarge)
  3. Navigate to the root folder that you need to delete.

  4. Activate the checkbox to the left of the folder you want to remove and click Delete on the right side of the page.
     

    FFD2.png
    Figure 2: Delete (click to enlarge)
    • This process can only be performed on root folders. For example, if you were backing up C: and removed this folder/path from the plan, you have the option to delete all of the data under C: but cannot currently delete only specific data from within this folder.
    • This process does not apply to image backups. Specific revisions cannot be deleted from image backups.
    • Data cannot be deleted at the device level for a plan that is currently running. Live file/folder backup data must be deleted at the plan level.

Delete Root Folders at the Policy Level

File/folder data can be deleted from the device dashboard at the policy level by following these steps: 

  1. Navigate to the policy editor (Administration → Policies) for the device whose file/folder backup plan you wish to modify; open the Backups tab and click the name of the plan that needs to be updated.
     

    FFD3.png
    Figure 3: Backups (click to enlarge)


    The File Folder Backup Plan editor modal displays.

  2. Open the Folders tab in the backup plan editor.

  3. Move your cursor over the folder and then click Delete.
     

    FFD4.png
    Figure 4: Folders (click to enlarge)

Delete Backup Plans

Delete Backup Plan Data at the Device Level

  1. Navigate to the device dashboard in NinjaOne, move your cursor over the Backup tab, and select Manage.
    The backup plans set up at the policy level will be displayed on the page.
  2. Activate the checkbox next to the data plan that needs to be removed.
  3. Select Delete data at the top of the plan listings. Alternatively, you can place your cursor over the Action menu (three dots) at the far right of the plan listing and select Delete data.
deletefilefolder.png
Figure 5: Delete data (click to enlarge)
When you delete data from a backup plan at the device level, the plan remains active but will send new full backups, as the previous data has been marked for deletion. To delete the entire plan, remove it at the policy level as described below.

Delete Backup Plans at the Policy Level

When you delete a plan from the policy, the backup agent will no longer be able to run jobs for that plan on schedule or manually. The data for a plan is not deleted when the plan is deleted from the NinjaOne policy—you must delete the data for each device/endpoint as outlined in the Delete Backup Plan Data at the Device Level section above.

  1. Navigate to the policy editor (Administration → Policies) for the device whose file/folder backup plan you wish to modify, and then open the Backups tab.

  2. Move your cursor over the plan that needs to be removed and click Delete.
     

    FFD6.png
    Figure 6: Delete (click to enlarge)

Remove a Folder from a Backup Plan

This option does not delete the data, but NinjaOne will no longer back it up.

  1. Navigate to the policy editor (Administration → Policies) for the device whose file/folder backup plan you wish to modify; open the Backups tab and click the name of the plan that needs to be updated.
    The File Folder Backup Plan editor modal displays.

  2. Open the Folders tab. Then, click Manage → Include Common.
     

    FFD7.png
    Figure 7: Include Common (click to enlarge)


    The Include Common Folders editor modal displays.

  3. Click to remove the check in any box next to a folder to remove it from the path, and then click Save.
     

    IncludeCommonFoldersII.png
    Figure 8: Include Common Folders (click to enlarge)

Delete Backup Data for Deleted, Rejected, or Disabled Devices

When a device is removed from a backup plan or deleted from the NinjaOne console, the previously backed-up data remains in the system. To remove backup data for a deleted device:

  1. From the Organization overview page, navigate to Backup → Overview.

  2. Activate the checkbox next to the device in question (you can select more than one) and select Delete Permanently at the top of the screen.
     

    FFD9.png
    Figure 9: Delete Permanently (click to enlarge)

    You will be prompted to enter your email address to confirm this action, as it cannot be undone.

Once you approve the deletion, the data for the devices will be permanently removed within a few hours.

Deleted Backup Activities

When backup data is deleted, the action is logged in the Activities section on the system, organization, and device dashboards.

Activity data provides the name of the user who deleted the data, the node and size of the data that was removed, and the date and time of the deletion.

Dashboards: NinjaOne Backup.

FFD12.png
Figure 12: Scheduled Deletes (click to enlarge)

Additional Resources

For additional information on deletion, review these articles:

FAQ

Next Steps