# Introducing permanently delete post functionality

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/introducing-permanently-delete-post-functionality/207109
**Category:** Announcements
**Tags:** new-feature, permanently-delete
**Created:** [November 17, 2021, 9:32am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/introducing-permanently-delete-post-functionality/207109 "2021-11-17T09:32:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![nbianca](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/nbianca/32/157984_2.png) [@nbianca](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nbianca)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2021, 9:32am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/introducing-permanently-delete-post-functionality/207109/1 "2021-11-17T09:32:17Z")

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When a post is deleted in Discourse, we perform a soft-delete. This means that post is still present in the database in case an administrator wants to recover it later. A soft-delete is not sufficient when the deleted post contains sensitive information and must be pruned from the database completely. For those situations, we are introducing the ability to permanently delete a post.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/3/6/364555ac5dd00ae25b6ba42b4fc26952a15e2301.png)

To use this feature, enable the `can permanently delete` setting. However, please be aware of the risks involved with this feature — as the setting name suggests, **if you permanently delete a topic, post, or post revisions, there is no way to restore this content.** As such, there are a few safeguards in place:

- When you enable the `can permanently delete` setting, we present a modal that asks for your explicit confirmation that you understand the risks:

- After initially deleting a topic (which is “soft delete” that can be reversed via the Un-Delete Topic button), you must wait 5 minutes before you can initiate a permanent deletion via the Permanently delete button. If you need to move faster, another admin can complete the permanent deletion immediately.

- After those 5 minutes have passed or if another admin is helping out, when you click the Permanently delete button we will present an additional confirmation modal that you must complete before proceeding:

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/introducing-permanently-delete-post-functionality/207109)._