--- title: Delete DWN Record description: Remove records from your personal data vault with optional cascading deletion seo: title: "DWN Record Deletion" --- :::warning Record deletion is **permanent** and cannot be undone. Ensure you have backups if needed. ::: ## Deletion Options ### Standard Deletion - Removes only the specified record - Child records remain intact - Preserves hierarchical structure ### Pruned Deletion (`prune: true`) - Removes the record and all descendants - Cascades through entire subtree - Useful for removing complete data structures ## Authorization Requirements You must have one of the following: - **Owner**: Be the record author - **Permission**: Have explicit delete permission - **Protocol Authority**: Have protocol-level delete rights :::note The `deletedCount` in the response includes all pruned child records. ::: ## Safety Considerations :::tip Query child records before pruning to understand the impact: ```bash snrd query dwn records-query --parent-id ``` :::