> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.booksgpt.ai/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Delete a client workspace

Archive is the usual choice. Delete is for a company you are finished with entirely. **Start over** is the middle button: it clears the books and keeps the workspace. See "Redo or undo an import" if that is what you meant.

Open **All pages** in the left sidebar, then click [Settings](https://app.booksgpt.ai/go/settings) and **Workspace**. Select **Data** on the **Details** / **Data** switch. **Workspace lifecycle** is on that page, under **Download everything**.

On a phone, use **Settings section** to choose **Workspace**, then select **Data**.

|| Only the workspace owner can do this.

## Archive first, unless you are finished for good

- **Archive this workspace** keeps the records readable and reportable. Your client keeps access to their own books.
- **Start over** clears the books so you can import again. The people and the billing stay. There is no undo.
- **Delete this workspace** removes everything after a recovery window. Everyone loses access immediately, your client included.

The delete dialog says **Archiving is usually what you want** and offers **Archive instead**. Use that if you are not sure.

![Workspace lifecycle on Data, with Archive this workspace, Start over, and Delete this workspace](https://booksgpt.ai/help/lifecycle/section.png)

See "Archive a client workspace" if you want the records kept. See "Archive, start over, or delete a workspace" if you are choosing between the three.

## What happens when you delete

1. Click **Delete workspace**.
2. Read the facts. The dialog names the real counts in the workspace, not "all your data".
3. Type the workspace name to confirm, then click **Delete workspace**.

|| Until the name matches, the button stays off and the footer reads **Type the workspace name exactly to continue.**

![The delete dialog, with Archive instead, the facts, and Delete workspace waiting for the name](https://booksgpt.ai/help/lifecycle/delete-dialog.png)

What that click does:

- **We take a backup first.** A full bundle of the books is prepared as soon as you confirm. BooksGPT emails you when that copy is ready. It stays downloadable for the whole recovery window. That copy is what you hand your client.
- **Everyone loses access immediately**, your client included. Archive is the option that keeps their access.
- **The bank connections stop today.** Restoring is data recovery: the books come back, not the feeds. Each feed has to be connected again.
- **The workspace slot frees immediately.** If this workspace held a paid extra-workspace seat, the dialog names that charge.
- You have **30 days** to undo. After that date it is gone for good and support cannot recover it.

## Undo from another workspace you still own

The deleted company leaves the switcher. On any other workspace you own, open [Settings](https://app.booksgpt.ai/go/settings) and **Workspace**, then select **Data**. **Recently deleted** is on that page.

On a phone, use **Settings section** to choose **Workspace**, then select **Data**.

- **Gone for good on** names the last day you can still undo.
- **backup ready to download** means the bundle is there. Click **Download backup**.
- Click **Restore** to bring the books back. That is data recovery. Any bank feeds have to be connected again.

![Recently deleted on Data, with Download backup and Restore](https://booksgpt.ai/help/lifecycle/recovery.png)

|| If the line says **backup still building**, wait and refresh. **no backup was taken** means the workspace could not produce a bundle.