> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.memorylake.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Delete Item

> Delete a file or folder from the Library (recursive for folders)

```
DELETE /openapi/memorylake/api/v1/drives/items/{item_id}
```

Permanently deletes a file or folder. Deleting a folder also deletes **everything inside it**, recursively.

<Warning>
  This is destructive and irreversible. If the item is a folder, every file and subfolder under it is removed. Confirm with the user before calling this endpoint.
</Warning>

<Note>
  Deleting a file that is referenced by one or more project documents does not automatically remove those documents. Call [Delete Documents](/features/memorylake/api-reference/v3-documents/delete-documents) first if you want the documents to disappear from a project.
</Note>

<Note>
  **Permission required:** [`drive:item_delete`](/features/team-collaboration/permission-reference#delete-files) · `service`
</Note>

### Path Parameters

<ParamField path="item_id" type="string" required>
  Concrete item ID to delete. Your workspace root (`MY_SPACE`) cannot be deleted.
</ParamField>

<RequestExample>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X DELETE 'https://app.memorylake.ai/openapi/memorylake/api/v1/drives/items/sc-5c6bf0f82d624a20a6fa4696997bdd46:7d8cf1e93f634b31b5' \
    -H 'Authorization: Bearer sk_xxxxxx'
  ```
</RequestExample>

### Response

<ResponseField name="success" type="boolean">Indicates if the request was successful</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="message" type="string">Human-readable status message</ResponseField>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json Success (200) theme={null}
  {
    "success": true,
    "message": "Operation completed successfully"
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>