---
title: "What happens to OpenAI API files after I delete a vector store?"  
description: "What happens to OpenAI API files after I delete a vector store?"  
author: "Mikko Lehtonen"  
published: 2026-10-15  
updated: 2026-10-15  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/162435/what-happens-to-openai-api-files-after-i-delete-a-vector-store  
category: "OpenAI API"  
tags: ["OpenAI API", "Vector stores", "File management", "Data retention"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What happens to OpenAI API files after I delete a vector store?

I’m trying to understand the lifecycle of files uploaded for an OpenAI API workflow. If I delete the vector store that uses a file, does that also remove the underlying file, or can it remain available through the Files API?

I’m especially interested in what needs to be deleted for a clean removal, and whether the answer changes for files attached to different resources. The docs describe these pieces separately, so I’d appreciate a practical explanation from someone who has tested the cleanup flow.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/162435/what-happens-to-openai-api-files-after-i-delete-a-vector-store

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