---
title: "How long do uploaded files remain available in the OpenAI API?"  
description: "How long do uploaded files remain available in the OpenAI API?"  
author: "Waldemar Thiessen"  
published: 2026-10-23  
updated: 2026-10-23  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/162893/how-long-do-uploaded-files-remain-available-in-the-openai-api  
category: "OpenAI API"  
tags: ["OpenAI API", "File Uploads", "Data retention"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# How long do uploaded files remain available in the OpenAI API?

I’m trying to understand what happens to a file after I upload it for an API request. If I send a document using a file ID, does it stay in my account until I delete it, or is it removed automatically after the request finishes?

I’m especially interested in whether retention differs between file-backed requests and other API workflows, and what I should check if I need to remove the document as soon as processing is done.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/162893/how-long-do-uploaded-files-remain-available-in-the-openai-api

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