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

# dbdock cleanup

> Apply your retention policy to remove old backups.

```bash theme={null}
npx dbdock cleanup [options]
```

`cleanup` applies the `retention` policy from `dbdock.config.json`. It's automatic (when `runAfterBackup: true`) and manual (via this command).

## Options

| Option      | Description                                    |
| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `--dry-run` | Preview what would be deleted without deleting |
| `--force`   | Skip the confirmation prompt                   |

## Interactive preview (default)

```bash theme={null}
npx dbdock cleanup
```

```
Retention policy:
  • maxBackups: 100
  • maxAgeDays: 30
  • minBackups: 5

Analyzing backups...

Will delete 12 backup(s), reclaiming 542.1 MB:
  • backup-2025-10-01-... (45.2 MB) — 197 days old
  • backup-2025-10-02-... (45.1 MB) — 196 days old
  ...

? Proceed? (y/N)
```

## Dry run

See what would happen without doing it:

```bash theme={null}
npx dbdock cleanup --dry-run
```

Exits with code `0` if there's nothing to delete, so it's safe in CI.

## Force (no prompt)

For automated cleanup in cron jobs:

```bash theme={null}
npx dbdock cleanup --force
```

Combined with cron:

```
0 3 * * 0  npx dbdock cleanup --force  # Weekly on Sunday at 3am
```

## Retention policy

Defined in `dbdock.config.json`:

```json theme={null}
{
  "backup": {
    "retention": {
      "enabled": true,
      "maxBackups": 100,
      "maxAgeDays": 30,
      "minBackups": 5,
      "runAfterBackup": true
    }
  }
}
```

| Field            | Description                                                                 |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `maxBackups`     | Keep at most N backups. Oldest deleted first.                               |
| `maxAgeDays`     | Delete anything older than N days.                                          |
| `minBackups`     | **Safety net** — never delete below this count, even if other rules say so. |
| `runAfterBackup` | Run cleanup automatically after each `dbdock backup`.                       |

### How the rules combine

1. Start with all backups
2. Sort by age, newest first
3. The most recent `minBackups` are untouchable
4. Of the rest, delete anything exceeding `maxBackups` or older than `maxAgeDays`

`minBackups` always wins. If you have 3 backups and `minBackups: 5`, cleanup deletes nothing.

## Strategies

See [Retention strategies](/guides/retention-strategies) for common policies (daily/weekly/monthly rotations, archival rules, etc.).