---
name: "gdal-raster-overview-delete"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gdal"
version: "3.13.3-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gdal-raster-overview-delete"
---

# gdal-raster-overview-delete(1)

Delete overviews of a raster dataset Added in version 3.11.

## NAME

gdal-raster-overview-delete - Delete overviews of a raster dataset

Added in version 3.11.

## SYNOPSIS

```
Usage: gdal raster overview delete [OPTIONS] <INPUT>
Deleting overviews.
Positional arguments:
  -i, --dataset, --input <INPUT>     Dataset (to be updated in-place, unless --external) [required]
Common Options:
  -h, --help                         Display help message and exit
  --json-usage                       Display usage as JSON document and exit
  --config <KEY>=<VALUE>             Configuration option [may be repeated]
  -q, --quiet                        Quiet mode (no progress bar or warning message) [not available in pipelines]
Options:
  --external                         Delete external overviews
Advanced Options:
  --oo, --open-option <KEY>=<VALUE>  Open options [may be repeated]
```

## DESCRIPTION

**gdal raster overview delete** can be used to delete all existing overviews of a dataset.

**NOTE:**

For most file formats (including GeoTIFF or GeoPackage), the space previously occupied by the removed overviews may not be reclaimed. It might be needed for use *gdal raster convert* to create a new compact dataset.

## PROGRAM-SPECIFIC OPTIONS

- **--dataset \<DATASET\>**

  Dataset name, to be updated in-place by default (unless *--external* is specified). Required.

- **--external**

  Remove external **.ovr** overviews.

## STANDARD OPTIONS

- **--oo, --open-option \<NAME\>=\<VALUE\>**

  Dataset open option (format specific).

  May be repeated.

## RETURN STATUS CODE

The program returns status code 0 in case of success, and non-zero in case of error (non-blocking errors emitted as warnings are considered as a successful execution).

## EXAMPLES

### Example 1: Delete overviews of a GeoTIFF file.

```
gdal raster overview delete my.tif
```

## AUTHOR

Even Rouault \<even.rouault@spatialys.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

1998-2026