---
name: "rdiff-backup-delete"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "rdiff-backup"
version: "2.2.6-3+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rdiff-backup-delete"
---

# rdiff-backup-delete(1)

deletes a file and its whole history from a repository

## NAME

rdiff-backup-delete - deletes a file and its whole history from a repository

## SYNOPSIS

**rdiff-backup-delete** \[**--dry-run**\] \[**--help**\] *repository-sub-path*

## DESCRIPTION

**rdiff-backup-delete** removes a file or directory from a repository created by '`rdiff-backup`', together with its complete history.

The required argument is the pathname of the sub-directory or file within an rdiff-backup repository.

For example, after a backup with '`rdiff-backup backup source repo`', potentially called multiple times, you can remove a file and its whole history with '`rdiff-backup-delete repo/somefile`'.

The utility is best used to remove too big or secret files erroneously backed-up. Beware that no trace of the file will remain in the repository after its deletion.

## OPTIONS

- \--dry-run

  Only show what would happen but don’t actually delete anything.

- \-h, --help

  Output a short usage description and exit.

## BUGS

None known.

## AUTHOR

Patrik Dufresne  \<info@patrikdufresne.com\>

## SEE ALSO

[**rdiff-backup**(1)](/rdiff-backup/1.md), [**python**(1)](/python/1.md). The rdiff-backup web page is at  \<https://rdiff-backup.net/\>.