OpenAI Platform & APIs$ explicithighCluster of 7 signals
Card #497 · OpenAI Platform & APIs

Unable to remove files from Vector Stores

We are unable to delete files from vector stores, even when the API returns a successful response. Files remain in the store or stay in an 'in progress deletion' state, which in some cases leads to inaccessible vector stores and continued usage charges.

OpenAI Platform & APIsUpdated May 26, 20260.24
Pain score
0.24/ 1.00 · weighted product of four components
Reach0.57
distinct authors (log-normalized)
Recency1.00
freshness decay, half-life months
Engagement1.00
upvotes + comments, normalized
Monetization1.00
willingness-to-pay cues in evidence
§ Evidence — 5 verified quotes
it is impossible to remove a file from a vector store, despite detaching it from the vector store or deleting it via the API file.
Forum·@adrien.paulin··source ↗
The response is successful, but it’s still showing the file in the vector store.
Forum·@krishnababu··source ↗
ingested files (included md and txt), are not removed and stay in a “in progress deletion”
Forum·@christian.pallaria··source ↗
The files are still present in the vector store several days later and are included in the estimated usage…
Forum·@adrien.paulin··source ↗
Due to this, we have few vector stores which we cant access anymore.
Forum·@DenisStark··source ↗

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