files.delete

Delete a file from the Gemini API

Deletes a remotely stored file from the Gemini File API.

Method Signature

client.files.delete(
    name: str,
    config: Optional[DeleteFileConfigOrDict] = None
) -> DeleteFileResponse

Parameters

name · string · required

The file resource name to delete.

Format: "files/abc123" or just "abc123"

config · DeleteFileConfig

Optional configuration for the request.

Available options:

• http_options: Custom HTTP request options

Returns

response · DeleteFileResponse

A response object confirming the deletion.

Contains:

• sdk_http_response: HTTP response metadata

Examples

Delete File by Name

from google import genai

client = genai.Client(api_key='your-api-key')

# Delete a file
client.files.delete(name='files/abc123')
print("File deleted successfully")

Delete After Using

from google.genai import types

# Upload file
file = client.files.upload(file='temp_document.pdf')

# Use the file
response = client.models.generate_content(
    model='gemini-2.0-flash',
    contents=[
        types.Part(file_data=types.FileData(file_uri=file.uri)),
        'Summarize this document'
    ]
)
print(response.text)

# Delete when done
client.files.delete(name=file.name)
print("Cleanup complete")

Delete with Short Name

# Both formats work
client.files.delete(name='files/abc123')
client.files.delete(name='abc123')

Delete Multiple Files

# Get list of files to delete
files_to_delete = ['files/abc123', 'files/def456', 'files/ghi789']

for file_name in files_to_delete:
    try:
        client.files.delete(name=file_name)
        print(f"Deleted: {file_name}")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Failed to delete {file_name}: {e}")

Cleanup Old Files

from datetime import datetime, timedelta

# Delete files older than 24 hours
for file in client.files.list():
    if file.create_time:
        # Assuming create_time is a datetime object or can be parsed
        age = datetime.now() - file.create_time
        if age > timedelta(hours=24):
            client.files.delete(name=file.name)
            print(f"Deleted old file: {file.display_name}")

Async Delete

import asyncio
from google import genai

client = genai.Client(api_key='your-api-key')

async def delete_file():
    # Delete file asynchronously
    await client.aio.files.delete(name='files/abc123')
    print("File deleted")

asyncio.run(delete_file())

Delete All Files

# Clear all uploaded files
for file in client.files.list():
    client.files.delete(name=file.name)
    print(f"Deleted: {file.display_name or file.name}")

print("All files deleted")

Safe Delete with Verification

def safe_delete(file_name: str) -> bool:
    """Delete file with verification."""
    try:
        # Check if file exists
        file = client.files.get(name=file_name)
        print(f"Deleting: {file.display_name}")
        
        # Delete
        client.files.delete(name=file_name)
        
        # Verify deletion
        try:
            client.files.get(name=file_name)
            return False  # File still exists
        except:
            return True  # File successfully deleted
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")
        return False

if safe_delete('files/abc123'):
    print("Deletion confirmed")

Batch Delete with Error Handling

def delete_files(file_names: list[str]) -> dict:
    """Delete multiple files and return results."""
    results = {'success': [], 'failed': []}
    
    for name in file_names:
        try:
            client.files.delete(name=name)
            results['success'].append(name)
        except Exception as e:
            results['failed'].append({'name': name, 'error': str(e)})
    
    return results

file_names = ['files/abc123', 'files/def456']
results = delete_files(file_names)

print(f"Deleted: {len(results['success'])}")
print(f"Failed: {len(results['failed'])}")

Context Manager Pattern

from contextlib import contextmanager
from google.genai import types

@contextmanager
def temporary_file(file_path: str):
    """Upload file and auto-delete when done."""
    file = client.files.upload(file=file_path)
    try:
        yield file
    finally:
        client.files.delete(name=file.name)
        print(f"Cleaned up: {file.name}")

# Use the file temporarily
with temporary_file('document.pdf') as file:
    response = client.models.generate_content(
        model='gemini-2.0-flash',
        contents=[
            types.Part(file_data=types.FileData(file_uri=file.uri)),
            'Summarize this'
        ]
    )
    print(response.text)
# File is automatically deleted here

Error Handling

try:
    client.files.delete(name='files/abc123')
    print("File deleted")
except Exception as e:
    if "not found" in str(e).lower():
        print("File does not exist or was already deleted")
    else:
        print(f"Delete failed: {e}")

Important Notes

• Files are automatically deleted after 48 hours
• Deleting a file that doesn’t exist will raise an error
• Once deleted, a file cannot be recovered
• File deletion is immediate and cannot be undone

API Availability

This method is only available in the Gemini API (not Vertex AI).

Related Methods

• files.upload - Upload a new file
• files.get - Get file metadata
• files.list - List all files