---
title: "Delete Apps, Releases, and Patches"
description: "What deleting an app, release, or patch in Shorebird removes, and the options to consider first."
---

Note

Deleting is permanent and cannot be undone. Shorebird is unable to restore deleted apps, releases, or patches once deleted.

## Before you delete

People usually reach for delete when a patch has a problem, but deleting is rarely the right fix. Think about why you want to delete, and whether one of these options fits better:

* **A patch has a bug.** [Roll it back](/code-push/rollback) instead of deleting its release. A rollback removes the patch from end users’ devices, and you can roll it forward again later if the patch turns out to be fine.
* **You want to test a patch before users get it.** Publish it to a [staging track](/code-push/guides/staging-patches).
* **You want to move an app to another organization.** Transfer ownership of the app instead of deleting it.

Delete only when you no longer need an app or release at all. If you’re not sure which option is right, [reach out](mailto:contact@shorebird.dev) and the Shorebird team can help you decide.

## Delete a patch

Individual patches can’t be deleted. A patch is removed along with the release it belongs to, or the app that owns that release.

If you want to stop serving a patch, you can roll it back. A rollback remotely uninstalls the patch from end users’ devices and falls back to the previous patch or the base release. You can undo a rollback later if you need to.

[Roll back a Patch](/code-push/rollback)Remotely uninstall a patch. You can undo a rollback later.

## Delete a release

Releases are deleted per platform. When you delete a release, the dialog asks which platforms to delete, and your choice determines what is removed:

* **All** deletes the release itself, along with its artifacts and every patch published to it. Devices will no longer receive patches for that release version.
* **A single platform** deletes that platform’s release and patch binaries. The release itself remains, and the other platforms are untouched.

In both cases, the deleted binaries can’t be restored.

See [Delete releases](/code-push/release#delete-releases) for the steps, the platform selection dialog, and `shorebird releases delete`.

## Delete an app

Deleting an app also deletes every release, patch, and artifact associated with it. Copies of the app that are already installed on end users’ devices keep working normally, but they won’t receive new patches.

If you want to move an app to another organization, use **Transfer ownership** in the same **Danger zone** instead of deleting it.

1. Navigate to the app in the [Shorebird console](https://console.shorebird.dev/).
2. Go to the **Settings** tab.
3. In the **Danger zone**, under **Delete app**, select **Delete**.
4. Confirm in the dialog that appears.

From the command line, [`shorebird apps delete`](/account/cli#delete-an-app) opens this page. The **Settings** tab is shown only to Admins and the Owner; an App Manager can delete the app too, from the page that command opens.

## If you deleted an app or release by mistake

Shorebird can’t restore it, but copies of your app already installed on users’ devices keep working, and keep running the patch they already have. They won’t receive another patch until they update from the store to a new release.

On an Enterprise plan, the [audit log](/enterprise/audit-logs/) records who deleted an app (`app.delete`) or a release (`release.delete`), and when.

### A deleted release

Running `shorebird release` again for the same version doesn’t reconnect those devices. It creates a new release with a new build, and patches made for that build can’t install on the build already in the store. See [Patches can’t install because the app isn’t the build Shorebird released](/code-push/troubleshooting/#patches-cant-install-because-the-app-isnt-the-build-shorebird-released).

To patch your users again:

1. Release a new version with `shorebird release`.
2. Publish that build to the stores.

Patches made for the new version install on devices once they update to it.

### A deleted app

Builds already in the stores carry the deleted app’s ID, and a new app always gets a new, random ID, so those builds can’t receive patches again. To start patching again:

1. Create a new Shorebird app with `shorebird init --force`, which writes a new `app_id` to `shorebird.yaml`. It rewrites the file with only `app_id` (and `flavors`), so check the diff and put back any other settings, such as `auto_update: false`, before you commit.
2. Release with `shorebird release`, and publish that build to the stores.

In a project with [flavors](/code-push/guides/flavors/), `shorebird init --force` gives every flavor a new app ID, which disconnects the flavors you didn’t delete too. Instead:

1. In `shorebird.yaml`, remove the deleted flavor’s line under `flavors:`. If the top-level `app_id` is the same ID as that flavor’s (`shorebird init` sets it to the first flavor’s app when every platform has flavors), set it to a remaining flavor’s ID.
2. Run `shorebird init` without `--force`. It creates a new app for that flavor and keeps the others.
3. As with `--force`, check the `shorebird.yaml` diff and put back any settings it dropped before you commit.

## Delete an account

Deleting your account removes every organization where you’re the only member, and everything in them. If you own an organization that has other members, transfer or delete it first. See [Delete Account](/account/delete-account/) for everything deletion removes and what blocks it.

You delete your account on the [Account](https://console.shorebird.dev/account) page in the console. From the command line, [`shorebird account delete`](/account/cli#delete-your-account) opens that page.

[Delete Account](/account/delete-account)Permanently delete your Shorebird account and all associated data.