> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/pterodactyl/wings/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Delete Backup

> Delete a local backup from the Wings node

## Endpoint

```
DELETE /api/servers/:server/backup/:backup
```

## Authentication

Requires Bearer token authentication via the `Authorization` header.

## Path Parameters

<ParamField path="server" type="string" required>
  The UUID of the server
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="backup" type="string" required>
  The UUID of the backup to delete
</ParamField>

## Response

Returns `204 No Content` on success.

## Example Request

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X DELETE "https://wings.example.com/api/servers/d3aac109-f0fc-4674-b5bc-199bb50e6b88/backup/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000" \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  await fetch(
    'https://wings.example.com/api/servers/d3aac109-f0fc-4674-b5bc-199bb50e6b88/backup/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000',
    {
      method: 'DELETE',
      headers: {
        'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_TOKEN'
      }
    }
  );
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  requests.delete(
      'https://wings.example.com/api/servers/d3aac109-f0fc-4674-b5bc-199bb50e6b88/backup/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000',
      headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_TOKEN'}
  )
  ```

  ```go Go theme={null}
  req, _ := http.NewRequest(
      "DELETE",
      "https://wings.example.com/api/servers/d3aac109-f0fc-4674-b5bc-199bb50e6b88/backup/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
      nil,
  )
  req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer YOUR_TOKEN")

  client := &http.Client{}
  resp, err := client.Do(req)
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Behavior

* Only **local backups** stored on the Wings node can be deleted
* S3 backups must be deleted through the Panel or directly from S3
* Backup file is permanently deleted from disk
* If the backup doesn't exist, returns `204 No Content` (idempotent)
* Backup metadata should be removed from the Panel separately

<Info>
  This endpoint only deletes the backup file from the Wings node. The backup record in the Panel database is not automatically removed.
</Info>

## Local Backup Location

Local backups are stored in the configured backup directory:

```yaml theme={null}
# config.yml
system:
  backup_directory: /var/lib/pterodactyl/backups
```

Backup filename format: `backup-{uuid}.tar.gz`

## Error Responses

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="401 Unauthorized">
    Missing or invalid Bearer token
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="404 Not Found">
    Server does not exist (backup not found is treated as success)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="500 Internal Server Error">
    Failed to delete backup file (permission error, disk error, etc.)
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Use Cases

* Free up disk space by removing old backups
* Clean up failed or corrupted backups
* Remove backups after migrating to S3
* Automated backup rotation scripts

## Idempotent Behavior

This endpoint is idempotent:

* If the backup exists, it is deleted → Returns `204`
* If the backup doesn't exist, no action is taken → Returns `204`
* Multiple DELETE requests have the same effect as a single request

<Note>
  The backup is considered successfully deleted even if it never existed. Check backup existence before deletion if you need to distinguish between these cases.
</Note>

## Best Practices

1. **Verify backup integrity** before deletion in case you need to restore
2. **Check disk space** after deleting large backups
3. **Coordinate with Panel** - ensure Panel backup records are updated
4. **Implement rotation** - delete old backups automatically based on age or count
5. **Monitor errors** - failed deletions may indicate disk or permission issues

## Backup Rotation Example

Automated rotation to keep only the 5 most recent backups:

```python theme={null}
import requests

# Get all backups from Panel
backups = get_server_backups(server_id)  # Panel API call

# Sort by creation date, oldest first
backups.sort(key=lambda b: b['created_at'])

# Delete all but the 5 most recent
for backup in backups[:-5]:
    requests.delete(
        f'https://wings.example.com/api/servers/{server_id}/backup/{backup["uuid"]}',
        headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'}
    )
```

## Source Reference

Implementation: `router/router_server_backup.go:178-199` (deleteServerBackup function)