> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://api-tools.memories.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Delete Collection

> Delete a collection

<Info>
  **Product**: Video Datalake
  **Host**: `https://api.memories.ai/datalake/v1`
  **Auth**: `Authorization: sk-mai-...`
</Info>

Delete a collection. An **empty** collection deletes synchronously (`204`). A **non-empty** collection is refused by default (`409`) unless you pass `force=true`, which returns `202` + an Operation that cascade-purges every video, vector, GCS file, and face record.

<Note>
  **Pricing:** Free — management / read (no charge). · See [Pricing](/datalake/pricing) for the full model.
</Note>

<Warning>
  Cascade delete (`force=true`) removes **all** videos and their data and cannot be undone. Confirm twice before calling.
</Warning>

## Response Fields

<ResponseField name="operation" type="string">On `force=true` cascade: the Operation handle (`op_` prefix), kind `collection_delete`.</ResponseField>


## OpenAPI

````yaml DELETE /datalake/v1/collections/{id}
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Memories.ai DataLake API 2.0
  version: 2026-08
  description: OpenAPI mapping used by Mintlify Try it for the DataLake API 2.0 docs.
servers:
  - url: https://api.memories.ai
security:
  - ApiKeyAuth: []
paths:
  /datalake/v1/collections/{id}:
    delete:
      tags:
        - Collections
      summary: Delete a collection
      description: >-
        Delete a collection. An **empty** collection deletes synchronously
        (`204`). A **non-empty** collection is refused by default (`409`) unless
        you pass `force=true`, which returns `202` + an Operation that
        cascade-purges every video, vector, GCS file, and face record.
      operationId: delete_collection
      parameters:
        - name: id
          in: path
          required: true
          schema:
            type: string
          description: Collection ID.
        - name: force
          in: query
          required: false
          schema:
            type: boolean
          description: '`true` to cascade-delete a non-empty collection. **Irreversible.**'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Success
          content:
            application/json:
              example:
                note: >-
                  204 (empty) · 202 + Operation (force cascade) · 409
                  (non-empty, no force)
components:
  securitySchemes:
    ApiKeyAuth:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: Authorization
      description: 'Send `Authorization: sk-mai-...`'

````