# Erase an uploaded file and its previews

> Markdown version of https://docs.postlake.dev/api/delete-media-by-id . The canonical page for humans.
> PostLake is the social media API for AI agents: https://postlake.dev/llms.txt

`DELETE /v1/media/{id}`

Owner-scoped, irreversible erasure. First GET /v1/media/{id}/deletion, then send its snapshot. Blocks drafts, approval requests, queued/scheduled/processing targets, concurrent publication and more than 200 references. Replace/remove their media or cancel/reject those posts first. Terminal social posts remain online, but PostLake previews disappear. No publishing-credit refund. Storage failures retain a retryable deletion receipt. This overrides the minimum retention only at the owner's instruction. Does not erase external URLs or copies held independently by social networks.

## Request

Authenticate with a bearer API key. Agents calling over MCP authorise with OAuth instead and never handle the key.

```bash
curl -X DELETE https://api.postlake.dev/v1/media/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $POSTLAKE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"snapshot":"…"}'
```

### Parameters

| Field | Type | Required | What it is |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | string | Yes | In the URL. |

### Body

| Field | Type | Required | What it is |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `snapshot` | string | Yes |  |


## Response

Original and stored previews removed; repeated completion returns the same receipt (`200`).

| Field | Type | Required | What it is |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | string | No |  |
| `deleted` | boolean | No |  |
| `deletesSocialPosts` | boolean | No |  |
| `cancelsSchedules` | boolean | No |  |
| `refundsPublishingCredits` | boolean | No |  |



### Example

```json
{
  "id": "…",
  "deleted": false,
  "deletesSocialPosts": false,
  "cancelsSchedules": false,
  "refundsPublishingCredits": false
}
```


## Calling this from an agent

Agents do not call REST. They call tools. Over the hosted MCP server this operation is `upload_media`, and the agent authorises with OAuth so your API key is never pasted into a chat or seen by the model. You control what any one agent may do: which brands it may act for, which networks it may reach, how much a day, and whether it may spend credits bought up front.

## Errors

Every failure uses one shape: a stable `type`, a granular `code`, the field at fault in `param`, and a plain-language `fix`. See https://docs.postlake.dev/errors.md .

Check the result before retrying a write. Only operations that explicitly support idempotency can safely replay an `Idempotency-Key`.

## Common questions

**Can an AI agent do this without the REST API?**

Yes. Over MCP the same job is the upload_media tool. The agent authorises with OAuth, so no API key is pasted into a chat or seen by the model, and the answer comes back in the same normalised shape.

**Is it safe to retry this call?**

Do not automatically repeat a write after a timeout unless that endpoint explicitly documents idempotency. First read the resulting state; a second request could repeat the action.

**What happens when it fails?**

You get one error shape: a stable type, a granular code you can branch on, the offending field in param, and a fix written so an agent can correct itself rather than stop. Full list on Errors and retries.

## Related

- [List uploaded files](https://docs.postlake.dev/api/get-media.md) `GET /v1/media`
- [Read an uploaded asset and its retention terms](https://docs.postlake.dev/api/get-media-by-id.md) `GET /v1/media/{id}`
- [Preview upload erasure and affected posts](https://docs.postlake.dev/api/get-media-by-id-deletion.md) `GET /v1/media/{id}/deletion`
- [Read uploaded-media retention policy](https://docs.postlake.dev/api/get-media-policy.md) `GET /v1/media/policy`