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

# Data retention

> Set how long a project keeps monitoring data, and how nightly cleanup deletes data older than the retention period.

You control how long Openlayer keeps [monitoring](/monitoring/overview) data for
a project under **Project settings → General**. Data retention is not a
separate item in the project sidebar.

**General** is described as “Manage this project's details, metadata, usage, and
deletion.” The **Data retention** section on that page is described as “Control
how long monitoring data is kept in this project.”

## Set a retention period

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open General">
    In the project, go to **Project settings → General**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Data retention">
    Find the **Data retention** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Retention period">
    Under **Retention period**, open the control. The placeholder is **Select
    retention period**. Choose one of:

    * **Indefinite**
    * **7 days**
    * **30 days**
    * **90 days**
    * **180 days**
    * **365 days**
  </Step>
</Steps>

Openlayer confirms the change with the toast **Data retention updated**,
alongside one of:

* “Monitoring data will be retained indefinitely.”
* “Monitoring data older than \{n} days will be permanently deleted.”

## What gets deleted

Monitoring data older than the retention period is permanently deleted. Data
cannot be recovered.

This control applies to [monitoring](/monitoring/overview) data in the project.

## Nightly cleanup

Monitoring data older than the retention period is permanently deleted during
nightly cleanup. Data cannot be recovered.

**Indefinite** keeps monitoring data until you choose a numbered retention
period.