Deleting a Supabase database removes all tables, data, and backups associated with that project

To delete a Supabase database, you go to your project settings in the Supabase dashboard, find the Danger Zone section, and confirm the deletion. The process is permanent — Supabase does not keep backups after deletion unless you have manually exported your data beforehand. You cannot undo this action once it completes.

Supabase treats database deletion as a project-level action, not a table-level one. When you delete the database, you are deleting the entire Supabase project, which includes the PostgreSQL database, all authentication data, storage buckets, and any API keys tied to that project. If you only want to remove specific tables or data, you should use SQL queries or the Supabase dashboard table editor instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Deletion happens at the project level in the Danger Zone section of project settings, not through the database editor.
  • All data, tables, backups, and API keys are removed permanently when you delete a Supabase project.
  • You must confirm deletion by typing the project name exactly as it appears, which prevents accidental removal.
  • If you need to keep your data, export it using the Supabase dashboard or pg_dump before deleting.
  • Deleting a project does not affect other Supabase projects in your account.

Steps to delete your Supabase project

Log into your Supabase account and navigate to the project you want to delete. In the left sidebar, click Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page until you see the Danger Zone section, which has a red background.

In the Danger Zone, click the Delete Project button. A confirmation dialog will appear asking you to type the exact project name. Type the project name as shown in the dialog box. Click the red Delete Project button to confirm. Supabase will begin removing the project immediately.

The deletion process usually completes within a few minutes. During this time, your API endpoints will stop responding, and any applications using this project's API keys will lose access to the database. Once deletion finishes, the project will no longer appear in your Supabase dashboard.

Exporting your data before deletion

If you need to preserve your data, export it before you delete the project. Supabase provides two main export methods: using the dashboard or using the command-line tool pg_dump.

To export through the dashboard, go to the SQL Editor in your Supabase project and run a query that outputs your data. You can select all rows from a table and copy them, or use the table editor to export individual tables as CSV files. This method works well for small datasets but becomes slow with large tables.

For larger databases, use pg_dump, which is a PostgreSQL command-line tool. You will need your database connection string, which you can find in the Database settings under Connection String. Run pg_dump [connection_string] > backup.sql in your terminal to create a SQL file containing your entire database structure and data. This file can be imported into another PostgreSQL database later.

What happens to API keys and connected applications

When you delete a Supabase project, all API keys for that project become invalid immediately. Any application, website, or service using those keys will lose access to the database and will begin returning errors.

If you have applications in production that depend on this project, they will fail. Before deleting, update your applications to use a different Supabase project, or take those applications offline. Check your codebase for hardcoded API keys or environment variables pointing to the deleted project and remove or update them.

If you are migrating to a new Supabase project, create the new project first, export your data from the old one, import it into the new one, and update your application configuration to use the new project's API keys. Only then should you delete the old project.

Recovering a deleted project

Supabase does not offer a recovery option for deleted projects. Once you confirm deletion, the project and all its data are gone permanently. There is no trash bin, no undo button, and no way to restore it through Supabase support.

The only way to recover your data is if you exported it before deletion. If you have a SQL backup file or CSV exports, you can create a new Supabase project and import that data. If you do not have a backup, your data cannot be recovered.

Deleting individual tables instead of the entire project

If you only want to remove specific tables or data, do not delete the entire project. Instead, use the Supabase dashboard table editor or SQL queries to remove only what you need.

To delete a single table, go to the Table Editor in your Supabase project, right-click the table name, and select Delete Table. Confirm the deletion. This removes only that table, leaving your project and other tables intact.

To delete specific rows from a table, use the SQL Editor and run a DELETE query. For example, DELETE FROM users WHERE id = 5; removes only the row where id equals 5. This approach gives you fine-grained control over what gets removed and does not affect your entire project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a Supabase database without deleting the entire project?

No. Supabase does not separate database deletion from project deletion. When you delete a project, you delete the entire PostgreSQL database along with all other project resources. If you want to keep the project but remove specific tables or data, use the table editor or SQL queries instead.

What if I accidentally delete a project?

Supabase does not recover deleted projects. If you have a backup file from before the deletion, you can create a new project and import that backup. If you do not have a backup, your data is permanently lost. Always export critical data before deleting a project.

Do I need to delete API keys before deleting the project?

No. Deleting the project automatically invalidates all API keys associated with it. You do not need to revoke them separately. However, you should update any applications using those keys before deletion to prevent errors.

How long does it take to delete a Supabase project?

Deletion usually completes within a few minutes. During this time, your API endpoints will be unavailable. Once the process finishes, the project will no longer appear in your dashboard and cannot be accessed.

Can I delete a project if I have active applications using it?

Technically yes, but you should not. Deleting a project while applications depend on it will cause those applications to fail. Migrate your applications to a new project first, or take them offline before deletion.