How To Remove A GitLab Project?

Removing a GitLab project can be necessary when you no longer need it, or if you want to clean up your workspace. Deleting a project in GitLab is straightforward but requires caution since it permanently erases all data, including repositories, issues, and merge requests associated with the project.

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to safely remove a GitLab project while ensuring that you’re fully aware of the implications.

Prerequisites

• You must be an Owner of the project or have the necessary permissions to delete it.
• Double-check that you have backed up any important data (repositories, issues, etc.) that you might need in the future.
• Understand that once a project is deleted, it’s irreversible unless you have a backup.

Steps to Remove a GitLab Project

Step 1: Log in to Your GitLab Account

Open your GitLab instance and log in using your credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to the Project

In the GitLab dashboard, find the project you want to delete by either searching for it or selecting it from the list of projects.

Step 3: Go to Project Settings

In the left-hand side of the project dashboard, click on Settings. From the dropdown, select General.

Step 4: Scroll Down to the Advanced Section

Scroll down until you see the Advanced section at the bottom of the page.

Step 5: Locate the “Remove project” Option

Within the Advanced section, you’ll find an option labelled Remove project. Click on it.

Step 6: Confirm the Deletion

A confirmation dialog will pop up, asking you to type the project name to confirm the deletion. Type the project name exactly as it appears and click Confirm.

Step 7: Project Deleted

Once confirmed, the project will be permanently deleted from GitLab.

Understanding the Deletion Process

Deleting a project in GitLab is a permanent action. Here’s what happens:

• Repository Removal: The Git repository, along with all branches, tags, commits, and files, is permanently deleted.
• Issues and Merge Requests: All issues, merge requests, and related discussions are removed.
• Project Members and Access Rights: Access rights associated with the project are revoked.
• CI/CD Pipelines: Any running or historical CI/CD pipelines are erased.

Restoring a Deleted Project

GitLab does not provide a built-in method to restore deleted projects unless you have a backup. However, if your GitLab instance has been configured with regular backups, you can request your GitLab administrator to restore the project from a backup.

If you do not have a backup, consider using a local clone of the repository (if available) to create a new project.

Additional Considerations

• Archiving a Project Instead of Deleting: If you think you might need the project in the future, consider archiving it instead. Archiving will make the project read-only and hide it from the list of active projects without deleting any data.
• Transfer Project Ownership: If the project is no longer relevant to you but might be useful to others, you can transfer ownership to another user or group instead of deleting it.
• Export Project Data: Before deleting, you might want to export project data (like issues, merge requests, and the repository) for future reference.