Deleting Expired Backups

Deleting expired backups removes from the Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN) repository those backups that are listed as EXPIRED. Expired backups are those found to be inaccessible during a cross-check. No attempt is made to delete the files containing the backup from disk or tape; this action updates only the RMAN repository.

See Also:

Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Reference for the syntax used to delete expired backups of multitenant container databases (CDBs) and pluggable databases (PDBs)

To delete expired backups:

Connect RMAN to the target database as described in "Connecting to the Target Database Using RMAN."
Optionally, cross-check backup sets by using the following command:
```
CROSSCHECK BACKUPSET;
```
Cross-checking backups before you delete expired backups provides RMAN with up-to-date information about which backups are expired.
Delete expired backups using the following command:
```
DELETE EXPIRED BACKUP;
```
The expired backup sets and image copies are deleted from the RMAN repository.