Data Retention
Configure automatic deletion of response data to comply with privacy regulations and minimize data storage.
How it works
Data retention policies automatically delete responses older than a specified number of days. This applies to:
- Form responses
- Poll votes
- Widget responses
- Associated file uploads
Setting retention periods
Configure retention per form, poll, or widget:
- Open the form/poll/widget settings
- Navigate to the "Data" or "Privacy" section
- Set "Retention period" in days
- Save changes
Setting retention to "Indefinite" (null) keeps data forever until manually deleted.
Common retention periods
| Use case | Suggested period |
|---|---|
| Quick feedback surveys | 30 days |
| Contact forms | 90 days |
| Job applications | 180 days |
| Legal/compliance forms | 365+ days or indefinite |
GDPR compliance
Data retention helps with GDPR's data minimization principle:
- Only keep data as long as necessary
- Automatic deletion reduces manual compliance burden
- Audit logs track when data was deleted
- Export data before retention period expires if needed
Important notes
Data deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Export your data before the retention period expires if you need to keep records.
- Retention cleanup runs daily
- Changing retention period only affects future deletions
- Deleted data is not recoverable
- File uploads are deleted along with their responses