---
title: "Update automatic purge types"
slug: "update-automatic-purge-types"
tags: ["Site Administrator", "How-to", "account"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:10Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:10Z
canonical: "totara.help/update-automatic-purge-types"
---

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

# Update automatic purge types

As part of your site's [user data management](/totara-20/docs/user-data-management), you can update the automatic purge types set for individual users. First, you will need to set up at least one [automatic purge type](/totara-20/docs/create-a-purge-type). Then, follow these steps:

1. Go to *Quick-access menu > Users > Accounts.*
2. Click **Manage users**.
3. Find the user for which you wish to update the automatic purge type.
4. Click the stack icon ( ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1635957309489.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A53%3A29Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A53%3A29Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kdOBXJGMGmFSzuw6PJt2M20n%2F1Fn6aPl%2B9TJu8nxY74%3D)) next to their name.
5. Click the cog icon ( ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1635935762972.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A53%3A29Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A53%3A29Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kdOBXJGMGmFSzuw6PJt2M20n%2F1Fn6aPl%2B9TJu8nxY74%3D)) next to the automatic purge type you wish to update.
6. Select the purge type you wish to set from the dropdown list.
7. Click **Update**. You will now be presented with a summary of the data to be purged.
8. Click **Save changes**.

If you do not set up either automatic purging or a default deleted purging type before a the user is deleted then no purge type will be applied when the user is deleted (either individually or via a bulk action).

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_creating-users-in-totara.svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A53%3A29Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A53%3A29Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kdOBXJGMGmFSzuw6PJt2M20n%2F1Fn6aPl%2B9TJu8nxY74%3D)

The Totara Academy has a whole course which is dedicated to [Creating users](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=953) in Totara. Here you can learn more on how to add users, manage their data, see best practice, and give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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