Delete and restore workflows
- Latest Dynatrace
- How-to guide
- 3-min read
- Published Oct 16, 2026
When you delete a workflow, it is not removed right away. First, it moves to the trash—and from the trash you can either restore it or delete it permanently.
To delete or restore a workflow, you need write permission on it. For details, see Manage workflow permissions.
Delete a workflow (move to trash)
To delete a workflow:
- Go to
Workflows. - Select next to the workflow you want to delete.
- Select Move to trash.
The workflow moves to the trash immediately.
What happens while a workflow is in the trash
While a workflow is in the trash:
- The workflow no longer appears in the workflow list.
- The workflow does not run. Its schedule or event trigger does not start it, and you cannot start it through the API.
- A standard workflow no longer consumes workflow hours.
- If another workflow calls it as a sub-workflow, the Run workflow task fails with the error
The workflow <workflow-id> is in the trash and cannot be used as a sub-workflow. - A run that started before you deleted the workflow finishes normally.
Trash retention
Trashed workflows are kept for 30 days. After that, they are deleted permanently and automatically.
The Trash tab shows who deleted each workflow, when it was deleted, and how much time is left before it is deleted permanently.
Restore a workflow from the trash
You can restore a trashed workflow at any time before it is deleted automatically.
-
In
Workflows, go to the Trash tab. -
Select Restore for the workflow. A draft-only workflow is restored immediately as a draft. For a live workflow, the Restore workflow dialog opens.
-
If the dialog opened, choose how to restore the workflow:
- Restore: brings back both the live and the draft version of the workflow. The workflow triggers again according to its configuration.
- Restore as draft-only: restores the workflow as a draft, so you can review the workflow and trigger settings before you deploy it as live. The live version becomes the draft and replaces any existing draft.
The workflow reappears in the workflow list. A restored standard workflow consumes workflow hours again.
Permanently delete a workflow
You can delete a workflow permanently from the trash before the 30 days are over.
You cannot undo this action. After you delete a workflow permanently, you cannot recover it.
- In Workflows, open the Trash tab.
- Select Delete permanently for the workflow.
Reusing a trashed workflow's ID
You cannot reuse the ID of a workflow that is in the trash.
If you create a workflow with the same ID as a trashed workflow, Dynatrace rejects it. Restore or permanently delete the trashed workflow before creating a new one with that ID.
If you import a workflow with the same ID as a trashed workflow, you are asked how to proceed:
- Open trash: opens the Trash tab, filtered to the workflow with the same ID. You can restore it or delete it permanently, and then import again.
- Create new workflow: imports the workflow with a new ID. The trashed workflow stays unchanged.
- Cancel: no changes are made.
Workflows