# Your data

> Where your files and backups live, how to download a copy, and what deleting a computer, organization or account removes for good.

This page covers where your files and backups live, how to get a copy out, and what each kind of deletion removes. Everything you put on a Rootsy computer lives on that computer's disk or in its backups. Most deletions on Rootsy can't be undone, so download what you want to keep first.

## Where your files live

Your files live on your computer's own disk: your home directory `/home/dev`, anything you install, the databases your apps write, and files uploaded through the workspace. The disk persists through sleep, wake and restarts.

Reset rebuilds a broken system and keeps everything under `/home`, `/root` and `/srv`. System packages, configuration and databases installed with `apt` return to factory state. Docker data isn't touched by Reset, and backups don't include it. See [Backups and Reset](https://rootsy.io/docs/reference/backups-and-reset.md).

Each computer's disk is separate. Computers don't share files.

Canceling a plan doesn't delete files. When a plan ends, computers over the account's limit go dormant with their files kept, and unpinned backups older than 7 days are deleted. Files on a dormant or parked computer can't be opened, so download them and pin the backups you need before the plan ends. See [Billing](https://rootsy.io/docs/reference/billing.md#when-a-plan-shrinks-or-ends).

## Where backups live

A backup is a copy of the computer's disk, kept with that computer. It doesn't include `/tmp` or Docker images, containers and volumes. You can restore one only onto the computer it came from. Deleting the computer deletes all of its backups with it. Rootsy has no off-computer archive to fall back on after a delete.

To keep a copy that outlives a computer, download your files before you delete it.

## Download your files

To download a copy of your files, open **Files** in the computer's workspace.

- To download one file, right-click it and choose **Download**.
- To download a folder, right-click it and choose **Download zip**. Rootsy zips the folder on the computer and streams it to your browser.
- To download several files and folders at once, select them and choose **Download selection**. You get one zip.

Symbolic links are stored in the zip as links. The files they point to aren't included.

You can also copy files off the computer from the terminal or through an agent. Push a git repository to a remote you control, or upload an archive to storage you own. An MCP client can fetch one file of up to 262,144 bytes with `export_file`. See [Connect with MCP](https://rootsy.io/docs/reference/mcp.md#move-files-in-and-out).

To pack your home directory into one file you can download from **Files**:

```sh
tar -czf /tmp/home-backup.tar.gz -C /home dev
```

## Delete a computer

To delete a computer, open its workspace, choose **Delete computer** from the actions menu, and type the computer's slug to confirm. An MCP client can delete one with `delete_computer`, which also needs the exact slug.

Deleting a computer is permanent. It removes the computer's disk and every file on it, all of its backups, its custom domains and its scheduled tasks. Its address stops answering. There's no undo and no grace period. Rootsy staff can't bring it back.

Your computer's `rtsy.dev` address belongs to Rootsy. When you delete the computer, the address goes with it. Give people a custom domain for anything they should still reach after a move.

Rootsy never edits your DNS. Remove or repoint your domains' CNAME records when you delete the computer.

Rootsy keeps a short record that the computer existed, with its ID, slug and when it was deleted. It also keeps the usage and billing records tied to it. Those records don't contain your files.

## Delete an organization

An organization can be deleted only once it has no computers left and no active paid plan. Deleting it is permanent for every member. See [Organizations](https://rootsy.io/docs/reference/organizations.md).

## Delete your account

Before you delete your Rootsy account, do this first:

1. Delete every computer in your personal account.
2. Delete every computer in each organization where you're the only member, or invite someone to take it over.
3. Cancel any paid plan or trial on your personal account and on those organizations, and wait until each paid period ends.

Then delete your account from **Account** in the app, the page that holds your sign-in profile. Choose **Manage account** in the account menu, or **Settings** in the sidebar while you're in your personal account. If you don't see a delete option there, write to support@rootsy.io.

If you skip the steps above, Rootsy can't finish deleting the account. Write to support@rootsy.io.

When the deletion goes through, Rootsy removes your user record and your personal account, takes you out of every organization, and cancels any invitations sent to you. Organizations with other members keep going without you. If you were an organization's billing contact, the member who joined earliest becomes the new one.

## Privacy and subprocessors

Rootsy's privacy policy is at [rootsy.io/privacy](https://rootsy.io/privacy/). It lists the subprocessors that store or handle your data, and how long Rootsy keeps each kind of record.

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Page: https://rootsy.io/docs/reference/your-data/ · Updated: 2026-10-21 · All docs: https://rootsy.io/llms.txt