There is no single retention period for every Claude product. For consumer Claude, Anthropic’s policy explains what happens when you delete a conversation: it disappears from chat history immediately and is removed from backend storage within 30 days. The policy does not give a fixed automatic-expiration period for ordinary saved chats. Anthropic API inputs and outputs are deleted from its backend within 30 days by default, subject to exceptions. Claude Enterprise data is retained indefinitely by default unless an organization sets custom retention. These are different product rules. (privacy.claude.com)
| Product | What Anthropic says about retention |
|---|---|
| Consumer Claude | The consumer guidance does not state a fixed automatic-expiration period for ordinary saved chats. When you delete a conversation, it is removed from chat history immediately and from backend storage within 30 days. (privacy.claude.com) |
| Anthropic API | Inputs and outputs are deleted from Anthropic’s backend within 30 days by default, with specified exceptions. (privacy.claude.com) |
| Claude Enterprise | Data is retained indefinitely by default unless the organization configures a custom retention period. The minimum custom period is 30 days. (privacy.claude.com) |
Consumer Claude: deletion is not a 30-day automatic expiry
Anthropic says you can delete consumer conversations at any time. Deletion removes a conversation from your chat history immediately; backend removal follows within 30 days. That 30-day period starts after you delete the conversation—it is not a stated automatic expiration period for all saved chats. (privacy.claude.com)
Separate conditions can extend or change retention for particular data:
- If you allow chats or coding sessions to be used to improve Claude, Anthropic may retain the data in de-identified form in model-training pipelines for up to five years. This applies to new or resumed chats after the setting is enabled.
- If automated trust-and-safety systems flag a chat or session for violating the Usage Policy, Anthropic says it retains inputs and outputs for up to two years and related safety-classification scores for up to seven years.
- Anthropic may also retain chats or coding sessions as required by law, to resolve disputes, or as necessary to address Usage Policy violations. (
privacy.claude.com)
Feedback has a separate rule: when you submit a thumbs-up/down report, Anthropic may store the entire related conversation in its secured backend for up to five years. This is feedback-specific, not the general retention period for all chats. (privacy.claude.com)
Claude Enterprise: retention depends on organization settings
For Claude Enterprise, Anthropic says data is retained indefinitely by default unless the organization configures custom retention. The minimum custom period is 30 days. An Owner or Primary Owner can set it under Organization settings → Data and Privacy. (privacy.claude.com)
For chats covered by these controls, the retention period is measured from the most recent conversation activity; opening a chat counts as activity. Chats inside projects follow project retention instead of standalone-chat retention. Projects are retained indefinitely by default if no custom project period is set. Deletion happens after the retention period ends, not necessarily at that exact moment; trust-and-safety or legal requirements may also affect retention. (privacy.claude.com)
Anthropic API: 30 days by default, with exceptions
For API users, Anthropic says it automatically deletes inputs and outputs from its backend within 30 days of receipt or generation by default. Exceptions include services with longer retention under your control, such as the Files API; different agreed terms, such as a zero-data-retention agreement; Usage Policy enforcement; and legal requirements. For inputs and outputs flagged by automated systems as Usage Policy violations, Anthropic says retention may be up to two years, with related safety-classification scores retained for up to seven years. (privacy.claude.com)
This policy describes Anthropic’s retention of API inputs and outputs. It does not say how long your own application, logs, or database keep copies. Check the terms and settings that apply to the specific services and agreements you use.
Bottom line
- Consumer Claude: The official guidance does not give a fixed automatic-expiration period for ordinary saved chats. After you delete a conversation, it disappears from chat history immediately and is removed from backend storage within 30 days, subject to specific exceptions.
- Anthropic API: Inputs and outputs are deleted from Anthropic’s backend within 30 days by default, subject to exceptions and applicable agreements.
- Claude Enterprise: Data is retained indefinitely by default unless the organization sets custom retention; project chats follow project retention.
- Up to five years is not the general chat-history period: that duration applies to particular data, including feedback-related conversations and qualifying data used for model improvement. (
privacy.claude.com)
Sources
How long do you store my data? — Anthropic Privacy Center
Is my data used for model training? — Anthropic Privacy Center
How long do you store my organization’s data? — Anthropic Privacy Center
Configure custom data retention controls for Enterprise plans — Anthropic Privacy Center