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Inactivate or Remove a Document from the Media Library

When you no longer need a document, it is best to inactivate it and/or remove it from the Media Library.

This will keep the document from coming up in search results. It will also keep others from inadvertently linking to a document that should no longer be used.

Inactivate/Remove Documents Training Video

The following training video covers the basics of inactivating and removing an old, unused, or out-of-date document from the T4 Media Library [video length: 00:02:43].


Instructions for Inactivating or Removing a Document

Check the Usage Tab

Navigate to your document in the Media Library and click on the link in the Name column. This will bring you to the Media Details screen for the document.

The Usage tab will show you all content that is currently linking to a particular document.

The Usage tab will show you all content that is currently linking to a particular document.

  • (1) Click on the Usage tab and review any items listed.
    • (2) The Content name column will show you the title of any piece of content that contains a link to the document.
    • (3) The Location column will show you the exact path to the page containing the piece of content that contains a link to the document.
  • (4) To directly edit a piece of content identified, click on Actions > Edit content.

Remove Remaining Links to the Document

If you have access to do so, open up each piece of content identified on the Usage tab and delete any links to the document. If you do not have access to the content identified, contact the office or department responsible to have them remove it.

Note: Your edits will need to go through our approval queue before the content will drop off the Usage tab.

Inactivate the Document

Once the Usage tab is empty, click the Delete button.

A message will pop up asking you to confirm that you'd like to delete the document. It also says the item will not be recoverable. This is not true! The only thing that will happen is that the document will be put into and Inactive status.

Note: You can also inactivate a document without clicking through to the Media Details screen. Navigate to the document in the Media Library and click on Actions > Delete.

Reactivate an Inactive Document

To reactivate an inactive document, click on the document title in the Media Library. From the Media Details screen, choose Save Changes at the bottom. This will put the document back into either Approved or Pending status, depending on the folder.