Commons:Deletion policy
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This page is considered an official policy on Wikimedia Commons. It has wide acceptance among editors and is considered a standard that everyone must follow. Except for minor edits (such as fixing typos, or bringing information up to date), please make use of the discussion page to propose changes to this policy. |
This page sets out the deletion policy of Wikimedia Commons. For simplicity, images, sound files, videos, source files and other files are referred to as "files", and galleries, categories, templates, talk and other pages are referred to as "pages". This page does not explain copyright issues and the Commons licensing policy. See Commons:Licensing instead.
General procedure
In principle, there are five distinct cases (see further down for details):
- Missing legal information: If there is some licensing information missing, then the file gets tagged as missing information and the uploader is informed and given 7 days time to correct the problem. After this period the file can be deleted by an admin on sight without further debate. All affected (tagged) files can be found below Category:Missing legal information.
- Speedy deletion: If you are absolutely certain that the deletion of a page or file falls in the speedy deletion criteria such as an upload error of yours, a clear copyvio, "fair use", non-commercial and such (more outlined in detail below) the file is a candidate for speedy deletion. All affected (tagged) files can be found below Category:Candidates for speedy deletion.
- Regular deletion: If there may be the need for discussion (which is in many cases the recommended way especially if you are new to Commons and have concerns about licensing issues), the file/page should be listed as a deletion request. In any case involving doubt, use deletion request instead of asking for speedy deletion. Please tag the file/page in those cases with {{Delete}} and please don't forget to give a reason below the tag and to add the image at Commons:Deletion requests and inform the uploader.
- Duplicates: Examples of "duplicate" files include exact copies of images due to double upload, or the same image in another resolution. In case of doubt list the file at deletion requests. SVG replacements of raster images are never considered duplicates.
You (the user requesting deletion) have to orphan the duplicate file on all Wikimedia projects using GlobalUsage. After doing so, Commons administrators can safely delete the file and redirect it to the kept version. Used duplicate files may not be deleted. All affected (tagged) files can be found below Category:Duplicate. - Redundant/bad quality: Redundant or bad quality files never get speedily deleted. They have to be listed the usual way at Commons:Deletion requests and will only be deleted on a case by case basis. Files tagged as inferior (but not automatically listed for deletion!) can be found in various sub categories below Category:Quality assurance.
In all cases consider using GlobalUsage to get some idea of where images are in use before deletion.
Detailed guidelines
Missing legal information
Files missing source or licensing information should be tagged with one of the following messages.
- {{subst:nsd}} (no/missing source, tagged by date)
- {{subst:nld}} (no/incomplete licensing information, tagged by date)
- {{subst:npd}} (no/missing permission, tagged by date)
- {{subst:dw-nsd}} (derivative work, no/missing original source, tagged by date)
Please notify the uploaders that you have tagged the file as well (see notes on the templates after tagging a file with them). After this they will have 7 days to fix the information.
If after this period of time sufficient license and source information is provided, the tag should be removed. If it is not fixed, the file is then eligible for speedy deletion. However, you should not list such files for deletion or speedy deletion. Because they are tagged by date, an administrator can automatically see which ones are eligible for deletion by navigating subcategories of Category:Missing legal information.
Speedy deletion
There are certain instances when a file needs to be speedy deleted and under which an administrator can delete pages, images and other files on sight. Speedy deletions can be tagged with the following, based on their nature:
- {{Copyvio}} for obvious copyright violations. Use {{copyvio|1=Reason}} or {{copyvio|source=URL}} to explain why it's a copyright violation.
- {{Bad name}} for non-controversial renamed and unused files or pages, such as misspellings or inappropriate files names like File:Image.jpg. Usually this is reserved for files you uploaded with incorrect names (make sure they are unused and provide a link to the newly named file).
- {{Speedydelete}} for other reasons for speedy deletions. Don't forget to add a reason like this: {{speedydelete|Reason}}.
- {{Fair use}} for files that have been tagged with a fair use rationale.
An administrator will delete the file/page in due time. If anyone disagrees with the speedy deletion of a particular file, please convert to a regular deletion request (see below). Always make sure that all local links to a file or page are corrected and updated before deletion. The files/pages listed for speedy deletion are included automatically in Category:Candidates for speedy deletion and its subcategories.
Note that a media file or article is not a speedy deletion candidate in the following cases:
- If it is a suspected but not clear copyright violation place it on Commons:Deletion requests.
- If it is a work that is very similar (or identical) to another, it's a redundant file, which mandates a different procedure. See below.
Please always remember: Before deleting images in speedy deletion, make sure that the user has placed it there in accordance with these deletion guidelines. If not, please modify the template, moving it off of this page. Always check the file history to determine that the proper image description has not been vandalised.
A file in Candidates for speedy deletion can be speedy deleted under the following circumstances:
- Corrupted, infected by a virus, unintentionally blank, etc. (if in doubt, list it on Commons:Deletion requests as an unknown format/content).
- Has previously been deleted under Commons deletion guidelines.
- Licensed only under a non-free license (like fair use, noncommercial or permission-only) or it is a clear copyright violation.
- Was uploaded with the intent to be used solely for purposes of vandalism, personal attacks, and/or spamming.
When speedy-deleting files, it is suggested but not required to run GlobalUsage in order to fix uses on Wikimedia projects.
A page can be deleted if it is:
- Empty and has no significant history.
- A clear copyright violation.
- Patent nonsense, a test or vandalism.
- A user page or subpage whose deletion has been requested by the user.
- A user page or subpage of a nonexistent user.
- A redirect over which another page must be moved.
- A redirect to a nonexistent page.
- A category with no content or containing only a parent category.
- A talk page of deleted content (unless they contain anything worth saving).
- A page that falls outside of Commons' scope.
- A violation of the privacy policy.
Regular deletion
A file or page can be listed for deletion on Commons:Deletion requests in the following cases:
- The file/page has an unclear copyright status but the method described at Missing legal information can not be used.
- The file/page violates the licensing guidelines in some other way than being a clear copyright violation.
- The page has an incorrect name, and a page with a correct name exists (Also: consider a redirect). Renamed files can be tagged with {{Duplicate}}.
- The content of the file/page cannot be determined (consider tagging with {{Description missing}}).
- The file is not realistically useful for an educational purpose. Examples of files that are not realistically useful include:
- Private image collections, e.g. private party photos, photos of yourself and your friends, your collection of holiday snaps and so on. There are plenty of other projects on the Internet you can use for such a purpose, such as Flickr. Such private image collections do not become educational even if displayed as a gallery on a user page on Commons or elsewhere.
- Self-created artwork without obvious educational use.
- Advertising or self-promotion.
- Files apparently created and/or uploaded for the purpose of vandalism or attack. Pre-existing designs and symbols that are or have been associated with nationalistic, religious or racist causes are not out of scope solely because they may cause offence. Provided they are legal to host and otherwise fall within Commons scope (e.g. if they could for example be used to illustrate a Wikipedia article on a hate group) they should be kept.
- Files that add nothing educationally distinct to the collection of images we already hold covering the same subject, especially if they are of poor or mediocre quality.
The file/page is marked for deletion by adding {{delete|reason|day=10|month=July|year=2024}} template (replace reason by yours) and then it must be listed on Commons:Deletion requests; also, the uploader should be informed of the impending deletion. The file/page may be deleted on decision by an admin if there were good reasons given in the debate for doing so. Always make sure that all local links to a file or page are corrected and updated before deletion. When deleting a file from deletion requests, it is good practice to run GlobalUsage and orphan the usage of that file. More information can be found on Commons:Deletion requests, and the files/pages listed for deletion are included in the Category:Deletion requests.
If you wish to nominate multiple items for deletion for the same reason (a mass request or mass nomination), please see Commons:Deletion requests/Mass deletion request.
Closure
In general, requests can be closed by an administrator after seven days. Deletion requests for obvious copyright violations can be closed earlier. Problematic or complex requests (such as highly used templates) can wait longer – even for several months if necessary. Non-admins may close a deletion request as keep if they have a good understanding of the process, and provided the closure is not controversial. If in doubt, don't do it.
In addition, no user may close a Deletion Request which includes media they have uploaded.
Administrators are encouraged to check whether the uploader was notified on their talk page of the pending deletion request (unless the image is an obvious violation, in which case the image can be speedy deleted).
Duplicates
If the file is the same file type and you're sure that it is exactly the same content (colours, quality, etc) tag it with {{duplicate|File:example.jpg}} and give for the parameter (File:example.jpg) the file which can replace this duplicate file.
- A bitmap (PNG, JPEG or GIF) file superseded by a vector graphic is not considered to be exact enough a duplicate. Such files ought to be listed at Commons:Deletion requests so that they may be decided upon, case by case.
- If one of the duplicate copies of the image was uploaded by the author, keep that version, and redirect the others.
- If there are varying descriptions and/or licensing in the different image description pages, ensure all the relevant information is merged into the copy to be preserved.
- After deleting the duplicate, redirect the deleted filename unless it is misleading or a very recent upload. (This avoids breaking links from external reusers of images.)
Redundant/bad quality
Redundant or low quality files only get deleted on a case by case basis after they are listed at Commons:Deletion requests. At deletion requests you will need to provide reasons why a particular file is inferior to the alternative version. (Note: Be sure to read Commons talk:Superseded images policy.)
If it is agreed that the image should be deleted after the normal time for discussion at Deletion Requests has passed you will need to replace all instances where the image is used with the superior file. You can find where the image is being used via GlobalUsage. After all replacements have been made an admin will delete the image.
Before requesting that a file be deleted please consider other Wikimedia projects that might still need to use it. If in doubt do not request deletion.
| Template | Usage |
| {{Bad name}} | if you have uploaded a file under a bad name |
| {{Duplicate}} | for files that are exactly the same |
| {{Superseded}} | if a better file of the same theme was uploaded |
| {{SupersededPNG}} | for raster graphics that have been superseded by PNGs |
| {{Vector version available}} | when a vector version exists |
In case of a redundant page (not file) consider simply making it a redirect.
Appeal
To appeal debates of image not deleted, you might first want to discuss with the admin who closed the discussion. If you believe the deletion was done in error, appealing deleted images can be done at Commons:Undeletion requests.
If the decision was correctly based on the current licensing and project scope pages, you should express your dissatisfaction on a respective page.
Categories
Categories are usually not deleted, but "redirected" using {{category redirect|new name}}. See Commons:Rename a category. This should not be used on categories that are misspellings and thus unlikely to be used by other people. Such categories should be tagged as: {{bad name|Category:correct category name}}. If neither of the above cases apply, an entry can be placed at Commons:Categories for discussion (follow the link for instructions on how to do this).
Categories that are empty because all of the files they included were deleted can generally be deleted as well.
See also
Wikimedia Commons policies and guidelines | |||||||||
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| Guidelines |
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| Licensing help (Village pump) |
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| WMF policies | |||||||||