I’ve been experimenting with OpenAI’s file features like search and answer capabilities. I uploaded multiple files using Python and the OpenAI API for testing purposes.
Now I want to clean up and remove these test files. I looked at the OpenAI documentation and tried this approach:
import openai
import os
# Configure API key
os.environ['OPENAI_API_KEY'] = 'your_api_key_here'
openai.api_key = os.environ.get('OPENAI_API_KEY')
# Attempt to remove file
result = openai.File('file-ABC123xyz789').delete()
But I keep getting this error message:
TypeError: delete() missing 1 required positional argument: 'sid'
I can confirm the file exists because I can retrieve and display its details successfully. I’m still learning Python so I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. What’s the correct way to delete files through the OpenAI API? Also, is there a way to remove multiple files at once instead of one by one?
You’re mixing old OpenAI library syntax with newer patterns. I hit this same issue last month cleaning up my test environment. The problem is openai.File('file-id').delete() isn’t right. Here’s what worked for me - use the direct files API call: ```python
import openai
Set your API key
openai.api_key = ‘your_api_key_here’
Delete the file
response = openai.File.delete(‘file-ABC123xyz789’)
print(response)
``` This fixes the ‘sid’ error. The difference is calling delete() directly on the File class with the file ID as a parameter, not trying to create a File object first. For bulk deletion, I fetch all files with openai.File.list() then loop through them. Just be careful - once they’re gone, they’re gone.
First, check your openai library version with pip show openai. If it’s v1+, use the new client approach everyone’s talking about. Still on an older version? Try openai.File.delete(id='file-ABC123xyz789') instead. That sid error usually means you’re calling the method wrong.
Had the same problem when I started using OpenAI’s file management. You’re using old syntax that doesn’t work anymore. Use the client method instead: ```python
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(api_key=‘your_api_key_here’)
Delete a single file
response = client.files.delete(file_id=‘file-ABC123xyz789’)
print(response)
For bulk deletion, get your file list first, then loop through:python
Get all files
files = client.files.list()
Delete each file
for file in files.data:
client.files.delete(file_id=file.id)
print(f"Deleted: {file.id}")