---
title: "Add a lifecycle rule"
description: "Add a lifecycle rule to a TIR Object Storage bucket that deletes objects automatically after 1 to 365 days, for all objects or for a prefix."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "tir-object-storage"
platform: "TIR"
url: "/tir/tir-object-storage/how-to/add-a-lifecycle-rule/"
topic: ["protect-and-manage"]
---

# Add a lifecycle rule

A lifecycle rule deletes objects automatically after a number of days, so temporary data clears itself
out.

## Before you begin

- A bucket that TIR created, in the **Ready** state. Lifecycle rules work only on buckets TIR
  created.
- Permission to update datasets in the project. A Member gets it through a policy that allows updating datasets.
- A decision on the days. A lifecycle rule deletes objects permanently. It
  leaves governance-locked versions in place until their retention ends.

## Add the rule

1. In the list, select the bucket's row and open the **Bucket Lifecycle** tab. It lists rules with
   **Applied to**, **Prefix**, **Expiration Days**, **Created On**, and **Actions**.
2. Select **Configure Lifecycle Rule**.
3. In **Apply To**, choose **All Objects** to apply the rule to every object in the dataset. Choose **Objects with Prefix** to apply it only to objects whose names start with a prefix.
4. For **Objects with Prefix**, type the prefix, such as `logs/`, `temp/`, or `archive/`. Each prefix
   can have one rule. If you add a second rule for the same prefix, the form says "Prefix already
   applied in existing rules".
5. Enter **Expiration Days**, the number of days before TIR deletes the objects, from 1 to 365. Above
   that, the form says "Expiration days cannot exceed 365".
6. Save the rule. The portal shows "Lifecycle rule created successfully".

A bucket can have several rules, so you can use different prefixes to keep different data for
different lengths of time.

## Delete a rule

To change a saved rule, delete it and add a new one. Open the rule's **Actions** menu, select
**Delete lifecycle policy**, and confirm in **Delete Lifecycle Rule**, which names the prefix the rule
applies to, or says that it applies to the whole bucket. The portal shows "Lifecycle rule deleted
successfully".

## Check the rule

The rule is listed under **Bucket Lifecycle** with its prefix and **Expiration Days**. You can manage
rules only while the bucket is **Ready**.

TIR now deletes the objects under the rule once they are older than the rule's **Expiration
Days**. To control the versions of a versioned bucket, see
[Use object versioning](/tir/tir-object-storage/how-to/use-object-versioning/). For help with a message,
see [Troubleshooting TIR Object Storage](/tir/tir-object-storage/troubleshooting/tir-object-storage/).