# Delete a Computed Join

Source: https://userguide.qualytics.io/container/computed-join/how-tos/delete-a-computed-join/

This page walks through deleting a Computed Join from the Container settings menu. For the conceptual overview, see [How Computed Join Works](https://userguide.qualytics.io/container/computed-join/deep-dive/how-it-works/).

> **Info: Permissions**
>
> You need **Editor** permission on the datastore the Computed Join belongs to, or **Author** permission plus ownership of this Computed Join. In pairwise mode that datastore is the left datastore; in SQL mode it is the first source's datastore. See [Computed Join Permissions](https://userguide.qualytics.io/container/computed-join/deep-dive/permissions/) for the full matrix.

## Before You Delete

Deleting a Computed Join is irreversible and removes the following:

| Item | What happens |
| --- | --- |
| Fields | All fields are permanently removed. |
| Quality Checks | All quality checks defined on this Computed Join's fields are deleted. |
| Anomalies | All anomalies detected by this Computed Join's quality checks are permanently lost. |
| Operations & Scores | Scan results, profile results, quality scores, and observability measurements are removed. |
| Computed Fields | Any Computed Field derived from this join's fields is also deleted. |
| Checks that reference this join | An archived quality check on another container that uses this Computed Join as its reference (for example as its Right Reference) is permanently deleted, together with its anomalies. An active or draft one blocks the deletion until you delete it or point it at another container. |

The source containers, their data, their quality checks, and their anomalies are not affected, except archived checks that reference this join, as described above. This covers the left and right containers in pairwise mode, and every aliased source in SQL mode.

There is no soft-delete or recovery. If you want to stop running checks against this join without losing it, archive the checks instead of deleting the join.

---

## When the Delete Fails

If the Computed Join is referenced by active or draft quality checks elsewhere (for example, an **Aggregation Comparison**, **Exists In**, **Not Exists In**, or **Data Diff** check using the joined output), the delete fails with a message listing the referencing quality checks. Delete or re-target those quality checks first, then retry. Archived referencing checks do not block the delete: they are deleted with the join.

See [Container referenced by quality checks (delete)](https://userguide.qualytics.io/container/computed-join/troubleshooting/#container-referenced-by-quality-checks-delete) for the literal error message.

## Steps

**Step 1:** Click the **Container settings menu** (gear icon) on the Computed Join's card or detail page.

![Container settings dropdown showing the available options](https://userguide.qualytics.io/assets/container/computed-join/how-tos/shared/settings-dropdown.png)

**Step 2:** Click **Delete** in the dropdown.

![Delete option highlighted in the dropdown](https://userguide.qualytics.io/assets/container/computed-join/how-tos/delete-a-computed-join/step-2-click-delete.png)

**Step 3:** A confirmation dialog appears with the header **Delete Computed Join** and a summary of what will be removed.

![Delete confirmation dialog](https://userguide.qualytics.io/assets/container/computed-join/how-tos/delete-a-computed-join/step-3-confirmation-modal.png)

**Step 4:** Click **Delete** in the dialog to confirm.

![Confirm Delete button in the dialog](https://userguide.qualytics.io/assets/container/computed-join/how-tos/delete-a-computed-join/step-4-confirm-delete.png)

**Step 5:** A success message appears and the Computed Join is removed.

![Success state after delete](https://userguide.qualytics.io/assets/container/computed-join/how-tos/delete-a-computed-join/step-5-success.png)

*Last updated: November 10, 2026.*