To delete a Firebase project, open the Firebase Console, go to Project Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click Delete Project. Before deleting, back up any Firestore data, Storage files, and authentication records you need. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone, and the project ID cannot be reused.
Deleting a Firebase Project Safely
Deleting a Firebase project removes all associated data, including Firestore documents, Storage files, Authentication users, Cloud Functions, and Hosting sites. This tutorial walks you through a pre-deletion checklist to protect important data, the step-by-step deletion process in the Firebase Console, and post-deletion verification. You will also learn what happens to linked Google Cloud resources and billing.
Prerequisites
- A Firebase project you want to delete
- Owner or Editor role on the Firebase project
- Access to the Firebase Console at console.firebase.google.com
- Backups of any data you want to keep (Firestore, Storage, Auth users)
Step-by-step guide
Back up Firestore data before deletion
Back up Firestore data before deletion
Before deleting anything, export your Firestore data so you have a backup. Go to the Firebase Console, open your project, navigate to Firestore Database, and use the Export feature. Alternatively, use the gcloud CLI command to export to a Google Cloud Storage bucket. This gives you a recoverable copy of all your documents and collections. If you have data in Realtime Database, export it as JSON from the Console by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting Export JSON.
1# Export Firestore to a GCS bucket using gcloud CLI2gcloud firestore export gs://your-backup-bucket/firestore-backup34# Export Realtime Database (from Console: Database > ... > Export JSON)5# Or use the REST API:6curl "https://your-project.firebaseio.com/.json?auth=YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN" > rtdb-backup.jsonExpected result: Your Firestore data is exported to a Cloud Storage bucket and Realtime Database data is saved as a JSON file.
Download Storage files and export Auth users
Download Storage files and export Auth users
If your project uses Firebase Storage, download any files you need to keep. You can do this from the Firebase Console Storage browser or using gsutil to sync an entire bucket locally. For Authentication users, use the Firebase CLI to export user records including email, UID, and provider data. This export does not include passwords but preserves the user list for reference or migration.
1# Download all Storage files locally2gsutil -m cp -r gs://your-project.appspot.com ./storage-backup34# Export Auth users to a CSV file5firebase auth:export users.csv --project your-project-idExpected result: Storage files are downloaded to your local machine and Auth users are exported to a CSV file.
Unlink connected services and check billing
Unlink connected services and check billing
Before deletion, disconnect any external services linked to your project. If you connected a GitHub repository for Hosting or App Hosting, disconnect it from Settings. If you use the Blaze plan, review your current billing cycle in the Google Cloud Console to understand any final charges. Check if other Google Cloud services outside Firebase depend on this project. Deleting the Firebase project also deletes the underlying Google Cloud project and all its resources.
Expected result: All connected services are disconnected and you have reviewed your billing status.
Delete the project from Firebase Console
Delete the project from Firebase Console
Open the Firebase Console and select your project. Click the gear icon next to Project Overview and select Project Settings. Scroll to the very bottom of the General tab to find the Delete Project section. Click Delete Project. Firebase will show a series of checkboxes confirming what will be deleted, including Firestore data, Storage files, Hosting sites, Cloud Functions, and the Google Cloud project. Check each acknowledgment box and type the project ID to confirm. Click Delete Project to proceed.
Expected result: The Firebase project is queued for deletion. Firebase shows a confirmation message.
Verify the project has been deleted
Verify the project has been deleted
After deletion, the project enters a 30-day pending deletion state. During this period, the project appears in the Firebase Console with a Pending Deletion label and most services are immediately disabled. After 30 days, the project is permanently deleted and the project ID cannot be reused. To verify, return to the Firebase Console home page and confirm the project no longer appears in your project list or shows the pending deletion status.
Expected result: The project shows Pending Deletion status or no longer appears in the Firebase Console.
Complete working example
1#!/bin/bash2# Firebase project pre-deletion backup script3# Run this before deleting your Firebase project45PROJECT_ID="your-project-id"6BACKUP_DIR="./firebase-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d)"7BACKUP_BUCKET="gs://${PROJECT_ID}-backup"89mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"1011echo "Step 1: Creating backup bucket..."12gsutil mb -p "$PROJECT_ID" "$BACKUP_BUCKET" 2>/dev/null || true1314echo "Step 2: Exporting Firestore data..."15gcloud firestore export "$BACKUP_BUCKET/firestore" \16 --project="$PROJECT_ID"1718echo "Step 3: Downloading Storage files..."19gsutil -m cp -r "gs://${PROJECT_ID}.appspot.com" \20 "$BACKUP_DIR/storage/" 2>/dev/null || echo "No Storage files found"2122echo "Step 4: Exporting Auth users..."23firebase auth:export "$BACKUP_DIR/users.csv" \24 --project="$PROJECT_ID"2526echo "Step 5: Exporting Realtime Database..."27curl -s "https://${PROJECT_ID}-default-rtdb.firebaseio.com/.json" \28 > "$BACKUP_DIR/rtdb-export.json" 2>/dev/null || echo "No RTDB data"2930echo ""31echo "Backup complete. Files saved to: $BACKUP_DIR"32echo "Firestore export saved to: $BACKUP_BUCKET/firestore"33echo ""34echo "You can now safely delete the project:"35echo " 1. Go to console.firebase.google.com"36echo " 2. Select $PROJECT_ID"37echo " 3. Project Settings > Delete Project"Common mistakes when deleting a Firebase Project Safely
Why it's a problem: Deleting the project without backing up Firestore data or Storage files first
How to avoid: Always run a full backup before deletion. Use gcloud firestore export for Firestore and gsutil cp for Storage files. Deletion is permanent after the 30-day grace period.
Why it's a problem: Assuming the project ID can be reused after deletion
How to avoid: Firebase and Google Cloud permanently retire project IDs after deletion. Choose a new project ID if you recreate the project.
Why it's a problem: Forgetting that deleting the Firebase project also deletes the Google Cloud project
How to avoid: A Firebase project is a Google Cloud project. Deletion removes all Google Cloud resources including BigQuery datasets, Cloud Run services, and Cloud Storage buckets not just Firebase services.
Why it's a problem: Not checking if other team members or apps depend on the project
How to avoid: Review project members in Settings and check which apps (web, iOS, Android) are registered. Notify all stakeholders before deletion.
Best practices
- Always create a complete backup of Firestore, Storage, and Auth users before deleting a project
- Review your billing cycle and any outstanding charges on the Blaze plan before deletion
- Disconnect GitHub repositories and other integrations before deleting the project
- Document the project configuration (API keys, authorized domains, OAuth settings) for reference
- Use the 30-day pending deletion window to verify nothing critical depends on the project
- If you only need to remove Firebase services but keep the Google Cloud project, remove Firebase from the GCP Console instead
- Keep the pre-deletion backup for at least 90 days in case you discover missing data later
Still stuck?
Copy one of these prompts to get a personalized, step-by-step explanation.
I need to delete a Firebase project but I want to make sure I back up everything first. Walk me through exporting Firestore data, Storage files, and Auth users, then show me how to safely delete the project from the Firebase Console.
Write a shell script that backs up all data from my Firebase project (Firestore, Storage, Auth users, and Realtime Database) to a local directory, then prints instructions for deleting the project from the Firebase Console.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recover a deleted Firebase project?
Yes, but only within 30 days of deletion. Go to the Google Cloud Console, navigate to IAM & Admin > Settings > Manage Resources, find your project in the pending deletion list, and click Restore. After 30 days, deletion is permanent and irreversible.
Does deleting a Firebase project delete the Google Cloud project too?
Yes. A Firebase project is built on top of a Google Cloud project. Deleting the Firebase project deletes the underlying Google Cloud project and all of its resources, including BigQuery datasets, Cloud Run services, and any non-Firebase resources.
Can I reuse a Firebase project ID after deletion?
No. Once a project is permanently deleted, Google Cloud retires the project ID. You will need to choose a different project ID if you create a new project.
What happens to my custom domain after deleting a Firebase project?
Your custom domain configuration in Firebase Hosting is removed. The domain itself is not affected since you own it, but it will stop serving your Firebase-hosted content. Update your DNS records to point the domain elsewhere.
Do I need to cancel the Blaze plan before deleting my project?
No, deleting the project automatically ends billing. However, you may still receive a final bill for any usage that occurred before deletion. Check your Google Cloud billing dashboard for any outstanding charges.
Can I delete a Firebase project using the CLI instead of the Console?
There is no direct Firebase CLI command to delete a project. You must use the Firebase Console or the Google Cloud Console. You can use the gcloud CLI with gcloud projects delete PROJECT_ID as an alternative to the web console.
Can RapidDev help with migrating data before deleting a Firebase project?
Yes. RapidDev can help you plan and execute a full data migration from Firebase to another platform, including exporting Firestore data, migrating authentication users, and setting up your new backend before you delete the Firebase project.
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