deleting-op-secrets

name	deleting-op-secrets
description	Deletes or archives secrets in 1Password using the op CLI. Use when the user needs to permanently remove items, archive deprecated credentials, or clean up unused secrets from 1Password vaults. Supports both permanent deletion and archiving for later recovery.

Overview

This skill enables agents to delete or archive secrets in 1Password using the op CLI. It supports permanent deletion for items no longer needed and archiving for items that might need to be recovered later.

The skill assumes the op CLI is installed and the user is already authenticated.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Table of Contents
• Supported Operations
• Workflow
  • Phase 1: Context Assessment
  • Phase 2: Delete Execution
• Reference Documentation

Supported Operations

Operation	Use Case
Delete Item	Permanently remove an item from 1Password
Archive Item	Move an item to Archive for potential recovery

Workflow

Phase 1: Context Assessment

Step 1: Understand the Request

Determine what the user wants to delete or archive:

1. Identify the target item:

   • Item name or ID
   • Vault location (if known or ambiguous)

2. Identify the operation type:

   • Permanent deletion (item removed completely)
   • Archive (item moved to Archive, recoverable)

3. Assess the situation:

   • Is the credential compromised? (permanent delete recommended)
   • Might the item be needed later? (archive recommended)
   • Is this a cleanup of test/duplicate items? (permanent delete)

4. Clarify if needed:

   • If item name is ambiguous, ask for vault or use item ID
   • If operation type is unclear, recommend archive as safer option

Phase 2: Delete Execution

Step 2: Confirm Deletion

Before executing a destructive operation, confirm with the user:

1. For permanent deletion:

   • Warn that this action cannot be undone
   • Confirm the correct item is targeted
   • Suggest archive as alternative if appropriate

2. For archiving:

   • Confirm the item will be moved to Archive
   • Explain that archived items can be restored via 1Password app

Step 3: Execute Delete Command

Based on the context assessment, execute the appropriate op command.

See op CLI Delete Command Reference for complete command syntax.

Permanent deletion:

op item delete "<item-name>"

Permanent deletion from specific vault:

op item delete "<item-name>" --vault "<vault>"

Archive item:

op item delete "<item-name>" --archive

Archive from specific vault:

op item delete "<item-name>" --vault "<vault>" --archive

Step 4: Handle Errors

Common errors and resolutions:

Error	Resolution
item not found	Verify item name, try listing items in vault
vault not found	List available vaults with op vault list
more than one item matches	Use item ID instead of name, or specify vault with --vault
permission denied	Verify vault access permissions

Reference Documentation

• op CLI Delete Command Reference - Complete command syntax for delete and archive operations