# How to Enable Immediate Retention Cleanup
By default, backup retention policies may run separately from the backup job itself. Enabling **Immediate Retention Cleanup** ensures that old backup data is removed **immediately after a backup completes**, helping keep your storage usage under control.
This setting is useful if you want retention rules to be applied right away rather than waiting for a later cleanup process.
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### Step 1 — Open the Protected Item Configuration
1. Open the **eazyBackup client software**
2. Select the **Protected Item** you want to modify
3. Click **Configure**
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### Step 2 — Open the Schedule Settings
1. Select the **Schedule** tab
2. Select the schedule you want to edit
3. Click the **Edit (pencil) icon**
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### Step 3 — Enable Immediate Retention Cleanup
1. In the schedule window, select the **Advanced** tab
2. Locate the option **Apply retention policy after backup**
3. Set this option to **Run immediately**
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### Step 4 — Save the Changes
Click **Save** to apply the new schedule settings.
Once enabled, it may take 1-2 backup jobs to:
* Complete the backup and locate expired data
* Run the retention policy
* Remove any old backup data according to your configured retention rules
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