Delete a project by right-clicking it in the Projects panel

Open Camtasia 2024 and go to File > Open Project to see your list of saved projects. Find the project you want to remove, right-click on it, and select Delete from the menu. Camtasia will ask you to confirm — click Yes to permanently remove it from your computer.

This method removes the entire project folder, including the project file itself and any media or assets stored inside it. Once deleted, you cannot undo the action, so make sure you no longer need the project before confirming.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any project in the Projects panel and select Delete to remove it permanently from your computer.
  • Deleting a project removes the entire folder, including all media files and assets associated with that project.
  • You can also delete a project by locating its folder in your file system and deleting it manually, though the in-app method is faster.
  • Camtasia does not move deleted projects to a trash or recycle bin — the deletion is when ready and cannot be undone.
  • If you want to keep the project but stop working on it, you can straightforward close it without deleting it.

Delete a project from your file system instead

If you cannot see your project in the Camtasia Projects panel, you can delete it manually through your file system. On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to Documents > Camtasia > Projects. On Mac, open Finder and go to Documents > Camtasia > Projects. Find the project folder you want to remove, right-click it, and select Delete (Windows) or Move to Trash (Mac).

This approach works if you have moved a project to a different location on your computer or if Camtasia is not recognizing it in the Projects panel. Deleting the folder this way removes the project completely, just as if you had deleted it through the app.

Understand what gets deleted with the project

When you delete a Camtasia project, you remove the .cmproj file (the project file itself) plus any media stored in that project's folder. This includes video clips, audio files, images, and any other assets you imported into that specific project. If you used the same media file in multiple projects, deleting one project does not affect the other projects — only the copy stored in that project's folder is removed.

If you stored media files outside the project folder and straightforward linked to them in Camtasia, those files remain on your computer even after you delete the project. The project file just loses the reference to them.

Close a project without deleting it

If you want to stop working on a project but keep it on your computer, straightforward close it instead of deleting it. Go to File > Close Project, or click the X button on the project tab. The project remains saved and you can reopen it later from the Projects panel.

This is useful if you are taking a break from a project, want to work on something else first, or are unsure whether you will need the project again. Closing does not remove any files — it just closes the current workspace.

Recover a deleted project if you have a backup

Camtasia does not have a built-in recovery feature for deleted projects, but you may be able to restore one if you have a backup. If you use cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, check the trash or bin folder in that service — deleted files sometimes stay there for 30 days or longer before permanent removal. You can restore the project folder from there back to your Documents > Camtasia > Projects folder.

If you do not have a cloud backup, check whether your computer's operating system has a System Restore or Time Machine backup that includes the project folder. On Windows, right-click the Projects folder, select Restore previous versions, and choose a date before you deleted the project. On Mac, open Time Machine and navigate back to before the deletion occurred.

Prevent accidental deletion

Before deleting a project, export it as a backup if there is any chance you might need it later. Go to File > Export and save the project as a .zip file to a separate location on your computer or to cloud storage. This creates a compressed copy of the entire project that you can extract and reopen if needed.

You can also rename a project you are unsure about instead of deleting it. Right-click the project in the Projects panel, select Rename, and add a prefix like "OLD_" or "ARCHIVE_" to mark it as inactive. This keeps it out of your active workflow without removing it permanently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a project deletion?

No. Camtasia deletes projects when ready without moving them to a trash or recycle bin. Once you confirm the deletion, the project is gone. If you have a backup through cloud storage or your operating system's backup feature, you may be able to restore it from there.

What happens to my media files when I delete a project?

Media files stored inside the project folder are deleted along with the project. If you imported media from outside the project folder, those original files remain on your computer — only the project's reference to them is removed.

Where does Camtasia store projects by default?

On both Windows and Mac, Camtasia stores projects in Documents > Camtasia > Projects. You can change this location in Camtasia's preferences, but the default folder is where the app looks first when you open the Projects panel.

Can I delete a project while it is open in Camtasia?

You cannot delete a project through the app while it is open. Close the project first by going to File > Close Project, then open the Projects panel and delete it. You can delete the project folder manually through your file system even while it is open, but this may cause Camtasia to behave unexpectedly.