## **🔍 Overview**

A **deep-frozen** OTTO project is one that has been inactive long enough for the platform to suspend it automatically. Deep-frozen projects still count against your OTTO site quota even though they are not actively running. If you have reached your site limit and cannot add a new site, a deep-frozen project may be the cause. This article explains the general process for removing a deep-frozen project and what to expect regarding quota after deletion.

## **❄️ What Is a Deep-Frozen Project?**

When an OTTO project remains inactive for an extended period, Search Atlas automatically deep-freezes it to preserve system resources. Deep-frozen projects:

- Remain visible in your OTTO dashboard
- Continue to occupy one slot of your OTTO site quota
- Cannot be edited or optimised in their frozen state
- May require an unfreeze action before deletion options become accessible

## **🔓 Step 1 — Unfreeze the Project**

1. Navigate to your OTTO dashboard.
2. Locate the deep-frozen project in your project list. It will be visually marked as frozen.
3. Open the project and look for an option to unfreeze or reactivate it. The platform will reactivate the project so that management options become available.

## **🗑️ Step 2 — Delete the Project**

1. Return to the main OTTO dashboard.
2. Find the project you just unfroze.
3. Look for the action menu associated with that project row.
4. Select the **Delete** option from the available actions.
5. Confirm the deletion in the prompt that appears.

**Important:** If you do not see a delete option, confirm that the unfreeze step completed successfully before proceeding.

## **⏳ Step 3 — Quota After Deletion**

Deleting a deep-frozen OTTO project may not immediately restore your quota. Depending on the project's state at the time of deletion, there may be a processing period before the quota slot is released back to your account. You do not typically need to take any manual action — the quota update should happen automatically once that period ends.

If you have deleted a deep-frozen project and your quota does not appear to have updated as expected, our support team can investigate and confirm the status of your quota release.

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type **human teammate** to be connected with a member of our team.