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Delete an Extension

Permanently remove an extension. This deletes the extension config but does not automatically remove the user from queues, ring groups, or follow-me lists they're a member of — clean those up too or you'll get dialplan errors.

Destructive

Deletion removes voicemail boxes, recordings reference, and SIP credentials. If the user might come back, use Disable (in Edit) instead.

Before You Start

  • The user no longer needs the extension (departed, replaced, etc.).
  • You've noted any queue/ring-group memberships and follow-me targets that reference this extension.
  • You've decided whether to keep voicemail messages (see Common Issues).

Steps

  1. Go to User Attributes → Extensions.
  2. Find the extension in the list.
  3. Click the red trash/delete icon on its row.
  4. Confirm the prompt.
  5. Click Apply Config.

Cleanup Checklist

After deletion, manually remove the extension from:

  • Group Attributes → Queues — open each queue, remove from Static Agents.
  • Group Attributes → Ring Groups — open each ring group, remove from Extension List.
  • User Attributes → Follow Me — if any other extension forwards here.
  • Endpoint — if the phone was provisioned, unassign it.
  • System Attributes → Inbound Routes — if any inbound route's destination is this extension's voicemail.
  • System Attributes → IVR — if any IVR option points to this extension.
# Quick way to find references in the dialplan:
grep -r "1001" /etc/asterisk/extensions_additional.conf

Verify

asterisk -rx "pjsip show endpoint 1001"

Should return "Unable to find endpoint."

Common Issues

  • Voicemail messages lost. Deleting the extension does NOT immediately delete the mailbox folder, but a fresh extension with the same number will overwrite. Back up /var/spool/asterisk/voicemail/default/<ext>/ first if anyone needs the messages.
  • "Cannot delete — extension is in use." A queue, ring group, or other module references it. Remove those references first.
  • Apply Config still shows the extension. Browser cache. Hard reload (Ctrl+Shift+R).