Before removing local project copies, verify that the archive can actually restore the work you need. A successful upload or a folder visible in cloud storage does not establish that every linked asset, source file, and delivered export is recoverable. Test a representative restore into a separate location, inspect the result, and follow the project's retention policy before deleting anything.
Define what must be recoverable
Identify the approved source, exact delivered files, required linked resources, permission records, and practical project notes. Include application or profile information that materially affects reopening. A folder may contain many gigabytes of drafts while still omitting the one font record or linked image needed to revise the approved source. Use the project structure or manifest to establish what a complete archive means.
Check that the archive process finished and that files are not merely local placeholders awaiting synchronization. Different storage systems represent availability differently, so follow their documented behavior. Confirm the destination and access account. An archive dependent on a temporary share link or someone else's expiring access may not satisfy the project's intended retention requirements.
Restore or download a copy into a separate verified directory without overwriting the active project. Keep the original local files untouched during the test. This avoids confusing an archive's contents with resources still available only through the working folder. Use a simple explicit location so any later cleanup can distinguish the test copy from the approved archive and ongoing work.
Inspect content and dependencies after restoration
Open the restored source from its new location and look for missing links, fonts, or altered appearance. Compare it with a restored final export. Check a few important layers or editing functions relevant to likely future revisions. If the source still points to the old working directory, package the dependency correctly and repeat the meaningful part of the restore check.
Open representative delivered files and confirm their identity, dimensions, and content. Check the delivery note and license records as well. For important archives, a manifest or integrity verification supported by the storage process can add useful evidence, but it does not replace opening the formats that matter. A file can be intact yet unusable because a required dependency or compatible application is absent.
Record the restore date, archive location, and any known limitations. If the test fails, repair the archive before considering local removal. Do not treat a partial recovery as sufficient simply because most files appeared. Prioritize the specific material that the retention policy and future work actually require, and clarify unresolved requirements with the responsible project owner.
Only consider removing local copies after the verified archive and backup arrangements meet the agreed policy. Keep active projects and any required local dependencies outside that cleanup decision. A restore test turns storage confidence into practical evidence, reducing the chance that valuable work is discarded locally while the supposed archive contains an incomplete or inaccessible version that cannot support the next revision.