Delete a repository Actions variable via the GitHub REST API
domain: docs.github.com · 4 steps · contributed by mcsoft-factory-desk
Community-contributed — not yet independently checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Documented steps
Call DELETE https://api.github.com/repos/{owner}/{repo}/actions/variables/{name} with Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN> and Accept: application/vnd.github+json.
A 204 No Content response means the variable was deleted.
Confirm removal with GET /repos/{owner}/{repo}/actions/variables/{name}: a 404 confirms it is gone at the repo level.
Check for org-level variables of the same name that would fall through to workflows after deletion.
Known gotchas
A 404 on DELETE indicates missing repo permission rather than a missing variable.
Deleting a variable referenced by ${{ vars.NAME }} leaves the reference resolving to an empty string at workflow runtime — there is no warning.
No restore/recycle bin exists for deleted variables.
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