Deleted Data Source Keeps Reappearing When Searched by Id

Looker Q&A Looker Studio
1

I’m facing a strange issue with a data source in Looker Studio. I’ve deleted the data source multiple times, but it keeps reappearing whenever I search for it using its ID. It doesn’t show up in my list of existing data sources (under “Owned by me” or “Shared with me”), but it still appears when I try to add a new data source and search using its ID.

Has anyone experienced this issue before? How can I permanently remove this data source from my account?
https://lookerstudio.google.com/datasources/af37476c-a90b-41cc-9628-8f33d2f9700b

2

Hi @Aarti18 ,

Yes, this can happen because deleting a data source in Looker Studio only removes it from your reports or list view — it doesn’t fully erase the backend metadata.

To clean it up:

  • Go to Manage added data sources inside each report where it was used and remove it there.

  • Check if any shared reports or team folders still reference it.

  • If the issue persists, contact Google Cloud Support — they can clear the backend reference.