> 📘 Learning objectives > > * Understand what an orphaned asset is. > * Know how to identify orphaned assets in Quable. > * Learn how to manage these assets efficiently. ***
# Overview In Quable, an **orphaned asset** refers to a media file (image, video, PDF document, etc.) that is **not linked to any product sheet**. These files can accumulate over time in the DAM, which may impact data quality and create confusion for end users. **Why retrieve the list of orphaned assets?** Getting the list of orphaned assets allows you to **clean up the DAM** to maintain a clear and efficient working environment, and **link valid assets** to product sheets and variants if needed. This action is useful for **data quality management** and is an integral part of good content governance within the PIM. ***
# How to proceed? There are **three methods** to retrieve the list of orphaned assets: * via the **PIM interface**, from the **advanced search** page, * via **cross-data exports**, * via the **API**.
## 1. From Advanced Search 1. Go to the **Advanced Search** page 2. Fill in the following criteria in the filter section: Object type = Asset Filter = Links Operation = is empty 3. The results will display all assets not linked to a product or a variant.

**Optimize result analysis** to make identification and decision-making easier: * Customize the column display (name, type, date, size, etc.) * Then sort the results (e.g., by import date to identify older assets) * Finally, use additional filters if needed (e.g., file type) Assets without any link information should be handled quickly. ### Link orphan assets * Select the asset: Either one by one, or in bulk via “Select all results” * Launch the bulk action **Link** Choose the link type: Product → Asset, or Variant → Asset * Specify the target: product or variant name or code

### Delete orphan assets * Select the orphan asset: Either one by one, or in bulk via “Select all results” * Launch the **delete** action

> 🚧 Warning > > * Deletion is **irreversible**: there is no recycle bin or restore history for deleted assets. ***
## 2. Using cross-data exports (advanced option) > 📘 Prerequisite > > You need to be familiar with data flows to use cross-data exports. For more information, see the course [Download and bulk update large amounts of information](https://docs.quable.com/docs/telecharger-et-mettre-a-jour-en-masse-de-grandes-quantites-dinformations). 1. Export **all assets** from the PIM. 2. Then export the **images - document links**. 3. Cross-reference the two files (e.g., in Excel or Google Sheets) to **identify asset codes present in the first export but absent in the second**.

![](https://files.readme.io/947346c9fa0f19fb606369e92d574ae0381cf06676613e4f58f06f6a2245dafb-Capture_decran_2023-07-19_a_17.01.58.png)

![](https://files.readme.io/3d161422dccb82e402bc6a18a416e4bec2826e0caf309d162e9935d4575af448-Capture_decran_2023-07-19_a_17.02.12.png)

4. Assets that appear in only one file are not linked to any document: they are orphaned. > 👍 Good to know > > * Access to exports may be **restricted depending on user role** in the PIM: contact the account administrator if necessary. > * Cross-analysis using exports **requires precision**: formula or sorting errors can skew the results. ***
## 3. Using the API (expert option) 1. Use the endpoint: `GET /api/assets` 2. Filter the results to keep only those **not linked to a product sheet**. ![](https://files.readme.io/b16a6dd81da912d03332a0aa771bff396f3f45fe845bed0197d4dd623a0d89bf-Capture_decran_2023-07-19_a_16.25.20.png)
> 👍 Good to know > > * This method requires **technical skills in API usage** and is generally not used by non-technical profiles. ***
# Best practices * **Favor direct links from product sheets**, via the Assets tab, to avoid omissions and specify the type of link to be used. * **Regularly review** the assets in the DAM to prevent the accumulation of orphaned assets. * **Use multiple tabs** in your browser to make orphan management easier: one with the DAM, one with the product sheets, one with the orphaned assets page. * **Check relevance before deleting**: an orphaned asset may still be useful but simply not yet linked to a product sheet. ***
> 📘 In summary > > * An orphaned asset is a file not linked to a product sheet or variant. > * It can be identified via: > > * the PIM interface, on the Advanced Search page, > * cross-data exports, > * the API. > * From the interface, you can link or delete orphaned assets. > * It is recommended to regularly review hosted assets in the DAM to maintain high product data quality. ***
# Next Chapter Now that you know how to Identify orphan assets, let’s discover how to [download and export assets in bulk.](https://docs.quable.com/v5-EN/docs/downloading-and-exporting-assets-media)