Kodavara Guide
ClickUp Workspace Cleanup: Duplicate Fields, Unused Tags and Messy Statuses
Most ClickUp workspaces collect duplicate custom fields, forgotten tags and inconsistent statuses. ClickUp gives admins tools to merge and remove fields, but it is hard to know what is safe to delete. This guide covers the native tools and how to audit first.
Last reviewed October 2026. ClickUp changes often, so check ClickUp's help center for the latest. Written by Kodavara, an independent ClickUp Partner. Not published or endorsed by ClickUp.
What ClickUp Does Today
What You Can Do Natively
Start with the features available on your ClickUp plan.
Merge Custom Fields
On Business Plus and Enterprise, admins can merge fields of the same type in the Custom Fields Manager. Some types cannot be merged, including Button, Files, Formula, Money, Relationship, Rollup and Tasks, and a merge is capped at 25,000 tasks.
Remove or Delete
Remove takes a field out of a Space, Folder or List. Delete removes it from the whole Workspace and sends it to Trash, where admins and owners can restore it for 30 days.
Values Are at Risk
Removing a field from all tasks at a level permanently deletes its values, and they cannot be restored from the Trash.
Admin Only
The Custom Field Manager shows every field you have access to across the Workspace, so cleanup is a job for admins and, on Business Plus and Enterprise, for members given the Manage Custom Fields permission.
Where It Falls Short
The Gaps People Run Into
If these are your problem, keep reading.
- There is no archive for custom fields, only remove or delete.
- There is no built-in report of unused fields, tags or statuses, so it is hard to tell what is safe to remove.
- Merging cannot combine fields of different types.
- Cleaning tags, statuses, task types and checklists means checking each area by hand.
- A cleanup done without evidence risks deleting something a team still relies on.
Worked Example
Example: What a Cleanup Audit Finds
An audit reads the workspace, scores usage and lists what looks unused, so you can decide before you delete.
| Area | Items Scanned | Looks Unused | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom fields | 148 | 31 | Merge duplicates, remove unused |
| Tags | 264 | 97 | Retire after review |
| Statuses | 42 | 9 | Consolidate across Spaces |
| Task types | 12 | 3 | Review with owners |
| Checklists | 210 | 46 | Archive stale ones |
Sample data for illustration.
How Workbench Does It
Set It Up Once
Workbench audits first, so cleanup decisions are based on how the workspace is actually used.
Connect and Sync
Link your workspace so Workbench can read its structure.
Run an Audit
Audit custom fields, tags, statuses, task types, checklists, assignees and time tracking, with usage and inactivity scoring.
Review the Results
Use the visual heat wheel and filters to see hot spots and dead areas, and export the findings if someone needs to sign off.
Compare If Needed
Compare fields, tags and statuses between workspaces when you are merging or standardizing.
Act in Bulk
Use the management hubs and bulk actions to fix what you found, with a record of each run.
FAQ
Common Questions
Not here? Ask us.
Can I merge duplicate custom fields in ClickUp?
On Business Plus and Enterprise, admins can merge fields of the same type from the Custom Fields Manager. Several types cannot be merged, and a merge is capped at 25,000 tasks.
Can I get deleted custom fields back?
Deleted fields go to Trash for 30 days, where admins and owners can restore them. Values removed from all tasks at a level cannot be restored.
Does ClickUp show which fields are unused?
There is no built-in report for that. An audit tool reads the workspace to show usage.
Does a Workbench audit change anything?
No. Audits read your workspace. Changes happen only when you choose to act on a finding.
What can I export from an audit?
Findings can be exported as CSV, JSON, PDF or Excel.
Who should run a cleanup?
A Workspace admin. We can also run an assessment and the cleanup with you through our consulting service.
Keep Reading
Related Guides
Sync Custom Fields
ClickUp can reuse a custom field across lists, but values do not sync.
Read the Guide →GuideAutomations Not Working
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Read the Guide →GuideScheduled Exports
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Read the Guide →LiveWorkbench
The Kodavara app behind this guide, with features, examples and FAQs.
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