Iāve used this function ONCE, many moons ago (SX2 days) and learned the hard way that one shouldnāt rename or move folders before. Lost a lot of files because I wasnāt really aware of how it would work. Since then Iāve never touched it 
The ābetter/saferā way to clean up and organize stuff is to use ābackup projectā instead, then manually delete the original folders.
Iām wondered about it.
Totally experienced the same thingā¦ Never used it sinceā¦
Exactly. Scariest function ever. 
Exactly the same here, never touched it again.
Have used the backup instead, never lost anything since.
I never used cleanup, since it has been cast as the devil.
But I canāt figure out how to delete a saved version of a project that I no longer use. Both versions reside within the same project folder. Ya knowā¦ something like FILE>Delete project, then select the CPR file. That would extract all the related files. Is it because the āsave asā project does not rename the media files and would delete them? If thatās the case, āsave asā should also ask to create a new folder.
Any suggestions? I am going to archive/backup the active CPR and then delete everything in the folder.
I have used the Clean Up function for as long as it has been implementedā¦ And I have NEVER lost a single audio file.
As long as you donāt move projects with its audio folder (and other project content) around. One folder pr project, in a sensible folder structure should NOT do any harm when using the Clean Up functionā¦ It only points to audio files (and peak files) NOT referenced in any project.
And you should NOT have any project open when using the Clean Up method (just start Cubase itself).
If you move things out of your projects belonging audio folder, you might encounter some problems.
Well wellā¦ For now I run the Clean Up function from Cubase 9.0 (Iāll guess Iāll have that one installed for a while).
But WHY canāt Steinberg ever answer questions like this? Especially if a choice to remove it is taken? Is it broken, and will return? Or is it removed for good?
STEINBERG???
I donāt know if it will come back, but I can tell you that it was not stable under certain circumstances, especially when there are 1000s of files and scores of projects.
Hmmm?
Have had no problem with a āfair amountā of audio files involvedā¦ Never used scores though.
How are we expected to be able to remove unused and unreferenced audio files from disk now? Especially when we have multiple versions of each project?
If removing audio files from one project version and disk, another project version (from within the same project folder) may loose audio files actually used in said versionā¦ Hmmm?
If we select remove from pool (not disk), we have to manually remove/delete audio files from the project audio folderā¦ But that mess my friends, I will NOT even think about
For archiving, the Backup function is greatā¦ but sometimes we have to clean out audio files in a safe manner without a full backup (only to be forced to copy or move the backup back onto our audio disk)ā¦ Hmmm?
No one else used to use the Clean Up feature for file administration?
My point is to clean up my audio drive, sometimes midway through a big album production (without loosing any audio file referenced in any Cubase project). Yes I do daily backups, but donāt want to re-load that onto my audio drive unless needed to
Any other ābest practicesā out there? I am open for suggestionsā¦ and a discussion on audio file handling 
Perfectly reasonable question, however this function is a very sharp knife and should be respected as such!
My experience is that good housework is the best way: One Audio, Edit, Freeze and Video folder all in its own Project folder. At a point where Iām basically happy with the project and before I start playing around with Time stretching and Transposing, I make a backup for safety. All the folders in the backup are copied and are independently safe.
Ultimately, take a look at the Pool of the working project and see if there are any orphan files. They can be deleted as long as theyāre not referenced in the project. Remove unused media from the pool into the Trash folder as it remains there for emergencies.
When the working project is ready to leave home, empty the Trash folder. Also, renaming Parts or Events in the project window renames the files in the Pool, so you can give them a logical name as opposed to Audio 275!
Seems fundamental but an occasional tidy up has saved me repeatedly.
This is stillā¦ in their documentation.
Outside of looking at the URL. thereās no way of knowing that this isnāt around anymore. Not the bestā¦
Same question for me (āWhy is the function File / Clean Up missing ?ā). Iāam new to Cubase (Artist) and Iād be interested in using this function.
I discovered that each project has a Trash, so now, I have to re-open all my projects to empy the Trash.
There is a key command for it
and or,
open up the pool ctrl+p, right click anywhere, and select āEmpty Trashā
Yes thanks. I found that. But Iād like to do that for multiple projects without opening each one.
This is a great method to clear out lots of space from my Cubase projects hard drive.
too bad itās been removed.
I currently have 40 projects in my folder taking 54Gā¦ this function can definitely clear up
some space with a click of a buttonā¦ now I need to open each and run the same function 40 timesā¦ 
There seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread. I donāt get what is going on.
This feature still exists.
You have to do this from the pool, not the file menu.
can a mod please tag my post as this answer @steve @Maestro @Nico5 etc
@LoveGames, This topic is simply about the feature the OP asked about which was removed from Cubase after Cubase 9. Sorry, your post canāt be tagged as the solution, if thatās what you meant.
The āsolutionā is to install Cubase 9.
Totally agree.
Itās misleading, it wasnāt -removed-, it was moved.
Unless Iām missing something, the exact same feature can be accessed from 3 places:
-Right click menu in the pool - āRemove Unused Mediaā / āEmpty Trashā
-key commands - āRemove Unused Mediaā / āEmpty Trashā
-backup project protocol - āRemove Unused Mediaā
and in regards to missing files, all the missing file management utilities an also be found in Pool->right click
@steve am i missing something?
@LoveGames not the same function.
Remove Unused Media function in the pool checks and processes the files used in the project that is open.
See manual: Removing Unused Audio Files (steinberg.help)