---
title: include_hidden
description: This option allows Curator to act on indices with the setting hidden: true, which is common with data_streams. The value of this setting must be either...
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/curator/option_include_hidden
products:
  - Elasticsearch
  - Elasticsearch Curator
---

# include_hidden
This option allows Curator to act on indices with the setting `hidden: true`,
which is common with data_streams.
<important>
  If data_stream backing indices are matched by the `search_pattern` and/or after the filters, any attempt to delete the active backing index will result in an error code. The only way to delete all of a data_stream is via the data_stream API.
</important>

```yml
action: delete_indices
description: "Delete the specified indices"
options:
  include_hidden: true
filters:
- filtertype: ...
```

The value of this setting must be either `true` or `false`.
The default value for this setting is `false`.