Scopes minimization

Last updated: January 12, 2026

Overview

Data minimization helps you control what data is synced, reduce unnecessary processing, and keep your users’ information private. This guide explains how Merge minimizes data through Scopes and outlines when a Scope might be automatically disable.

What are Scopes?

Scopes control which Common Models and fields Merge syncs and serves via API.

  • Default Scopes: Apply to all new Linked Accounts for a category unless overridden.

  • Linked Account Scopes: Apply to a specific Linked Account and take precedence over defaults.

Why would a default Scope I previously enabled be auto-disabled?

If you've noticed that a Scope you had previously enabled has become disabled without your involvement, it is likely due to Scopes minimization. Merge will automatically disable any Scopes that have not been used for 90 consecutive days. The benefits of this include:

  • This speeds up syncs

  • This preserves end-user data by avoiding unnecessary collection and storage

What counts as no usage?

Scopes minimization will only trigger if there has truly been no Common Model usage for 90 consecutive days. That means:

  • No inbound API requests to that model

  • No successful webhooks for that model

  • No expand usage that implies dependency on the related model

What happens now that the model is disabled?

When Scopes minimization is triggered, there are two phases:

  1. Soft deletion

    1. Immediately after a Scope is disabled, API requests to that model return an error, and disabled fields return null. This change is deliberate and visible to help you spot configuration gaps quickly.

    2. Data will not actually be deleted at this stage.

  2. Hard deletion

    1. If a Common Model stays disabled for 30 consecutive days, its data is fully deleted from Merge.

If I re-enable a Scope, will my data come back instantly?

If it has not yet been 30 days since the models were disabled, then yes, previously synced data will be immediately accessible. If it has been more than 30 days, Merge will perform a full backfill for that model across all active Linked Accounts.