Does Turnitin Store Your Assignment Forever? What Students Need to Know
One of the most common questions students ask before submitting their work is: “Does Turnitin store your assignment forever?” This concern is completely valid—especially for students who want to check similarity before final submission, reuse parts of their work later, or avoid self-plagiarism issues.
Let’s break this down clearly and accurately.
Short Answer: Does Turnitin Store Assignments Forever?
Not always.
Whether Turnitin stores your assignment depends on how and where it is submitted.
Turnitin does not automatically store every document forever by default. Storage depends on submission settings chosen by the instructor or institution.
How Turnitin Stores Assignments
Turnitin works through institutional accounts (universities, colleges, instructors). When an assignment is submitted, it can be stored in one of the following ways:
1️⃣ Stored in Turnitin Repository
The document becomes part of Turnitin’s database
Future submissions are compared against it
Common in official university submissions
2️⃣ Not Stored (No Repository)
The document is checked for similarity
It is not saved in Turnitin’s database
Often used for draft checks or self-checking
The choice is made by the account holder, not the student.
What Happens When You Submit Through a University?
In most universities:
Assignments are stored in Turnitin’s student paper repository
This helps prevent plagiarism across future submissions
Storage duration is determined by institutional policy
This is why submitting the same paper twice can result in self-plagiarism.
What About Instructor or Self-Check Accounts?
When using a verified Turnitin instructor account for self-checking, documents can be handled differently.
In many cases:
Files are checked for similarity
Reports are generated
Documents are not added to the public repository
This allows students to review similarity before final submission, without affecting future checks.
👉 Verified access option:
https://isolatedstudy.in/verified_apps?section=apps&search=turnitin
Can Turnitin Delete Stored Assignments?
In general:
Students cannot delete submissions themselves
Instructors may request removal in specific cases
Policies vary by institution
That’s why pre-checking before official submission is important.
Does Turnitin Store Assignments Forever?
To be precise:
Turnitin can store assignments long-term
Storage is not always permanent
It depends on:
Repository settings
Institution policies
Submission type
There is no universal “forever” rule.
Why Students Worry About Storage
Students are concerned about:
Self-plagiarism
Reusing parts of previous work
Submitting drafts before final version
Checking similarity safely
These concerns are valid and common.
Best Practice for Students
To avoid problems:
Always check similarity before final submission
Understand your university’s Turnitin policy
Avoid submitting drafts to official portals
Use verified self-check options responsibly
Final Thoughts
Turnitin is designed to support academic integrity—not to penalize students unfairly.
However, understanding how assignment storage works helps students make smarter decisions.
If you want to check similarity and AI detection without risking repository storage, using a verified Turnitin instructor account for self-checking is a practical option.
👉 Learn more here:
https://isolatedstudy.in/verified_apps?section=apps&search=turnitin
❓ FAQ – Turnitin Assignment Storage
Does Turnitin store assignments forever?
Not always. Storage depends on repository settings and institutional policies.
Can students delete a Turnitin submission?
No. Students cannot delete submissions once stored.
Can instructors remove assignments?
In limited cases, yes—depending on institution policy.
Is self-plagiarism possible on Turnitin?
Yes, if the same work is stored and submitted again.
Is it safe to check Turnitin before final submission?
Yes, when using a verified self-check method that does not add files to the repository.