# Error "A notebook already exists at that URL" while not existing.

**URL:** <https://talk.observablehq.com/t/error-a-notebook-already-exists-at-that-url-while-not-existing/6553>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [May 14, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://talk.observablehq.com/t/error-a-notebook-already-exists-at-that-url-while-not-existing/6553 "2022-05-14T23:50:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 5

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**Author:** ![mcmcclur](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/talk.observablehq.com/mcmcclur/32/2364_2.png) [@mcmcclur](https://talk.observablehq.com/u/mcmcclur)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://talk.observablehq.com/t/error-a-notebook-already-exists-at-that-url-while-not-existing/6553/5 "2022-08-14T20:51:15Z")

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> [@kentr](#):
>
> Once the notebook is permanently gone, what’s the purpose of withholding the URL from the available pool?

[According to Mike](https://talk.observablehq.com/t/re-use-the-custom-url-of-a-deleted-notebook/6879), “the intent of this design is prevent links and imports from unexpectedly changing from one notebook to another”.

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