diff --git a/invokeai/app/api/routers/boards.py b/invokeai/app/api/routers/boards.py
index c6adeab850e..6d6dea4fb92 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/api/routers/boards.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/api/routers/boards.py
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ class DeleteBoardResult(BaseModel):
         default_factory=list,
         description="The names of videos that could not be deleted and became uncategorized.",
     )
+    starred_images_skipped: list[str] = Field(
+        default_factory=list,
+        description="The names of starred images that were protected and became uncategorized.",
+    )
+    starred_videos_skipped: list[str] = Field(
+        default_factory=list,
+        description="The names of starred videos that were protected and became uncategorized.",
+    )
 
 
 @boards_router.post(
@@ -125,6 +133,7 @@ def delete_board(
     include_images: Optional[bool] = Query(
         description="Permanently delete all images and videos on the board", default=False
     ),
+    delete_starred: bool = Query(default=True, description="Whether to allow deletion of starred media"),
 ) -> DeleteBoardResult:
     """Deletes a board (user must have access to it)"""
     try:
@@ -141,6 +150,10 @@ def delete_board(
     cascade_user_id: Optional[str] = None if current_user.is_admin else current_user.user_id
     deleted_images: list[str] = []
     deleted_videos: list[str] = []
+    failed_images: list[str] = []
+    failed_videos: list[str] = []
+    starred_images_skipped: list[str] = []
+    starred_videos_skipped: list[str] = []
 
     try:
         if include_images is True:
@@ -151,11 +164,19 @@ def delete_board(
             # truth — reconstructing failures by diffing a router-side board listing
             # against the deleted names would double the DB work and misreport items
             # moved or deleted concurrently between the two queries.
-            deleted_images, failed_images = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board(
-                board_id=board_id, user_id=cascade_user_id
+            (
+                deleted_images,
+                failed_images,
+                starred_images_skipped,
+            ) = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board(
+                board_id=board_id, user_id=cascade_user_id, delete_starred=delete_starred
             )
-            deleted_videos, failed_videos = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board(
-                board_id=board_id, user_id=cascade_user_id
+            (
+                deleted_videos,
+                failed_videos,
+                starred_videos_skipped,
+            ) = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board(
+                board_id=board_id, user_id=cascade_user_id, delete_starred=delete_starred
             )
             ApiDependencies.invoker.services.boards.delete(board_id=board_id)
             return DeleteBoardResult(
@@ -166,6 +187,8 @@ def delete_board(
                 deleted_videos=deleted_videos,
                 failed_images=failed_images,
                 failed_videos=failed_videos,
+                starred_images_skipped=starred_images_skipped,
+                starred_videos_skipped=starred_videos_skipped,
             )
         else:
             deleted_board_images = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.board_images.get_all_board_image_names_for_board(
@@ -198,6 +221,10 @@ def delete_board(
                     "message": "Failed to delete board after partially deleting media",
                     "deleted_images": deleted_images,
                     "deleted_videos": deleted_videos,
+                    "failed_images": failed_images,
+                    "failed_videos": failed_videos,
+                    "starred_images_skipped": starred_images_skipped,
+                    "starred_videos_skipped": starred_videos_skipped,
                     "board_deleted": False,
                 },
             )
diff --git a/invokeai/app/api/routers/images.py b/invokeai/app/api/routers/images.py
index b9e06befb9c..7861c9b4485 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/api/routers/images.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/api/routers/images.py
@@ -202,27 +202,34 @@ async def create_image_upload_entry(
 async def delete_image(
     current_user: CurrentUserOrDefault,
     image_name: str = Path(description="The name of the image to delete"),
+    delete_starred: bool = Query(default=True, description="Whether to allow deletion of starred images"),
 ) -> DeleteImagesResult:
     """Deletes an image"""
     _assert_image_owner(image_name, current_user)
     assert_image_move_maintenance_inactive()
 
     deleted_images: set[str] = set()
+    failed_images: set[str] = set()
     affected_boards: set[str] = set()
+    starred_skipped: set[str] = set()
 
     try:
-        image_dto = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.get_dto(image_name)
-        board_id = image_dto.board_id or "none"
-        ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete(image_name)
-        deleted_images.add(image_name)
+        board_id = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.board_image_records.get_board_for_image(image_name) or "none"
+        was_deleted = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete(image_name, delete_starred=delete_starred)
+        if was_deleted:
+            deleted_images.add(image_name)
+        else:
+            starred_skipped.add(image_name)
         affected_boards.add(board_id)
-    except Exception:
-        # TODO: Does this need any exception handling at all?
-        pass
+    except Exception as error:
+        failed_images.add(image_name)
+        ApiDependencies.invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to delete image {image_name}: {error}")
 
     return DeleteImagesResult(
         deleted_images=list(deleted_images),
+        failed_images=list(failed_images),
         affected_boards=list(affected_boards),
+        starred_skipped=list(starred_skipped),
     )
 
 
@@ -489,6 +496,7 @@ async def list_image_dtos(
 async def delete_images_from_list(
     current_user: CurrentUserOrDefault,
     image_names: list[str] = Body(description="The list of names of images to delete", embed=True),
+    delete_starred: bool = Body(default=True, description="Whether to allow deletion of starred images"),
 ) -> DeleteImagesResult:
     try:
         assert_image_move_maintenance_inactive()
@@ -505,27 +513,34 @@ async def delete_images_from_list(
         deleted_images: set[str] = set()
         failed_images: set[str] = set()
         affected_boards: set[str] = set()
+        starred_skipped: set[str] = set()
         # Dedup while preserving order: a name repeated in the request would otherwise
         # be processed twice, and the second pass's not-found error would land the same
         # name in both deleted_images and failed_images.
         for image_name in dict.fromkeys(image_names):
             try:
                 _assert_image_owner(image_name, current_user)
-                image_dto = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.get_dto(image_name)
-                board_id = image_dto.board_id or "none"
-                ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete(image_name)
-                deleted_images.add(image_name)
+                board_id = (
+                    ApiDependencies.invoker.services.board_image_records.get_board_for_image(image_name) or "none"
+                )
+                was_deleted = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete(image_name, delete_starred=delete_starred)
+                if was_deleted:
+                    deleted_images.add(image_name)
+                else:
+                    starred_skipped.add(image_name)
                 affected_boards.add(board_id)
             except HTTPException:
                 continue
-            except Exception:
+            except Exception as error:
                 # A genuine deletion failure (not an auth/404 skip) — report it so the
                 # client can surface a partial-failure warning, matching the video path.
                 failed_images.add(image_name)
+                ApiDependencies.invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to delete image {image_name}: {error}")
         return DeleteImagesResult(
             deleted_images=list(deleted_images),
             failed_images=list(failed_images),
             affected_boards=list(affected_boards),
+            starred_skipped=list(starred_skipped),
         )
     except HTTPException:
         raise
@@ -536,6 +551,7 @@ async def delete_images_from_list(
 @images_router.delete("/uncategorized", operation_id="delete_uncategorized_images", response_model=DeleteImagesResult)
 async def delete_uncategorized_images(
     current_user: CurrentUserOrDefault,
+    delete_starred: bool = Query(default=True, description="Whether to allow deletion of starred images"),
 ) -> DeleteImagesResult:
     """Deletes all uncategorized images owned by the current user (or all if admin)"""
     assert_image_move_maintenance_inactive()
@@ -548,21 +564,27 @@ async def delete_uncategorized_images(
         deleted_images: set[str] = set()
         failed_images: set[str] = set()
         affected_boards: set[str] = set()
+        starred_skipped: set[str] = set()
         for image_name in image_names:
             try:
                 _assert_image_owner(image_name, current_user)
-                ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete(image_name)
-                deleted_images.add(image_name)
+                was_deleted = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.images.delete(image_name, delete_starred=delete_starred)
+                if was_deleted:
+                    deleted_images.add(image_name)
+                else:
+                    starred_skipped.add(image_name)
                 affected_boards.add("none")
             except HTTPException:
                 # Skip images not owned by the current user
-                pass
-            except Exception:
+                continue
+            except Exception as error:
                 failed_images.add(image_name)
+                ApiDependencies.invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to delete image {image_name}: {error}")
         return DeleteImagesResult(
             deleted_images=list(deleted_images),
             failed_images=list(failed_images),
             affected_boards=list(affected_boards),
+            starred_skipped=list(starred_skipped),
         )
     except Exception:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Failed to delete images")
diff --git a/invokeai/app/api/routers/videos.py b/invokeai/app/api/routers/videos.py
index c535aa3b931..27bc3f2669a 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/api/routers/videos.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/api/routers/videos.py
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ class VideoNamesBatch(BaseModel):
     )
 
 
+class DeleteVideosBatch(VideoNamesBatch):
+    delete_starred: bool = Field(default=True, description="Whether to allow deletion of starred videos")
+
+
 def _get_video_cache_control() -> str:
     if ApiDependencies.invoker.services.configuration.multiuser:
         return "private, no-store"
@@ -350,36 +354,37 @@ async def upload_video(
 async def delete_video(
     current_user: CurrentUserOrDefault,
     video_name: str = PathParam(description="The name of the video to delete"),
+    delete_starred: bool = Query(default=True, description="Whether to allow deletion of starred videos"),
 ) -> DeleteVideosResult:
     _assert_video_owner(video_name, current_user)
 
-    # Let service-level failures surface as 500s rather than swallowing them and returning a
-    # success-shaped response. A previous version of this handler caught everything and
-    # returned an empty ``deleted_videos`` list with HTTP 200; the frontend treated that as
-    # success, dropped the item from its cache, and the video stayed on disk — a silent
-    # data-consistency failure that only became visible on the next page reload.
-    try:
-        video_dto = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.get_dto(video_name)
-    except Exception:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Video not found")
-
-    board_id = video_dto.board_id or "none"
+    # Report service and relation-read failures as explicit failed items. The frontend
+    # must only evict names confirmed in ``deleted_videos``; otherwise a partial failure
+    # can silently hide a video that is still present on disk.
+    board_id: str | None = None
     try:
-        ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete(video_name)
-    except Exception:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Failed to delete video")
+        board_id = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.board_video_records.get_board_for_video(video_name) or "none"
+        was_deleted = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete(video_name, delete_starred=delete_starred)
+    except Exception as error:
+        ApiDependencies.invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to delete video {video_name}: {error}")
+        return DeleteVideosResult(
+            deleted_videos=[],
+            failed_videos=[video_name],
+            affected_boards=[board_id] if board_id is not None else [],
+        )
 
     return DeleteVideosResult(
-        deleted_videos=[video_name],
+        deleted_videos=[video_name] if was_deleted else [],
         failed_videos=[],
         affected_boards=[board_id],
+        starred_skipped=[] if was_deleted else [video_name],
     )
 
 
 @videos_router.post("/delete", operation_id="delete_videos_from_list", response_model=DeleteVideosResult)
 def delete_videos_from_list(
     current_user: CurrentUserOrDefault,
-    batch: VideoNamesBatch,
+    batch: DeleteVideosBatch,
 ) -> DeleteVideosResult:
     # Skip — but do not re-raise — auth failures so a foreign name mid-batch doesn't
     # discard the response payload for items the caller had already legitimately deleted.
@@ -393,31 +398,39 @@ def delete_videos_from_list(
     deleted_videos: set[str] = set()
     failed_videos: set[str] = set()
     affected_boards: set[str] = set()
+    starred_skipped: set[str] = set()
     # Dedup while preserving order: a name repeated in the request would otherwise be
     # processed twice, and the second pass's not-found error would land the same name
     # in both deleted_videos and failed_videos.
     for video_name in dict.fromkeys(batch.video_names):
         try:
             _assert_video_owner(video_name, current_user)
-            video_dto = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.get_dto(video_name)
-            board_id = video_dto.board_id or "none"
-            ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete(video_name)
-            deleted_videos.add(video_name)
+            board_id = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.board_video_records.get_board_for_video(video_name) or "none"
+            was_deleted = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete(
+                video_name, delete_starred=batch.delete_starred
+            )
+            if was_deleted:
+                deleted_videos.add(video_name)
+            else:
+                starred_skipped.add(video_name)
             affected_boards.add(board_id)
         except HTTPException:
             continue
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as error:
             failed_videos.add(video_name)
+            ApiDependencies.invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to delete video {video_name}: {error}")
     return DeleteVideosResult(
         deleted_videos=list(deleted_videos),
         failed_videos=list(failed_videos),
         affected_boards=list(affected_boards),
+        starred_skipped=list(starred_skipped),
     )
 
 
 @videos_router.delete("/uncategorized", operation_id="delete_uncategorized_videos", response_model=DeleteVideosResult)
 def delete_uncategorized_videos(
     current_user: CurrentUserOrDefault,
+    delete_starred: bool = Query(default=True, description="Whether to allow deletion of starred videos"),
 ) -> DeleteVideosResult:
     """Deletes all uncategorized videos owned by the current user (or all if admin).
 
@@ -432,22 +445,28 @@ def delete_uncategorized_videos(
     deleted_videos: set[str] = set()
     failed_videos: set[str] = set()
     affected_boards: set[str] = set()
+    starred_skipped: set[str] = set()
     for video_name in names_result.video_names:
         try:
             _assert_video_owner(video_name, current_user)
-            ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete(video_name)
-            deleted_videos.add(video_name)
+            was_deleted = ApiDependencies.invoker.services.videos.delete(video_name, delete_starred=delete_starred)
+            if was_deleted:
+                deleted_videos.add(video_name)
+            else:
+                starred_skipped.add(video_name)
             affected_boards.add("none")
         except HTTPException:
             # Skip videos not owned by the current user — an intentional skip, not a
             # failed deletion, so it must not be reported (and toasted) as one.
             continue
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as error:
             failed_videos.add(video_name)
+            ApiDependencies.invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to delete video {video_name}: {error}")
     return DeleteVideosResult(
         deleted_videos=list(deleted_videos),
         failed_videos=list(failed_videos),
         affected_boards=list(affected_boards),
+        starred_skipped=list(starred_skipped),
     )
 
 
diff --git a/invokeai/app/services/images/images_base.py b/invokeai/app/services/images/images_base.py
index 000c8a43fc7..4a956d6cb7d 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/services/images/images_base.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/services/images/images_base.py
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ def get_many(
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def delete(self, image_name: str):
-        """Deletes an image."""
+    def delete(self, image_name: str, delete_starred: bool = True) -> bool:
+        """Deletes an image, returning ``False`` when a starred image is protected."""
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
@@ -148,8 +148,10 @@ def get_intermediates_count(self, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -> int:
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def delete_images_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
-        """Deletes all images on a board; returns ``(deleted_names, failed_names)``.
+    def delete_images_on_board(
+        self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None, delete_starred: bool = True
+    ) -> tuple[list[str], list[str], list[str]]:
+        """Deletes images on a board; returns ``(deleted_names, failed_names, starred_skipped_names)``.
 
         When ``user_id`` is provided, only images owned by that user are deleted (other users'
         contributions to a public/shared board are preserved). Pass ``None`` for the admin
@@ -158,6 +160,9 @@ def delete_images_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -
         ``failed_names`` is the service's ground truth for per-image failures — callers must
         not reconstruct it by diffing their own board listing against ``deleted_names``, which
         races with concurrent moves/deletes.
+
+        When ``delete_starred`` is ``False``, starred images are preserved and reported in
+        ``starred_skipped_names``.
         """
         pass
 
diff --git a/invokeai/app/services/images/images_common.py b/invokeai/app/services/images/images_common.py
index 51679b43f4c..d21710c70c2 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/services/images/images_common.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/services/images/images_common.py
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ class DeleteImagesResult(ResultWithAffectedBoards):
         default_factory=list,
         description="The names of authorized images that could not be deleted",
     )
+    starred_skipped: list[str] = Field(
+        default_factory=list,
+        description="The names of starred images that were skipped because deletion protection was enabled",
+    )
 
 
 class StarredImagesResult(ResultWithAffectedBoards):
diff --git a/invokeai/app/services/images/images_default.py b/invokeai/app/services/images/images_default.py
index 9fded083cbc..a766657f52e 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/services/images/images_default.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/services/images/images_default.py
@@ -275,12 +275,15 @@ def get_many(
             self.__invoker.services.logger.error("Problem getting paginated image DTOs")
             raise e
 
-    def delete(self, image_name: str):
+    def delete(self, image_name: str, delete_starred: bool = True) -> bool:
         try:
             record = self.__invoker.services.image_records.get(image_name)
+            if not delete_starred and record.starred:
+                return False
             self.__invoker.services.image_files.delete(image_name, image_subfolder=record.image_subfolder)
             self.__invoker.services.image_records.delete(image_name)
             self._on_deleted(image_name)
+            return True
         except ImageRecordDeleteException:
             self.__invoker.services.logger.error("Failed to delete image record")
             raise
@@ -291,7 +294,9 @@ def delete(self, image_name: str):
             self.__invoker.services.logger.error("Problem deleting image record and file")
             raise e
 
-    def delete_images_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
+    def delete_images_on_board(
+        self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None, delete_starred: bool = True
+    ) -> tuple[list[str], list[str], list[str]]:
         try:
             # When ``user_id`` is set the lookup filters to images owned by that user so the
             # cascade doesn't destroy other users' contributions to a public/shared board.
@@ -303,10 +308,14 @@ def delete_images_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -
             )
             deleted_image_names: list[str] = []
             failed_image_names: list[str] = []
+            starred_skipped_image_names: list[str] = []
             staged_deletes: list[tuple[str, object]] = []
             for image_name in image_names:
                 try:
                     record = self.__invoker.services.image_records.get(image_name)
+                    if not delete_starred and record.starred:
+                        starred_skipped_image_names.append(image_name)
+                        continue
                     token = self.__invoker.services.image_files.stage_delete(
                         image_name, image_subfolder=record.image_subfolder
                     )
@@ -335,7 +344,7 @@ def delete_images_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -
                     self.__invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to purge staged image files: {cleanup_error}")
             for image_name in deleted_image_names:
                 self._on_deleted(image_name)
-            return deleted_image_names, failed_image_names
+            return deleted_image_names, failed_image_names, starred_skipped_image_names
         except ImageRecordDeleteException:
             self.__invoker.services.logger.error("Failed to delete image records")
             raise
diff --git a/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_base.py b/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_base.py
index 542e2cdff5d..3de4a131225 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_base.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_base.py
@@ -129,13 +129,15 @@ def get_many(
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def delete(self, video_name: str) -> None:
-        """Deletes a video."""
+    def delete(self, video_name: str, delete_starred: bool = True) -> bool:
+        """Deletes a video, returning ``False`` when a starred video is protected."""
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def delete_videos_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
-        """Deletes all videos on a board; returns ``(deleted_names, failed_names)``.
+    def delete_videos_on_board(
+        self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None, delete_starred: bool = True
+    ) -> tuple[list[str], list[str], list[str]]:
+        """Deletes videos on a board; returns ``(deleted_names, failed_names, starred_skipped_names)``.
 
         When ``user_id`` is provided, only videos owned by that user are deleted (other users'
         contributions to a public/shared board are preserved). Pass ``None`` for the admin
@@ -146,6 +148,9 @@ def delete_videos_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -
         are the authoritative ``deleted_videos``/``failed_videos`` for the caller's response —
         callers must not reconstruct failures by diffing their own board listing, which races
         with concurrent moves/deletes.
+
+        When ``delete_starred`` is ``False``, starred videos are preserved and reported in
+        ``starred_skipped_names``.
         """
         pass
 
diff --git a/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_common.py b/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_common.py
index f6d687715c3..9070d80c5e5 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_common.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_common.py
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ class VideoResultWithAffectedBoards(BaseModel):
 class DeleteVideosResult(VideoResultWithAffectedBoards):
     deleted_videos: list[str] = Field(description="The names of the videos that were deleted")
     failed_videos: list[str] = Field(description="The names of videos that were not deleted")
+    starred_skipped: list[str] = Field(
+        default_factory=list,
+        description="The names of starred videos that were skipped because deletion protection was enabled",
+    )
 
 
 class StarredVideosResult(VideoResultWithAffectedBoards):
diff --git a/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_default.py b/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_default.py
index 46e3711dbb5..2a78bc12ebd 100644
--- a/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_default.py
+++ b/invokeai/app/services/videos/videos_default.py
@@ -289,11 +289,13 @@ def get_many(
             self.__invoker.services.logger.error("Problem getting paginated video DTOs")
             raise e
 
-    def delete(self, video_name: str) -> None:
+    def delete(self, video_name: str, delete_starred: bool = True) -> bool:
         token: object | None = None
         record_deleted = False
         try:
             record = self.__invoker.services.video_records.get(video_name)
+            if not delete_starred and record.starred:
+                return False
             token = self.__invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete(video_name, video_subfolder=record.video_subfolder)
             self.__invoker.services.video_records.delete(video_name)
             record_deleted = True
@@ -302,6 +304,7 @@ def delete(self, video_name: str) -> None:
             except Exception as cleanup_error:
                 self.__invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to purge staged video files: {cleanup_error}")
             self._on_deleted(video_name)
+            return True
         except VideoRecordDeleteException:
             if token is not None:
                 self.__invoker.services.video_files.rollback_delete(token)
@@ -319,7 +322,9 @@ def delete(self, video_name: str) -> None:
             self.__invoker.services.logger.error("Problem deleting video record and file")
             raise e
 
-    def delete_videos_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
+    def delete_videos_on_board(
+        self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None, delete_starred: bool = True
+    ) -> tuple[list[str], list[str], list[str]]:
         try:
             # When ``user_id`` is set the lookup filters to videos owned by that user so the
             # cascade doesn't destroy other users' contributions to a public/shared board.
@@ -334,10 +339,14 @@ def delete_videos_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -
             # board_videos FK.
             deleted_video_names: list[str] = []
             failed_video_names: list[str] = []
+            starred_skipped_video_names: list[str] = []
             staged_deletes: list[tuple[str, object]] = []
             for video_name in video_names:
                 try:
                     record = self.__invoker.services.video_records.get(video_name)
+                    if not delete_starred and record.starred:
+                        starred_skipped_video_names.append(video_name)
+                        continue
                     token = self.__invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete(
                         video_name, video_subfolder=record.video_subfolder
                     )
@@ -366,7 +375,7 @@ def delete_videos_on_board(self, board_id: str, user_id: Optional[str] = None) -
                     self.__invoker.services.logger.error(f"Failed to purge staged video files: {cleanup_error}")
             for video_name in deleted_video_names:
                 self._on_deleted(video_name)
-            return deleted_video_names, failed_video_names
+            return deleted_video_names, failed_video_names, starred_skipped_video_names
         except VideoRecordDeleteException:
             self.__invoker.services.logger.error("Failed to delete video records")
             raise
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/openapi.json b/invokeai/frontend/web/openapi.json
index e19d0163e31..55b0d71913f 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/openapi.json
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/openapi.json
@@ -5101,6 +5101,18 @@
               "title": "Image Name"
             },
             "description": "The name of the image to delete"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "delete_starred",
+            "in": "query",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "boolean",
+              "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred images",
+              "default": true,
+              "title": "Delete Starred"
+            },
+            "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred images"
           }
         ],
         "responses": {
@@ -5668,6 +5680,25 @@
         "summary": "Delete Uncategorized Images",
         "description": "Deletes all uncategorized images owned by the current user (or all if admin)",
         "operationId": "delete_uncategorized_images",
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "HTTPBearer": []
+          }
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "delete_starred",
+            "in": "query",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "boolean",
+              "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred images",
+              "default": true,
+              "title": "Delete Starred"
+            },
+            "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred images"
+          }
+        ],
         "responses": {
           "200": {
             "description": "Successful Response",
@@ -5678,13 +5709,18 @@
                 }
               }
             }
+          },
+          "422": {
+            "description": "Validation Error",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/HTTPValidationError"
+                }
+              }
+            }
           }
-        },
-        "security": [
-          {
-            "HTTPBearer": []
-          }
-        ]
+        }
       }
     },
     "/api/v1/images/star": {
@@ -6195,6 +6231,18 @@
               "title": "Video Name"
             },
             "description": "The name of the video to delete"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "delete_starred",
+            "in": "query",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "boolean",
+              "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred videos",
+              "default": true,
+              "title": "Delete Starred"
+            },
+            "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred videos"
           }
         ],
         "responses": {
@@ -6331,7 +6379,7 @@
           "content": {
             "application/json": {
               "schema": {
-                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/VideoNamesBatch"
+                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/DeleteVideosBatch"
               }
             }
           },
@@ -6372,6 +6420,25 @@
         "summary": "Delete Uncategorized Videos",
         "description": "Deletes all uncategorized videos owned by the current user (or all if admin).\n\nMirrors ``delete_uncategorized_images`` so the \"Delete All Uncategorized\nImages/Videos\" board action covers both media kinds.",
         "operationId": "delete_uncategorized_videos",
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "HTTPBearer": []
+          }
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "delete_starred",
+            "in": "query",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "boolean",
+              "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred videos",
+              "default": true,
+              "title": "Delete Starred"
+            },
+            "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred videos"
+          }
+        ],
         "responses": {
           "200": {
             "description": "Successful Response",
@@ -6382,13 +6449,18 @@
                 }
               }
             }
+          },
+          "422": {
+            "description": "Validation Error",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/HTTPValidationError"
+                }
+              }
+            }
           }
-        },
-        "security": [
-          {
-            "HTTPBearer": []
-          }
-        ]
+        }
       }
     },
     "/api/v1/videos/i/{video_name}/metadata": {
@@ -7901,6 +7973,18 @@
               "title": "Include Images"
             },
             "description": "Permanently delete all images and videos on the board"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "delete_starred",
+            "in": "query",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "boolean",
+              "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred media",
+              "default": true,
+              "title": "Delete Starred"
+            },
+            "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred media"
           }
         ],
         "responses": {
@@ -15701,6 +15785,12 @@
             "type": "array",
             "title": "Image Names",
             "description": "The list of names of images to delete"
+          },
+          "delete_starred": {
+            "type": "boolean",
+            "title": "Delete Starred",
+            "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred images",
+            "default": true
           }
         },
         "type": "object",
@@ -23622,6 +23712,22 @@
             "type": "array",
             "title": "Failed Videos",
             "description": "The names of videos that could not be deleted and became uncategorized."
+          },
+          "starred_images_skipped": {
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "type": "array",
+            "title": "Starred Images Skipped",
+            "description": "The names of starred images that were protected and became uncategorized."
+          },
+          "starred_videos_skipped": {
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "type": "array",
+            "title": "Starred Videos Skipped",
+            "description": "The names of starred videos that were protected and became uncategorized."
           }
         },
         "type": "object",
@@ -23666,6 +23772,14 @@
             "type": "array",
             "title": "Failed Images",
             "description": "The names of authorized images that could not be deleted"
+          },
+          "starred_skipped": {
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "type": "array",
+            "title": "Starred Skipped",
+            "description": "The names of starred images that were skipped because deletion protection was enabled"
           }
         },
         "type": "object",
@@ -23712,6 +23826,29 @@
         "title": "DeleteOrphanedModelsResponse",
         "description": "Response from deleting orphaned models."
       },
+      "DeleteVideosBatch": {
+        "properties": {
+          "video_names": {
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "maxLength": 255
+            },
+            "type": "array",
+            "maxItems": 1000,
+            "title": "Video Names",
+            "description": "The list of video names to process"
+          },
+          "delete_starred": {
+            "type": "boolean",
+            "title": "Delete Starred",
+            "description": "Whether to allow deletion of starred videos",
+            "default": true
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object",
+        "required": ["video_names"],
+        "title": "DeleteVideosBatch"
+      },
       "DeleteVideosResult": {
         "properties": {
           "affected_boards": {
@@ -23737,6 +23874,14 @@
             "type": "array",
             "title": "Failed Videos",
             "description": "The names of videos that were not deleted"
+          },
+          "starred_skipped": {
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "type": "array",
+            "title": "Starred Skipped",
+            "description": "The names of starred videos that were skipped because deletion protection was enabled"
           }
         },
         "type": "object",
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/en.json b/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/en.json
index a4c7986b10c..b988aea72dd 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/en.json
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/en.json
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@
         "changeBoardVideo_one": "Move Video to Board",
         "changeBoardVideo_other": "Move {{count}} Videos to Board",
         "clearSearch": "Clear Search",
+        "containsStarredMediaConfirm": "This board contains starred media. Starred items will be kept and moved to Uncategorized; all other media and the board will be permanently deleted. Continue?",
+        "containsStarredMediaTitle": "This Board Contains Starred Media",
         "deleteBoard": "Delete Board",
         "deleteBoardAndImages": "Delete Board and Images",
         "deleteBoardAndAssets": "Delete Board, Images & Videos",
@@ -1945,6 +1947,7 @@
         "enableModelDescriptions": "Enable Model Descriptions in Dropdowns",
         "enableHighlightFocusedRegions": "Highlight Focused Regions",
         "middleClickOpenInNewTab": "Use Middle Click to Open Images/Videos in New Tab",
+        "protectStarredMedia": "Protect Starred Media",
         "modelDescriptionsDisabled": "Model Descriptions in Dropdowns Disabled",
         "modelDescriptionsDisabledDesc": "Model descriptions in dropdowns have been disabled. Enable them in Settings.",
         "enableInvisibleWatermark": "Enable Invisible Watermark",
@@ -2055,6 +2058,9 @@
         "mediaDeleteFailedDesc": "A delete request failed. Some media may not have been deleted.",
         "mediaDeletePartial": "{{count}} media item could not be deleted.",
         "mediaDeletePartial_other": "{{count}} media items could not be deleted.",
+        "starredMediaProtected": "Starred Media Protected",
+        "starredMediaProtectedDesc": "{{count}} starred media item was not deleted.",
+        "starredMediaProtectedDesc_other": "{{count}} starred media items were not deleted.",
         "importFailed": "Import Failed",
         "importSuccessful": "Import Successful",
         "invalidUpload": "Invalid Upload",
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/ru.json b/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/ru.json
index d23150a7164..57fc5f16c7c 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/ru.json
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/public/locales/ru.json
@@ -1181,6 +1181,7 @@
         "models": "Модели",
         "displayInProgress": "Показывать процесс генерации",
         "confirmOnDelete": "Подтверждать удаление",
+        "protectStarredMedia": "Защищать избранные медиафайлы",
         "resetWebUI": "Сброс настроек веб-интерфейса",
         "resetWebUIDesc1": "Сброс настроек веб-интерфейса удаляет только локальный кэш браузера с вашими изображениями и настройками. Он не удаляет изображения с диска.",
         "resetWebUIDesc2": "Если изображения не отображаются в галерее или не работает что-то еще, пожалуйста, попробуйте сбросить настройки, прежде чем сообщать о проблеме на GitHub.",
@@ -1256,6 +1257,11 @@
     },
     "toast": {
         "uploadFailed": "Загрузка не удалась",
+        "starredMediaProtected": "Избранные медиафайлы защищены",
+        "starredMediaProtectedDesc_one": "{{count}} избранный медиафайл не был удалён.",
+        "starredMediaProtectedDesc_few": "{{count}} избранных медиафайла не были удалены.",
+        "starredMediaProtectedDesc_many": "{{count}} избранных медиафайлов не были удалены.",
+        "starredMediaProtectedDesc_other": "{{count}} избранных медиафайлов не были удалены.",
         "imageCopied": "Изображение скопировано",
         "parametersNotSet": "Параметры не заданы",
         "serverError": "Ошибка сервера",
@@ -1603,6 +1609,8 @@
         "changeBoard": "Сменить коллекцию",
         "loading": "Загрузка...",
         "clearSearch": "Очистить поиск",
+        "containsStarredMediaConfirm": "В коллекции есть избранные медиафайлы. Они будут сохранены и перемещены в раздел «Без категории», а остальные медиафайлы и коллекция будут удалены без возможности восстановления. Продолжить?",
+        "containsStarredMediaTitle": "В коллекции есть избранные медиафайлы",
         "deleteBoardOnly": "Удалить только коллекцию",
         "movingImagesToBoard_one": "Перемещение {{count}} изображения в коллекцию:",
         "movingImagesToBoard_few": "Перемещение {{count}} изображений в коллекцию:",
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.test.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.test.ts
index 385482447cc..7d97ad58032 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.test.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.test.ts
@@ -17,9 +17,10 @@ vi.mock('services/api/endpoints/images', () => ({
   imagesApi: {
     endpoints: {
       deleteImages: {
-        initiate: vi.fn((arg: { image_names: string[] }) => ({
+        initiate: vi.fn((arg: { image_names: string[]; delete_starred: boolean }) => ({
           type: 'imagesApi/deleteImages',
           image_names: arg.image_names,
+          delete_starred: arg.delete_starred,
         })),
       },
     },
@@ -36,8 +37,11 @@ vi.mock('features/gallery/store/gallerySlice', () => ({
 
 vi.mock('features/system/store/systemSlice', () => ({
   selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete: vi.fn(() => false),
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia: vi.fn(() => false),
 }));
 
+vi.mock('features/toast/toast', () => ({ toast: vi.fn() }));
+
 // The canvas/ref-image usage sweeps aren't under test — give them empty state.
 vi.mock('features/controlLayers/store/selectors', () => ({
   selectCanvasSlice: vi.fn(() => ({ controlLayers: { entities: [] }, rasterLayers: { entities: [] } })),
@@ -59,20 +63,33 @@ vi.mock('features/gallery/store/selectCachedGalleryItemNames', async (importOrig
 import type { AppStore } from 'app/store/store';
 import { selectLastSelectedItem } from 'features/gallery/store/gallerySelectors';
 import { selectCachedGalleryItemNames } from 'features/gallery/store/selectCachedGalleryItemNames';
+import {
+  selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete,
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia,
+} from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
+import { toast } from 'features/toast/toast';
+import { imagesApi } from 'services/api/endpoints/images';
 
 import { handleDeletions } from './state';
 
-const buildStore = (selection: string[], failingNames: Set<string>) => {
+const buildStore = (selection: string[], failingNames: Set<string>, protectedNames: Set<string> = new Set()) => {
   const dispatched: unknown[] = [];
   const dispatch = vi.fn((action: unknown) => {
     dispatched.push(action);
-    const typed = action as { type?: string; image_names?: string[] };
+    const typed = action as { type?: string; image_names?: string[]; delete_starred?: boolean };
     if (typed?.type === 'imagesApi/deleteImages') {
       return {
         unwrap: () =>
           Promise.resolve({
-            deleted_images: (typed.image_names ?? []).filter((name) => !failingNames.has(name)),
+            deleted_images: (typed.image_names ?? []).filter(
+              (name) => !failingNames.has(name) && (typed.delete_starred !== false || !protectedNames.has(name))
+            ),
+            failed_images: (typed.image_names ?? []).filter((name) => failingNames.has(name)),
             affected_boards: [],
+            starred_skipped:
+              typed.delete_starred === false
+                ? (typed.image_names ?? []).filter((name) => protectedNames.has(name))
+                : [],
           }),
       };
     }
@@ -91,6 +108,8 @@ const getSelectionChange = (dispatched: unknown[]) =>
 describe('handleDeletions selection behavior', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete).mockReturnValue(false);
+    vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia).mockReturnValue(false);
     vi.mocked(selectCachedGalleryItemNames).mockReturnValue(['a.png', 'b.png', 'c.mp4']);
   });
 
@@ -144,4 +163,20 @@ describe('handleDeletions selection behavior', () => {
 
     expect(getSelectionChange(dispatched)?.payload).toBe('a.png');
   });
+
+  it('passes protection to the backend and keeps a protected image selected', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete).mockReturnValue(true);
+    vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia).mockReturnValue(true);
+    vi.mocked(selectLastSelectedItem).mockReturnValue('a.png');
+    const { store, dispatched } = buildStore(['a.png'], new Set(), new Set(['a.png']));
+
+    await handleDeletions(['a.png'], store);
+
+    expect(imagesApi.endpoints.deleteImages.initiate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      { image_names: ['a.png'], delete_starred: false },
+      { track: false }
+    );
+    expect(getSelectionChange(dispatched)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(toast).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ status: 'warning' }));
+  });
 });
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.ts
index 8169a54bafc..d69b9dfba00 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteImageModal/store/state.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,12 @@ import type { NodesState } from 'features/nodes/store/types';
 import { isImageFieldCollectionInputInstance, isImageFieldInputInstance } from 'features/nodes/types/field';
 import { isInvocationNode } from 'features/nodes/types/invocation';
 import { selectUpscaleSlice, type UpscaleState } from 'features/parameters/store/upscaleSlice';
-import { selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete } from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
+import {
+  selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete,
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia,
+} from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
+import { toast } from 'features/toast/toast';
+import { t } from 'i18next';
 import { atom } from 'nanostores';
 import { useMemo } from 'react';
 import { imagesApi } from 'services/api/endpoints/images';
@@ -90,16 +95,38 @@ export const handleDeletions = async (image_names: string[], store: AppStore) =>
     // cache will have shifted, so the index computed afterwards would be wrong.
     const galleryItemNames = selectCachedGalleryItemNames(state);
     const lastSelected = selectLastSelectedItem(state);
+    const shouldConfirmOnDelete = selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete(state);
+    const shouldProtectStarredMedia = selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia(state);
     const lastSelectedIndex =
       lastSelected && image_names.includes(lastSelected) ? galleryItemNames.indexOf(lastSelected) : -1;
 
     const result = await dispatch(
-      imagesApi.endpoints.deleteImages.initiate({ image_names }, { track: false })
+      imagesApi.endpoints.deleteImages.initiate(
+        { image_names, delete_starred: !shouldProtectStarredMedia },
+        { track: false }
+      )
     ).unwrap();
     // Only the images the server confirmed deleted count: a partial failure means the
     // survivor still exists, so the selection must not jump away from it and it remains
     // a valid replacement candidate. Mirrors deleteVideoModal/store/state.ts.
     const deletedNames = new Set(result.deleted_images);
+    const failedImages = result.failed_images ?? [];
+    const starredSkipped = result.starred_skipped ?? [];
+
+    if (failedImages.length > 0) {
+      toast({
+        status: 'warning',
+        title: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailed'),
+        description: t('toast.mediaDeletePartial', { count: failedImages.length }),
+      });
+    }
+    if (shouldConfirmOnDelete && starredSkipped.length > 0) {
+      toast({
+        status: 'warning',
+        title: t('toast.starredMediaProtected'),
+        description: t('toast.starredMediaProtectedDesc', { count: starredSkipped.length }),
+      });
+    }
 
     if (intersection(getState().gallery.selection, [...deletedNames]).length > 0) {
       if (lastSelected && !deletedNames.has(lastSelected)) {
@@ -125,7 +152,11 @@ export const handleDeletions = async (image_names: string[], store: AppStore) =>
       deleteRasterLayerImages(state, dispatch, image_name);
     }
   } catch {
-    // no-op
+    toast({
+      status: 'error',
+      title: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailed'),
+      description: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailedDesc'),
+    });
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.test.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.test.ts
index 82fdfeb3ff2..1d413a9d8df 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.test.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.test.ts
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ vi.mock('services/api/endpoints/videos', () => ({
   videosApi: {
     endpoints: {
       deleteVideos: {
-        initiate: vi.fn((arg: { video_names: string[] }) => ({
+        initiate: vi.fn((arg: { video_names: string[]; delete_starred: boolean }) => ({
           type: 'videosApi/deleteVideos',
           video_names: arg.video_names,
+          delete_starred: arg.delete_starred,
         })),
       },
     },
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ vi.mock('features/nodes/store/nodesSlice', () => ({
 
 vi.mock('features/system/store/systemSlice', () => ({
   selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete: vi.fn(() => false),
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia: vi.fn(() => false),
 }));
 
 vi.mock('features/toast/toast', () => ({ toast: vi.fn() }));
@@ -59,7 +61,10 @@ import type { AppStore } from 'app/store/store';
 import { selectLastSelectedItem } from 'features/gallery/store/gallerySelectors';
 import { imageSelected } from 'features/gallery/store/gallerySlice';
 import { selectCachedGalleryItemNames } from 'features/gallery/store/selectCachedGalleryItemNames';
-import { selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete } from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
+import {
+  selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete,
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia,
+} from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
 import { toast } from 'features/toast/toast';
 import { videosApi } from 'services/api/endpoints/videos';
 
@@ -75,20 +80,32 @@ const buildVideoFieldNode = (nodeId: string, videoName: string) => ({
   },
 });
 
-const buildStore = (selection: string[], failingNames: Set<string>, nodes: unknown[] = [], rejectAll = false) => {
+const buildStore = (
+  selection: string[],
+  failingNames: Set<string>,
+  nodes: unknown[] = [],
+  rejectAll = false,
+  protectedNames: Set<string> = new Set()
+) => {
   const dispatched: unknown[] = [];
   const dispatch = vi.fn((action: unknown) => {
     dispatched.push(action);
-    const typed = action as { type?: string; video_names?: string[] };
+    const typed = action as { type?: string; video_names?: string[]; delete_starred?: boolean };
     if (typed?.type === 'videosApi/deleteVideos') {
       return {
         unwrap: () =>
           rejectAll
             ? Promise.reject(new Error('delete failed'))
             : Promise.resolve({
-                deleted_videos: (typed.video_names ?? []).filter((name) => !failingNames.has(name)),
+                deleted_videos: (typed.video_names ?? []).filter(
+                  (name) => !failingNames.has(name) && (typed.delete_starred !== false || !protectedNames.has(name))
+                ),
                 failed_videos: (typed.video_names ?? []).filter((name) => failingNames.has(name)),
                 affected_boards: ['none'],
+                starred_skipped:
+                  typed.delete_starred === false
+                    ? (typed.video_names ?? []).filter((name) => protectedNames.has(name))
+                    : [],
               }),
       };
     }
@@ -110,6 +127,11 @@ const getVideoFieldChanges = (dispatched: unknown[]) =>
       !!action && typeof action === 'object' && (action as { type?: string }).type === 'nodes/fieldVideoValueChanged'
   );
 
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete).mockReturnValue(false);
+  vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia).mockReturnValue(false);
+});
+
 describe('handleDeletions batching', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
@@ -124,11 +146,25 @@ describe('handleDeletions batching', () => {
 
     expect(videosApi.endpoints.deleteVideos.initiate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(videosApi.endpoints.deleteVideos.initiate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      { video_names: ['a.mp4', 'b.mp4'] },
+      { video_names: ['a.mp4', 'b.mp4'], delete_starred: true },
       { track: false }
     );
     expect(toast).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it('passes protection to the backend and reports skipped starred videos', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete).mockReturnValue(true);
+    vi.mocked(selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia).mockReturnValue(true);
+    const { store } = buildStore([], new Set(), [], false, new Set(['a.mp4']));
+
+    await handleDeletions(['a.mp4'], store);
+
+    expect(videosApi.endpoints.deleteVideos.initiate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      { video_names: ['a.mp4'], delete_starred: false },
+      { track: false }
+    );
+    expect(toast).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ status: 'warning' }));
+  });
 });
 
 describe('handleDeletions selection behavior on partial failure', () => {
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.ts
index 9821267088e..e324334fcea 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/deleteVideoModal/store/state.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ import {
 import { fieldVideoValueChanged } from 'features/nodes/store/nodesSlice';
 import { isVideoFieldInputInstance } from 'features/nodes/types/field';
 import { isInvocationNode } from 'features/nodes/types/invocation';
-import { selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete } from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
+import {
+  selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete,
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia,
+} from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
 import { toast } from 'features/toast/toast';
 import { t } from 'i18next';
 import { atom } from 'nanostores';
@@ -81,6 +84,8 @@ export const handleDeletions = async (video_names: string[], store: AppStore) =>
   // Snapshot the polymorphic gallery list and the currently-displayed item *before* the
   // delete fires; once the network call resolves the cache will already have shifted.
   const stateBefore = getState();
+  const shouldConfirmOnDelete = selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete(stateBefore);
+  const shouldProtectStarredMedia = selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia(stateBefore);
   const galleryItemNames = selectCachedGalleryItemNames(stateBefore);
   const lastSelected = selectLastSelectedItem(stateBefore);
   const lastSelectedIndex =
@@ -91,9 +96,13 @@ export const handleDeletions = async (video_names: string[], store: AppStore) =>
   let deletedNames = new Set<string>();
   try {
     const result = await dispatch(
-      videosApi.endpoints.deleteVideos.initiate({ video_names }, { track: false })
+      videosApi.endpoints.deleteVideos.initiate(
+        { video_names, delete_starred: !shouldProtectStarredMedia },
+        { track: false }
+      )
     ).unwrap();
     deletedNames = new Set(result.deleted_videos);
+    const starredSkipped = result.starred_skipped ?? [];
     if (result.failed_videos.length > 0) {
       toast({
         status: 'warning',
@@ -101,6 +110,13 @@ export const handleDeletions = async (video_names: string[], store: AppStore) =>
         description: t('toast.videoDeletePartial', { count: result.failed_videos.length }),
       });
     }
+    if (shouldConfirmOnDelete && starredSkipped.length > 0) {
+      toast({
+        status: 'warning',
+        title: t('toast.starredMediaProtected'),
+        description: t('toast.starredMediaProtectedDesc', { count: starredSkipped.length }),
+      });
+    }
   } catch {
     // The whole request failed — nothing was confirmed deleted, so leave selection and
     // node references untouched. The mutation is untracked, so this toast is the only
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/DeleteBoardModal.tsx b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/DeleteBoardModal.tsx
index fd1480defd0..56ec50bc87d 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/DeleteBoardModal.tsx
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/DeleteBoardModal.tsx
@@ -23,11 +23,15 @@ import { getImageUsage } from 'features/deleteImageModal/store/state';
 import type { ImageUsage } from 'features/deleteImageModal/store/types';
 import { selectNodesSlice } from 'features/nodes/store/selectors';
 import { selectUpscaleSlice } from 'features/parameters/store/upscaleSlice';
+import {
+  selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete,
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia,
+} from 'features/system/store/systemSlice';
 import { toast } from 'features/toast/toast';
 import { atom } from 'nanostores';
-import { memo, useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
+import { memo, useCallback, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
-import { useListAllImageNamesForBoardQuery } from 'services/api/endpoints/boards';
+import { useGetGalleryItemNamesQuery } from 'services/api/endpoints/gallery';
 import {
   useDeleteBoardAndImagesMutation,
   useDeleteBoardMutation,
@@ -44,25 +48,31 @@ const DeleteBoardModal = () => {
   useAssertSingleton('DeleteBoardModal');
   const boardToDelete = useStore($boardToDelete);
   const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const shouldConfirmOnDelete = useAppSelector(selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete);
+  const shouldProtectStarredMedia = useAppSelector(selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia);
 
   const boardId = useMemo(() => (boardToDelete === 'none' ? 'none' : boardToDelete?.board_id), [boardToDelete]);
-
-  const { currentData: boardImageNames, isFetching: isFetchingBoardNames } = useListAllImageNamesForBoardQuery(
+  const { currentData: boardMedia, isFetching: isFetchingBoardNames } = useGetGalleryItemNamesQuery(
     boardId
       ? {
           board_id: boardId,
           categories: undefined,
           is_intermediate: undefined,
+          starred_first: true,
         }
       : skipToken
   );
+  const boardImageNames = useMemo(
+    () => boardMedia?.items.filter((item) => item.kind === 'image').map((item) => item.name) ?? [],
+    [boardMedia?.items]
+  );
 
   const selectImageUsageSummary = useMemo(
     () =>
       createMemoizedSelector(
         [selectNodesSlice, selectCanvasSlice, selectUpscaleSlice, selectRefImagesSlice],
         (nodes, canvas, upscale, refImages) => {
-          const allImageUsage = (boardImageNames ?? []).map((imageName) =>
+          const allImageUsage = boardImageNames.map((imageName) =>
             getImageUsage(nodes, canvas, upscale, refImages, imageName)
           );
 
@@ -83,71 +93,136 @@ const DeleteBoardModal = () => {
   );
 
   const [deleteBoardOnly, { isLoading: isDeleteBoardOnlyLoading }] = useDeleteBoardMutation();
-
   const [deleteBoardAndImages, { isLoading: isDeleteBoardAndImagesLoading }] = useDeleteBoardAndImagesMutation();
-
   const [deleteUncategorizedImages, { isLoading: isDeleteUncategorizedImagesLoading }] =
     useDeleteUncategorizedImagesMutation();
-
   const [deleteUncategorizedVideos, { isLoading: isDeleteUncategorizedVideosLoading }] =
     useDeleteUncategorizedVideosMutation();
 
   const imageUsageSummary = useAppSelector(selectImageUsageSummary);
+  const [starredConfirmationBoardId, setStarredConfirmationBoardId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const isStarredConfirmationOpen =
+    boardToDelete !== null && boardToDelete !== 'none' && starredConfirmationBoardId === boardToDelete.board_id;
 
-  const handleDeleteBoardOnly = useCallback(() => {
-    if (!boardToDelete || boardToDelete === 'none') {
-      return;
-    }
-    deleteBoardOnly({ board_id: boardToDelete.board_id });
+  const handleClose = useCallback(() => {
+    setStarredConfirmationBoardId(null);
     $boardToDelete.set(null);
-  }, [boardToDelete, deleteBoardOnly]);
+  }, []);
 
-  const handleDeleteBoardAndImages = useCallback(async () => {
+  const reportDeletionSummary = useCallback(
+    (summary: ReturnType<typeof getMediaDeletionSummary>, showProtectedWarning: boolean) => {
+      if (summary.requestFailed) {
+        toast({
+          status: 'error',
+          title: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailed'),
+          description: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailedDesc'),
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+      if (summary.failedCount > 0) {
+        toast({
+          status: 'warning',
+          title: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailed'),
+          description: t('toast.mediaDeletePartial', { count: summary.failedCount }),
+        });
+      }
+      if (showProtectedWarning && summary.protectedCount > 0) {
+        toast({
+          status: 'warning',
+          title: t('toast.starredMediaProtected'),
+          description: t('toast.starredMediaProtectedDesc', { count: summary.protectedCount }),
+        });
+      }
+    },
+    [t]
+  );
+
+  const handleDeleteBoardOnly = useCallback(async () => {
     if (!boardToDelete || boardToDelete === 'none') {
       return;
     }
-    const result = await Promise.allSettled([deleteBoardAndImages({ board_id: boardToDelete.board_id }).unwrap()]);
-    const summary = getMediaDeletionSummary(result);
-    if (summary.requestFailed || summary.failedCount > 0) {
+    try {
+      await deleteBoardOnly({ board_id: boardToDelete.board_id }).unwrap();
+      handleClose();
+    } catch {
       toast({
-        status: summary.requestFailed ? 'error' : 'warning',
+        status: 'error',
         title: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailed'),
-        description: summary.requestFailed
-          ? t('toast.mediaDeleteFailedDesc')
-          : t('toast.mediaDeletePartial', { count: summary.failedCount }),
+        description: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailedDesc'),
       });
     }
-    $boardToDelete.set(null);
-  }, [boardToDelete, deleteBoardAndImages, t]);
+  }, [boardToDelete, deleteBoardOnly, handleClose, t]);
 
-  const handleDeleteUncategorizedMedia = useCallback(async () => {
-    if (!boardToDelete || boardToDelete !== 'none') {
+  const deleteBoardWithMedia = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!boardToDelete || boardToDelete === 'none') {
       return;
     }
-    // The uncategorized bucket is polymorphic (the button says "Images/Videos"), so both
-    // media kinds are deleted. The mutations are independent — a failure in one doesn't
-    // block the other.
     const results = await Promise.allSettled([
-      deleteUncategorizedImages().unwrap(),
-      deleteUncategorizedVideos().unwrap(),
+      deleteBoardAndImages({
+        board_id: boardToDelete.board_id,
+        delete_starred: !shouldProtectStarredMedia,
+      }).unwrap(),
     ]);
     const summary = getMediaDeletionSummary(results);
-    if (summary.requestFailed || summary.failedCount > 0) {
-      toast({
-        status: summary.requestFailed ? 'error' : 'warning',
-        title: t('toast.mediaDeleteFailed'),
-        description: summary.requestFailed
-          ? t('toast.mediaDeleteFailedDesc')
-          : t('toast.mediaDeletePartial', { count: summary.failedCount }),
-      });
+    reportDeletionSummary(summary, shouldConfirmOnDelete);
+    if (!summary.requestFailed) {
+      handleClose();
     }
-    $boardToDelete.set(null);
-  }, [boardToDelete, deleteUncategorizedImages, deleteUncategorizedVideos, t]);
+  }, [
+    boardToDelete,
+    deleteBoardAndImages,
+    handleClose,
+    reportDeletionSummary,
+    shouldConfirmOnDelete,
+    shouldProtectStarredMedia,
+  ]);
 
-  const handleClose = useCallback(() => {
-    $boardToDelete.set(null);
+  const handleDeleteBoardAndMedia = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!boardToDelete || boardToDelete === 'none') {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (shouldProtectStarredMedia && (boardMedia?.starred_count ?? 0) > 0) {
+      setStarredConfirmationBoardId(boardToDelete.board_id);
+      return;
+    }
+    void deleteBoardWithMedia();
+  }, [boardMedia?.starred_count, boardToDelete, deleteBoardWithMedia, shouldProtectStarredMedia]);
+
+  const handleConfirmStarredDelete = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!boardToDelete || boardToDelete === 'none' || starredConfirmationBoardId !== boardToDelete.board_id) {
+      return;
+    }
+    void deleteBoardWithMedia();
+  }, [boardToDelete, deleteBoardWithMedia, starredConfirmationBoardId]);
+
+  const handleCancelStarredDelete = useCallback(() => {
+    setStarredConfirmationBoardId(null);
   }, []);
 
+  const handleDeleteUncategorizedMedia = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!boardToDelete || boardToDelete !== 'none') {
+      return;
+    }
+    const params = shouldProtectStarredMedia ? { delete_starred: false } : undefined;
+    const results = await Promise.allSettled([
+      deleteUncategorizedImages(params).unwrap(),
+      deleteUncategorizedVideos(params).unwrap(),
+    ]);
+    const summary = getMediaDeletionSummary(results);
+    reportDeletionSummary(summary, shouldConfirmOnDelete);
+    if (!summary.requestFailed) {
+      handleClose();
+    }
+  }, [
+    boardToDelete,
+    deleteUncategorizedImages,
+    deleteUncategorizedVideos,
+    handleClose,
+    reportDeletionSummary,
+    shouldConfirmOnDelete,
+    shouldProtectStarredMedia,
+  ]);
+
   const cancelRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);
 
   const isLoading = useMemo(
@@ -171,58 +246,88 @@ const DeleteBoardModal = () => {
   }
 
   return (
-    <AlertDialog isOpen={Boolean(boardToDelete)} onClose={handleClose} leastDestructiveRef={cancelRef} isCentered>
-      <AlertDialogOverlay>
-        <AlertDialogContent>
-          <AlertDialogHeader fontSize="lg" fontWeight="bold">
-            {t('common.delete')} {boardToDelete === 'none' ? t('boards.uncategorizedImages') : boardToDelete.board_name}
-          </AlertDialogHeader>
-
-          <AlertDialogBody>
-            <Flex direction="column" gap={3}>
-              {isFetchingBoardNames ? (
-                <Skeleton>
-                  <Flex w="full" h={32} />
-                </Skeleton>
-              ) : (
-                <ImageUsageMessage
-                  imageUsage={imageUsageSummary}
-                  topMessage={t('boards.topMessage')}
-                  bottomMessage={t('boards.bottomMessage')}
-                />
-              )}
-              {boardToDelete !== 'none' ? (
-                <Text>{t('boards.deletedBoardsCannotbeRestored')}</Text>
-              ) : (
-                <Text>{t('gallery.deleteMediaPermanent')}</Text>
-              )}
-            </Flex>
-          </AlertDialogBody>
-          <AlertDialogFooter>
-            <Flex w="full" gap={2} justifyContent="end">
-              <Button ref={cancelRef} onClick={handleClose}>
-                {t('boards.cancel')}
-              </Button>
-              {boardToDelete !== 'none' && (
-                <Button colorScheme="warning" isLoading={isLoading} onClick={handleDeleteBoardOnly}>
-                  {t('boards.deleteBoardOnly')}
+    <>
+      <AlertDialog isOpen={!isStarredConfirmationOpen} onClose={handleClose} leastDestructiveRef={cancelRef} isCentered>
+        <AlertDialogOverlay>
+          <AlertDialogContent>
+            <AlertDialogHeader fontSize="lg" fontWeight="bold">
+              {t('common.delete')}{' '}
+              {boardToDelete === 'none' ? t('boards.uncategorizedImages') : boardToDelete.board_name}
+            </AlertDialogHeader>
+
+            <AlertDialogBody>
+              <Flex direction="column" gap={3}>
+                {isFetchingBoardNames ? (
+                  <Skeleton>
+                    <Flex w="full" h={32} />
+                  </Skeleton>
+                ) : (
+                  <ImageUsageMessage
+                    imageUsage={imageUsageSummary}
+                    topMessage={t('boards.topMessage')}
+                    bottomMessage={t('boards.bottomMessage')}
+                  />
+                )}
+                {boardToDelete !== 'none' ? (
+                  <Text>{t('boards.deletedBoardsCannotbeRestored')}</Text>
+                ) : (
+                  <Text>{t('gallery.deleteMediaPermanent')}</Text>
+                )}
+              </Flex>
+            </AlertDialogBody>
+            <AlertDialogFooter>
+              <Flex w="full" gap={2} justifyContent="end">
+                <Button ref={cancelRef} onClick={handleClose}>
+                  {t('boards.cancel')}
                 </Button>
-              )}
-              {boardToDelete !== 'none' && (
-                <Button colorScheme="error" isLoading={isLoading} onClick={handleDeleteBoardAndImages}>
-                  {t('boards.deleteBoardAndAssets')}
+                {boardToDelete !== 'none' && (
+                  <Button colorScheme="warning" isLoading={isLoading} onClick={handleDeleteBoardOnly}>
+                    {t('boards.deleteBoardOnly')}
+                  </Button>
+                )}
+                {boardToDelete !== 'none' && (
+                  <Button colorScheme="error" isLoading={isLoading} onClick={handleDeleteBoardAndMedia}>
+                    {t('boards.deleteBoardAndAssets')}
+                  </Button>
+                )}
+                {boardToDelete === 'none' && (
+                  <Button colorScheme="error" isLoading={isLoading} onClick={handleDeleteUncategorizedMedia}>
+                    {t('boards.deleteAllUncategorizedImages')}
+                  </Button>
+                )}
+              </Flex>
+            </AlertDialogFooter>
+          </AlertDialogContent>
+        </AlertDialogOverlay>
+      </AlertDialog>
+      <AlertDialog
+        isOpen={isStarredConfirmationOpen}
+        onClose={handleCancelStarredDelete}
+        leastDestructiveRef={cancelRef}
+        isCentered
+      >
+        <AlertDialogOverlay>
+          <AlertDialogContent>
+            <AlertDialogHeader fontSize="lg" fontWeight="bold">
+              {t('boards.containsStarredMediaTitle')}
+            </AlertDialogHeader>
+            <AlertDialogBody>
+              <Text>{t('boards.containsStarredMediaConfirm')}</Text>
+            </AlertDialogBody>
+            <AlertDialogFooter>
+              <Flex w="full" gap={2} justifyContent="end">
+                <Button ref={cancelRef} onClick={handleCancelStarredDelete}>
+                  {t('boards.cancel')}
                 </Button>
-              )}
-              {boardToDelete === 'none' && (
-                <Button colorScheme="error" isLoading={isLoading} onClick={handleDeleteUncategorizedMedia}>
-                  {t('boards.deleteAllUncategorizedImages')}
+                <Button colorScheme="error" isLoading={isLoading} onClick={handleConfirmStarredDelete}>
+                  {t('common.delete')}
                 </Button>
-              )}
-            </Flex>
-          </AlertDialogFooter>
-        </AlertDialogContent>
-      </AlertDialogOverlay>
-    </AlertDialog>
+              </Flex>
+            </AlertDialogFooter>
+          </AlertDialogContent>
+        </AlertDialogOverlay>
+      </AlertDialog>
+    </>
   );
 };
 
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.test.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.test.ts
index 4714b263c66..c38f0290c32 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.test.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.test.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { getMediaDeletionSummary } from './getMediaDeletionSummary';
 describe('getMediaDeletionSummary', () => {
   it('reports a complete deletion as successful', () => {
     expect(getMediaDeletionSummary([{ status: 'fulfilled', value: { failed_images: [], failed_videos: [] } }])).toEqual(
-      { failedCount: 0, requestFailed: false }
+      { failedCount: 0, protectedCount: 0, requestFailed: false }
     );
   });
 
@@ -14,7 +14,19 @@ describe('getMediaDeletionSummary', () => {
       getMediaDeletionSummary([
         { status: 'fulfilled', value: { failed_images: ['image.png'], failed_videos: ['video.mp4'] } },
       ])
-    ).toEqual({ failedCount: 2, requestFailed: false });
+    ).toEqual({ failedCount: 2, protectedCount: 0, requestFailed: false });
+  });
+
+  it('counts protected resource and board media separately', () => {
+    expect(
+      getMediaDeletionSummary([
+        { status: 'fulfilled', value: { starred_skipped: ['image.png'] } },
+        {
+          status: 'fulfilled',
+          value: { starred_images_skipped: ['board-image.png'], starred_videos_skipped: ['board-video.mp4'] },
+        },
+      ])
+    ).toEqual({ failedCount: 0, protectedCount: 3, requestFailed: false });
   });
 
   it('reports a rejected image deletion request', () => {
@@ -23,6 +35,6 @@ describe('getMediaDeletionSummary', () => {
         { status: 'rejected', reason: new Error('image delete failed') },
         { status: 'fulfilled', value: { failed_videos: [] } },
       ])
-    ).toEqual({ failedCount: 0, requestFailed: true });
+    ).toEqual({ failedCount: 0, protectedCount: 0, requestFailed: true });
   });
 });
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.ts
index ef02fc28922..8c9b177e793 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/gallery/components/Boards/getMediaDeletionSummary.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 type MediaDeletionResult = {
   failed_images?: readonly string[];
   failed_videos?: readonly string[];
+  starred_skipped?: readonly string[];
+  starred_images_skipped?: readonly string[];
+  starred_videos_skipped?: readonly string[];
 };
 
 export const getMediaDeletionSummary = (results: PromiseSettledResult<MediaDeletionResult>[]) => ({
@@ -11,5 +14,15 @@ export const getMediaDeletionSummary = (results: PromiseSettledResult<MediaDelet
         : count,
     0
   ),
+  protectedCount: results.reduce(
+    (count, result) =>
+      result.status === 'fulfilled'
+        ? count +
+          (result.value.starred_skipped?.length ?? 0) +
+          (result.value.starred_images_skipped?.length ?? 0) +
+          (result.value.starred_videos_skipped?.length ?? 0)
+        : count,
+    0
+  ),
   requestFailed: results.some((result) => result.status === 'rejected'),
 });
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/components/SettingsModal/SettingsModal.tsx b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/components/SettingsModal/SettingsModal.tsx
index 0b5602febcb..0b995df52da 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/components/SettingsModal/SettingsModal.tsx
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/components/SettingsModal/SettingsModal.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import {
   selectSystemShouldEnableHighlightFocusedRegions,
   selectSystemShouldEnableInformationalPopovers,
   selectSystemShouldEnableModelDescriptions,
+  selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia,
   selectSystemShouldShowInvocationProgressDetail,
   selectSystemShouldUseMiddleClickToOpenInNewTab,
   selectSystemShouldUseNSFWChecker,
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ import {
   setShouldEnableInformationalPopovers,
   setShouldEnableModelDescriptions,
   setShouldHighlightFocusedRegions,
+  setShouldProtectStarredMedia,
   setShouldShowInvocationProgressDetail,
   setShouldUseMiddleClickToOpenInNewTab,
   shouldAntialiasProgressImageChanged,
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ const SettingsModal = (props: { children: ReactElement<{ onClick?: () => void }>
   const prefersNumericAttentionWeights = useAppSelector(selectSystemPrefersNumericAttentionWeights);
   const shouldUseCpuNoise = useAppSelector(selectShouldUseCPUNoise);
   const shouldConfirmOnDelete = useAppSelector(selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete);
+  const shouldProtectStarredMedia = useAppSelector(selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia);
   const shouldShowProgressInViewer = useAppSelector(selectShouldShowProgressInViewer);
   const shouldAntialiasProgressImage = useAppSelector(selectSystemShouldAntialiasProgressImage);
   const shouldUseNSFWChecker = useAppSelector(selectSystemShouldUseNSFWChecker);
@@ -187,6 +190,12 @@ const SettingsModal = (props: { children: ReactElement<{ onClick?: () => void }>
     },
     [dispatch]
   );
+  const handleChangeShouldProtectStarredMedia = useCallback(
+    (e: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
+      dispatch(setShouldProtectStarredMedia(e.target.checked));
+    },
+    [dispatch]
+  );
   const handleChangeShouldUseNSFWChecker = useCallback(
     (e: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
       dispatch(shouldUseNSFWCheckerChanged(e.target.checked));
@@ -298,6 +307,10 @@ const SettingsModal = (props: { children: ReactElement<{ onClick?: () => void }>
                       <FormLabel>{t('settings.confirmOnDelete')}</FormLabel>
                       <Switch isChecked={shouldConfirmOnDelete} onChange={handleChangeShouldConfirmOnDelete} />
                     </FormControl>
+                    <FormControl>
+                      <FormLabel>{t('settings.protectStarredMedia')}</FormLabel>
+                      <Switch isChecked={shouldProtectStarredMedia} onChange={handleChangeShouldProtectStarredMedia} />
+                    </FormControl>
                     <FormControl>
                       <FormLabel>{t('settings.confirmOnNewSession')}</FormLabel>
                       <Switch isChecked={shouldConfirmOnNewSession} onChange={onToggleConfirmOnNewSession} />
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/systemSlice.test.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/systemSlice.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..68124fb05eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/systemSlice.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import { systemSliceConfig } from './systemSlice';
+
+describe('systemSliceConfig persisted state migration', () => {
+  const migrate = systemSliceConfig.persistConfig?.migrate;
+
+  it('adds starred media protection disabled when migrating the current main state', () => {
+    expect(migrate).toBeDefined();
+    const state: Record<string, unknown> = {
+      ...systemSliceConfig.getInitialState(),
+      _version: 3,
+    };
+    delete state.shouldProtectStarredMedia;
+
+    const result = migrate?.(state);
+
+    expect(result?._version).toBe(4);
+    expect(result?.shouldProtectStarredMedia).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('preserves the branch-only starred image preference under the media setting', () => {
+    expect(migrate).toBeDefined();
+    const state: Record<string, unknown> = {
+      ...systemSliceConfig.getInitialState(),
+      _version: 4,
+      shouldProtectStarredImages: true,
+    };
+    delete state.shouldProtectStarredMedia;
+
+    const result = migrate?.(state);
+
+    expect(result?._version).toBe(4);
+    expect(result?.shouldProtectStarredMedia).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/systemSlice.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/systemSlice.ts
index f1bc126d877..e0eaa16d832 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/systemSlice.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/systemSlice.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ import { assert } from 'tsafe';
 import { type Language, type SystemState, zSystemState } from './types';
 
 const getInitialState = (): SystemState => ({
-  _version: 3,
+  _version: 4,
   shouldConfirmOnDelete: true,
+  shouldProtectStarredMedia: false,
   shouldAntialiasProgressImage: false,
   shouldConfirmOnNewSession: true,
   language: 'en',
@@ -37,6 +38,9 @@ const slice = createSlice({
     setShouldConfirmOnDelete: (state, action: PayloadAction<boolean>) => {
       state.shouldConfirmOnDelete = action.payload;
     },
+    setShouldProtectStarredMedia: (state, action: PayloadAction<boolean>) => {
+      state.shouldProtectStarredMedia = action.payload;
+    },
     logIsEnabledChanged: (state, action: PayloadAction<SystemState['logIsEnabled']>) => {
       state.logIsEnabled = action.payload;
     },
@@ -88,6 +92,7 @@ const slice = createSlice({
 
 export const {
   setShouldConfirmOnDelete,
+  setShouldProtectStarredMedia,
   logIsEnabledChanged,
   logLevelChanged,
   logNamespaceToggled,
@@ -122,6 +127,14 @@ export const systemSliceConfig: SliceConfig<typeof slice> = {
         state.shouldUseMiddleClickToOpenInNewTab = false;
         state._version = 3;
       }
+      if (state._version === 3) {
+        state.shouldProtectStarredMedia = false;
+        state._version = 4;
+      }
+      if (state._version === 4 && !('shouldProtectStarredMedia' in state)) {
+        const legacyValue = (state as Record<string, unknown>).shouldProtectStarredImages;
+        state.shouldProtectStarredMedia = typeof legacyValue === 'boolean' ? legacyValue : false;
+      }
       return zSystemState.parse(state);
     },
   },
@@ -136,6 +149,7 @@ export const selectSystemLogNamespaces = createSystemSelector((system) =>
 );
 export const selectSystemLogIsEnabled = createSystemSelector((system) => system.logIsEnabled);
 export const selectSystemShouldConfirmOnDelete = createSystemSelector((system) => system.shouldConfirmOnDelete);
+export const selectSystemShouldProtectStarredMedia = createSystemSelector((system) => system.shouldProtectStarredMedia);
 export const selectSystemShouldUseNSFWChecker = createSystemSelector((system) => system.shouldUseNSFWChecker);
 export const selectSystemShouldUseWatermarker = createSystemSelector((system) => system.shouldUseWatermarker);
 export const selectSystemShouldAntialiasProgressImage = createSystemSelector(
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/types.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/types.ts
index 106cb5d7094..ce6f855d86e 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/types.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/features/system/store/types.ts
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ export type Language = z.infer<typeof zLanguage>;
 export const isLanguage = (v: unknown): v is Language => zLanguage.safeParse(v).success;
 
 export const zSystemState = z.object({
-  _version: z.literal(3),
+  _version: z.literal(4),
   shouldConfirmOnDelete: z.boolean(),
+  shouldProtectStarredMedia: z.boolean(),
   shouldAntialiasProgressImage: z.boolean(),
   shouldConfirmOnNewSession: z.boolean(),
   language: zLanguage,
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/boards.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/boards.ts
index 70d1cfda002..a83bccf7bc9 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/boards.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/boards.ts
@@ -152,5 +152,4 @@ export const {
   useGetBoardVideosTotalQuery,
   useCreateBoardMutation,
   useUpdateBoardMutation,
-  useListAllImageNamesForBoardQuery,
 } = boardsApi;
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/images.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/images.ts
index cd4ec8f39b3..7c9fa603e93 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/images.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/images.ts
@@ -107,11 +107,13 @@ export const imagesApi = api.injectEndpoints({
     }),
     deleteImage: build.mutation<
       paths['/api/v1/images/i/{image_name}']['delete']['responses']['200']['content']['application/json'],
-      paths['/api/v1/images/i/{image_name}']['delete']['parameters']['path']
+      paths['/api/v1/images/i/{image_name}']['delete']['parameters']['path'] &
+        NonNullable<paths['/api/v1/images/i/{image_name}']['delete']['parameters']['query']>
     >({
-      query: ({ image_name }) => ({
+      query: ({ image_name, delete_starred }) => ({
         url: buildImagesUrl(`i/${image_name}`),
         method: 'DELETE',
+        params: { delete_starred },
       }),
       invalidatesTags: (result) => {
         if (!result) {
@@ -152,9 +154,9 @@ export const imagesApi = api.injectEndpoints({
     }),
     deleteUncategorizedImages: build.mutation<
       paths['/api/v1/images/uncategorized']['delete']['responses']['200']['content']['application/json'],
-      void
+      NonNullable<paths['/api/v1/images/uncategorized']['delete']['parameters']['query']> | void
     >({
-      query: () => ({ url: buildImagesUrl('uncategorized'), method: 'DELETE' }),
+      query: (params) => ({ url: buildImagesUrl('uncategorized'), method: 'DELETE', params: params ?? undefined }),
       invalidatesTags: (result) => {
         if (!result) {
           return [];
@@ -292,7 +294,8 @@ export const imagesApi = api.injectEndpoints({
     }),
     deleteBoard: build.mutation<
       paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['responses']['200']['content']['application/json'],
-      paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['parameters']['path']
+      paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['parameters']['path'] &
+        NonNullable<paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['parameters']['query']>
     >({
       query: ({ board_id }) => ({ url: buildBoardsUrl(board_id), method: 'DELETE' }),
       invalidatesTags: (result) => [
@@ -327,12 +330,13 @@ export const imagesApi = api.injectEndpoints({
 
     deleteBoardAndImages: build.mutation<
       paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['responses']['200']['content']['application/json'],
-      paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['parameters']['path']
+      paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['parameters']['path'] &
+        NonNullable<paths['/api/v1/boards/{board_id}']['delete']['parameters']['query']>
     >({
-      query: ({ board_id }) => ({
+      query: ({ board_id, delete_starred }) => ({
         url: buildBoardsUrl(board_id),
         method: 'DELETE',
-        params: { include_images: true },
+        params: { include_images: true, delete_starred },
       }),
       // The backend now also cascade-deletes videos on the board, so the unified gallery
       // and the video list both need invalidation in addition to the board tag.
@@ -351,6 +355,8 @@ export const imagesApi = api.injectEndpoints({
         ...getTagsToInvalidateForVideoMutation(result?.deleted_videos ?? []),
         ...getTagsToInvalidateForImageMutation(result?.failed_images ?? []),
         ...getTagsToInvalidateForVideoMutation(result?.failed_videos ?? []),
+        ...getTagsToInvalidateForImageMutation(result?.starred_images_skipped ?? []),
+        ...getTagsToInvalidateForVideoMutation(result?.starred_videos_skipped ?? []),
       ],
     }),
     addImageToBoard: build.mutation<
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/videos.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/videos.ts
index 49043d763a0..efb192016f1 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/videos.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/endpoints/videos.ts
@@ -102,11 +102,13 @@ export const videosApi = api.injectEndpoints({
 
     deleteVideo: build.mutation<
       paths['/api/v1/videos/i/{video_name}']['delete']['responses']['200']['content']['application/json'],
-      paths['/api/v1/videos/i/{video_name}']['delete']['parameters']['path']
+      paths['/api/v1/videos/i/{video_name}']['delete']['parameters']['path'] &
+        NonNullable<paths['/api/v1/videos/i/{video_name}']['delete']['parameters']['query']>
     >({
-      query: ({ video_name }) => ({
+      query: ({ video_name, delete_starred }) => ({
         url: buildVideosUrl(`i/${video_name}`),
         method: 'DELETE',
+        params: { delete_starred },
       }),
       invalidatesTags: (result) => {
         if (!result) {
@@ -149,11 +151,12 @@ export const videosApi = api.injectEndpoints({
      * board action fires both so the polymorphic uncategorized bucket is fully cleared. */
     deleteUncategorizedVideos: build.mutation<
       paths['/api/v1/videos/uncategorized']['delete']['responses']['200']['content']['application/json'],
-      void
+      NonNullable<paths['/api/v1/videos/uncategorized']['delete']['parameters']['query']> | void
     >({
-      query: () => ({
+      query: (params) => ({
         url: buildVideosUrl('uncategorized'),
         method: 'DELETE',
+        params: params ?? undefined,
       }),
       invalidatesTags: (result) => {
         if (!result) {
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/schema.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/schema.ts
index 596472a0d43..ba958db4780 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/schema.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/services/api/schema.ts
@@ -4826,6 +4826,12 @@ export type components = {
              * @description The list of names of images to delete
              */
             image_names: string[];
+            /**
+             * Delete Starred
+             * @description Whether to allow deletion of starred images
+             * @default true
+             */
+            delete_starred?: boolean;
         };
         /** Body_do_hf_login */
         Body_do_hf_login: {
@@ -9028,6 +9034,16 @@ export type components = {
              * @description The names of videos that could not be deleted and became uncategorized.
              */
             failed_videos?: string[];
+            /**
+             * Starred Images Skipped
+             * @description The names of starred images that were protected and became uncategorized.
+             */
+            starred_images_skipped?: string[];
+            /**
+             * Starred Videos Skipped
+             * @description The names of starred videos that were protected and became uncategorized.
+             */
+            starred_videos_skipped?: string[];
         };
         /**
          * DeleteByDestinationResult
@@ -9057,6 +9073,11 @@ export type components = {
              * @description The names of authorized images that could not be deleted
              */
             failed_images?: string[];
+            /**
+             * Starred Skipped
+             * @description The names of starred images that were skipped because deletion protection was enabled
+             */
+            starred_skipped?: string[];
         };
         /**
          * DeleteOrphanedModelsRequest
@@ -9087,6 +9108,20 @@ export type components = {
                 [key: string]: string;
             };
         };
+        /** DeleteVideosBatch */
+        DeleteVideosBatch: {
+            /**
+             * Video Names
+             * @description The list of video names to process
+             */
+            video_names: string[];
+            /**
+             * Delete Starred
+             * @description Whether to allow deletion of starred videos
+             * @default true
+             */
+            delete_starred?: boolean;
+        };
         /** DeleteVideosResult */
         DeleteVideosResult: {
             /**
@@ -9104,6 +9139,11 @@ export type components = {
              * @description The names of videos that were not deleted
              */
             failed_videos: string[];
+            /**
+             * Starred Skipped
+             * @description The names of starred videos that were skipped because deletion protection was enabled
+             */
+            starred_skipped?: string[];
         };
         /**
          * Denoise - SD1.5, SDXL
@@ -42994,7 +43034,10 @@ export interface operations {
     };
     delete_image: {
         parameters: {
-            query?: never;
+            query?: {
+                /** @description Whether to allow deletion of starred images */
+                delete_starred?: boolean;
+            };
             header?: never;
             path: {
                 /** @description The name of the image to delete */
@@ -43354,7 +43397,10 @@ export interface operations {
     };
     delete_uncategorized_images: {
         parameters: {
-            query?: never;
+            query?: {
+                /** @description Whether to allow deletion of starred images */
+                delete_starred?: boolean;
+            };
             header?: never;
             path?: never;
             cookie?: never;
@@ -43370,6 +43416,15 @@ export interface operations {
                     "application/json": components["schemas"]["DeleteImagesResult"];
                 };
             };
+            /** @description Validation Error */
+            422: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["HTTPValidationError"];
+                };
+            };
         };
     };
     star_images_in_list: {
@@ -43670,7 +43725,10 @@ export interface operations {
     };
     delete_video: {
         parameters: {
-            query?: never;
+            query?: {
+                /** @description Whether to allow deletion of starred videos */
+                delete_starred?: boolean;
+            };
             header?: never;
             path: {
                 /** @description The name of the video to delete */
@@ -43745,7 +43803,7 @@ export interface operations {
         };
         requestBody: {
             content: {
-                "application/json": components["schemas"]["VideoNamesBatch"];
+                "application/json": components["schemas"]["DeleteVideosBatch"];
             };
         };
         responses: {
@@ -43771,7 +43829,10 @@ export interface operations {
     };
     delete_uncategorized_videos: {
         parameters: {
-            query?: never;
+            query?: {
+                /** @description Whether to allow deletion of starred videos */
+                delete_starred?: boolean;
+            };
             header?: never;
             path?: never;
             cookie?: never;
@@ -43787,6 +43848,15 @@ export interface operations {
                     "application/json": components["schemas"]["DeleteVideosResult"];
                 };
             };
+            /** @description Validation Error */
+            422: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["HTTPValidationError"];
+                };
+            };
         };
     };
     get_video_metadata: {
@@ -44444,6 +44514,8 @@ export interface operations {
             query?: {
                 /** @description Permanently delete all images and videos on the board */
                 include_images?: boolean | null;
+                /** @description Whether to allow deletion of starred media */
+                delete_starred?: boolean;
             };
             header?: never;
             path: {
diff --git a/tests/app/routers/test_boards_multiuser.py b/tests/app/routers/test_boards_multiuser.py
index f14bdad3814..3a29511669d 100644
--- a/tests/app/routers/test_boards_multiuser.py
+++ b/tests/app/routers/test_boards_multiuser.py
@@ -92,12 +92,12 @@ def enable_multiuser_for_tests(monkeypatch: Any, mock_invoker: Invoker):
     # delete_videos_on_board now returns the authoritative ``deleted_videos`` list (only the
     # videos whose file deletion actually succeeded). Default to an empty list so pydantic
     # validation on ``DeleteBoardResult`` doesn't reject the MagicMock auto-return.
-    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = ([], [])
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = ([], [], [])
     # The images service is a real ImageService instance in mock_services; the delete-board
     # cascade calls ``delete_images_on_board`` on it, which fails without an initialized
     # invoker. Stub it so the multiuser router tests can assert the cascade args.
     mock_invoker.services.images = MagicMock()
-    mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.return_value = ([], [])
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.return_value = ([], [], [])
 
     mock_deps = MockApiDependencies(mock_invoker)
     monkeypatch.setattr("invokeai.app.api.routers.auth.ApiDependencies", mock_deps)
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ def test_delete_board_with_include_images_cascades_videos(client: TestClient, mo
     # The cascade returns the names of videos it actually deleted; the router must surface
     # *that* list (not the pre-delete enumeration) so the response can't claim a video was
     # destroyed when its DB record was preserved due to a file-delete failure.
-    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = (["video_a.mp4", "video_b.mp4"], [])
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = (["video_a.mp4", "video_b.mp4"], [], [])
 
     response = client.delete(
         f"/api/v1/boards/{board_id}?include_images=true",
@@ -753,8 +753,8 @@ def test_delete_board_with_partial_video_file_delete_failure_reports_only_actual
     # The service deleted "good.mp4" successfully but preserved "stuck.mp4" because its
     # file delete failed. The router must NOT claim "stuck.mp4" was deleted, and must
     # report the failure from the service's own accounting (not a racy listing diff).
-    mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.return_value = (["good.png"], ["stuck.png"])
-    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = (["good.mp4"], ["stuck.mp4"])
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.return_value = (["good.png"], ["stuck.png"], [])
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = (["good.mp4"], ["stuck.mp4"], [])
 
     response = client.delete(
         f"/api/v1/boards/{board_id}?include_images=true",
@@ -768,6 +768,41 @@ def test_delete_board_with_partial_video_file_delete_failure_reports_only_actual
     assert body["failed_videos"] == ["stuck.mp4"]
 
 
+def test_delete_board_preserves_starred_media_when_protected(
+    client: TestClient, mock_invoker: Invoker, user1_token: str
+):
+    create = client.post(
+        "/api/v1/boards/?board_name=Protected+Starred+Board",
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user1_token}"},
+    )
+    assert create.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+    board_id = create.json()["board_id"]
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.return_value = (
+        ["normal.png"],
+        [],
+        ["starred.png"],
+    )
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = (
+        ["normal.mp4"],
+        [],
+        ["starred.mp4"],
+    )
+
+    response = client.delete(
+        f"/api/v1/boards/{board_id}?include_images=true&delete_starred=false",
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {user1_token}"},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+    body = response.json()
+    assert body["deleted_images"] == ["normal.png"]
+    assert body["deleted_videos"] == ["normal.mp4"]
+    assert body["starred_images_skipped"] == ["starred.png"]
+    assert body["starred_videos_skipped"] == ["starred.mp4"]
+    assert mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.call_args.kwargs["delete_starred"] is False
+    assert mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.call_args.kwargs["delete_starred"] is False
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("failure_phase", ["videos", "board"])
 def test_delete_board_reports_partial_cascade_completion(
     client: TestClient, mock_invoker: Invoker, user1_token: str, failure_phase: str
@@ -778,8 +813,8 @@ def test_delete_board_reports_partial_cascade_completion(
     )
     assert create.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
     board_id = create.json()["board_id"]
-    mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.return_value = (["deleted.png"], [])
-    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = (["deleted.mp4"], [])
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete_images_on_board.return_value = (["deleted.png"], [], [])
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.return_value = (["deleted.mp4"], [], [])
     if failure_phase == "videos":
         mock_invoker.services.videos.delete_videos_on_board.side_effect = RuntimeError("video delete failed")
 
diff --git a/tests/app/routers/test_images.py b/tests/app/routers/test_images.py
index 1e4270abff7..c5ed5eba34f 100644
--- a/tests/app/routers/test_images.py
+++ b/tests/app/routers/test_images.py
@@ -81,6 +81,130 @@ def prepare_image_maintenance_test(monkeypatch: Any, mock_invoker: Invoker) -> N
     monkeypatch.setattr("invokeai.app.api.auth_dependencies.ApiDependencies", mock_deps)
 
 
+def prepare_starred_delete_test(
+    monkeypatch: Any,
+    mock_invoker: Invoker,
+    starred_names: set[str],
+    board_ids: dict[str, str | None],
+) -> None:
+    mock_deps = MockApiDependencies(mock_invoker)
+    mock_invoker.services.image_moves = MagicMock()
+    mock_invoker.services.image_moves.is_maintenance_active.return_value = False
+    mock_invoker.services.board_image_records = MagicMock()
+    mock_invoker.services.board_image_records.get_board_for_image.side_effect = board_ids.__getitem__
+    mock_invoker.services.board_images = MagicMock()
+    mock_invoker.services.images = MagicMock()
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete.side_effect = (
+        lambda image_name, delete_starred=True: delete_starred or image_name not in starred_names
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr("invokeai.app.api.routers.images.ApiDependencies", mock_deps)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("invokeai.app.api.routers._access.ApiDependencies", mock_deps)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("invokeai.app.api.routers.image_move_maintenance.ApiDependencies", mock_deps)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("invokeai.app.api.auth_dependencies.ApiDependencies", mock_deps)
+
+
+def test_delete_starred_image_is_skipped_when_protected(
+    monkeypatch: Any, mock_invoker: Invoker, client: TestClient
+) -> None:
+    image_name = "starred.png"
+    prepare_starred_delete_test(
+        monkeypatch,
+        mock_invoker,
+        starred_names={image_name},
+        board_ids={image_name: "board-id"},
+    )
+
+    response = client.delete(f"/api/v1/images/i/{image_name}", params={"delete_starred": False})
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json() == {
+        "deleted_images": [],
+        "failed_images": [],
+        "affected_boards": ["board-id"],
+        "starred_skipped": [image_name],
+    }
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete.assert_called_once_with(image_name, delete_starred=False)
+
+
+def test_bulk_delete_only_deletes_unstarred_images_when_protected(
+    monkeypatch: Any, mock_invoker: Invoker, client: TestClient
+) -> None:
+    starred_name = "starred.png"
+    unstarred_name = "unstarred.png"
+    prepare_starred_delete_test(
+        monkeypatch,
+        mock_invoker,
+        starred_names={starred_name},
+        board_ids={starred_name: "board-id", unstarred_name: "board-id"},
+    )
+
+    response = client.post(
+        "/api/v1/images/delete",
+        json={"image_names": [starred_name, unstarred_name], "delete_starred": False},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json() == {
+        "deleted_images": [unstarred_name],
+        "failed_images": [],
+        "affected_boards": ["board-id"],
+        "starred_skipped": [starred_name],
+    }
+    assert mock_invoker.services.images.delete.call_count == 2
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete.assert_any_call(starred_name, delete_starred=False)
+    mock_invoker.services.images.delete.assert_any_call(unstarred_name, delete_starred=False)
+
+
+def test_bulk_delete_deduplicates_image_names(monkeypatch: Any, mock_invoker: Invoker, client: TestClient) -> None:
+    prepare_starred_delete_test(
+        monkeypatch,
+        mock_invoker,
+        starred_names=set(),
+        board_ids={"duplicate.png": "board-id", "other.png": "board-id"},
+    )
+
+    response = client.post(
+        "/api/v1/images/delete",
+        json={"image_names": ["duplicate.png", "duplicate.png", "other.png"]},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert sorted(response.json()["deleted_images"]) == ["duplicate.png", "other.png"]
+    assert response.json()["failed_images"] == []
+    assert [call.args[0] for call in mock_invoker.services.images.delete.call_args_list] == [
+        "duplicate.png",
+        "other.png",
+    ]
+
+
+def test_delete_uncategorized_only_deletes_unstarred_images_when_protected(
+    monkeypatch: Any, mock_invoker: Invoker, client: TestClient
+) -> None:
+    starred_name = "starred.png"
+    unstarred_name = "unstarred.png"
+    prepare_starred_delete_test(
+        monkeypatch,
+        mock_invoker,
+        starred_names={starred_name},
+        board_ids={starred_name: None, unstarred_name: None},
+    )
+    mock_invoker.services.board_images.get_all_board_image_names_for_board.return_value = [
+        starred_name,
+        unstarred_name,
+    ]
+
+    response = client.delete("/api/v1/images/uncategorized", params={"delete_starred": False})
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json() == {
+        "deleted_images": [unstarred_name],
+        "failed_images": [],
+        "affected_boards": ["none"],
+        "starred_skipped": [starred_name],
+    }
+    assert mock_invoker.services.images.delete.call_count == 2
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("method", "path", "json_body"),
     [
diff --git a/tests/app/routers/test_multiuser_authorization.py b/tests/app/routers/test_multiuser_authorization.py
index be5d2a61beb..ec10f009f50 100644
--- a/tests/app/routers/test_multiuser_authorization.py
+++ b/tests/app/routers/test_multiuser_authorization.py
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ def test_delete_uncategorized_reports_owned_images_that_failed(
         monkeypatch.setattr(
             mock_invoker.services.images,
             "delete",
-            MagicMock(side_effect=[None, OSError("file busy")]),
+            MagicMock(side_effect=[True, OSError("file busy")]),
         )
 
         response = client.delete("/api/v1/images/uncategorized", headers=_auth(user1_token))
diff --git a/tests/app/routers/test_videos_multiuser.py b/tests/app/routers/test_videos_multiuser.py
index 8282346b114..6e8f608575d 100644
--- a/tests/app/routers/test_videos_multiuser.py
+++ b/tests/app/routers/test_videos_multiuser.py
@@ -237,9 +237,7 @@ def test_delete_videos_from_list_dedupes_repeated_names(client: TestClient, mock
     ownership bypass), landing the same name in BOTH deleted_videos and failed_videos and
     toasting a spurious partial-failure warning (JPPhoto non-merge-blocker, 2026-07-22).
     """
-    fake_dto = MagicMock()
-    fake_dto.board_id = None
-    mock_invoker.services.videos.get_dto.return_value = fake_dto
+    mock_invoker.services.board_video_records.get_board_for_video.return_value = None
 
     response = client.post(
         "/api/v1/videos/delete",
@@ -256,6 +254,51 @@ def test_delete_videos_from_list_dedupes_repeated_names(client: TestClient, mock
     assert sorted(delete_calls) == ["dup.mp4", "other.mp4"]
 
 
+def test_delete_starred_video_is_skipped_when_protected(client: TestClient, mock_invoker: Invoker, admin_token: str):
+    mock_invoker.services.board_video_records.get_board_for_video.return_value = "board-id"
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete.return_value = False
+
+    response = client.delete(
+        "/api/v1/videos/i/starred.mp4?delete_starred=false",
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {admin_token}"},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+    assert response.json() == {
+        "deleted_videos": [],
+        "failed_videos": [],
+        "affected_boards": ["board-id"],
+        "starred_skipped": ["starred.mp4"],
+    }
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete.assert_called_once_with("starred.mp4", delete_starred=False)
+
+
+def test_bulk_delete_only_deletes_unstarred_videos_when_protected(
+    client: TestClient, mock_invoker: Invoker, admin_token: str
+):
+    mock_invoker.services.board_video_records.get_board_for_video.return_value = None
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete.side_effect = (
+        lambda video_name, delete_starred=True: delete_starred or video_name != "starred.mp4"
+    )
+
+    response = client.post(
+        "/api/v1/videos/delete",
+        json={
+            "video_names": ["starred.mp4", "normal.mp4"],
+            "delete_starred": False,
+        },
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {admin_token}"},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+    assert response.json() == {
+        "deleted_videos": ["normal.mp4"],
+        "failed_videos": [],
+        "affected_boards": ["none"],
+        "starred_skipped": ["starred.mp4"],
+    }
+
+
 def test_video_batch_rejects_too_many_or_overlong_names() -> None:
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
         VideoNamesBatch(video_names=[f"{index}.mp4" for index in range(1001)])
@@ -292,9 +335,7 @@ def fake_get_user_id(video_name: str):
     # fallback path doesn't relax permissions for the foreign video.
     mock_invoker.services.board_video_records.get_board_for_video.return_value = None
 
-    fake_dto = MagicMock()
-    fake_dto.board_id = None
-    mock_invoker.services.videos.get_dto.return_value = fake_dto
+    mock_invoker.services.board_video_records.get_board_for_video.return_value = None
 
     response = client.post(
         "/api/v1/videos/delete",
@@ -913,6 +954,30 @@ def test_delete_uncategorized_videos_deletes_only_owned(client: TestClient, mock
     assert delete_calls == {"mine_a.mp4", "mine_b.mp4"}
 
 
+def test_delete_uncategorized_videos_preserves_starred_when_protected(
+    client: TestClient, mock_invoker: Invoker, admin_token: str
+):
+    names_result = MagicMock()
+    names_result.video_names = ["starred.mp4", "normal.mp4"]
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.get_video_names.return_value = names_result
+    mock_invoker.services.videos.delete.side_effect = (
+        lambda video_name, delete_starred=True: delete_starred or video_name != "starred.mp4"
+    )
+
+    response = client.delete(
+        "/api/v1/videos/uncategorized?delete_starred=false",
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {admin_token}"},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+    assert response.json() == {
+        "deleted_videos": ["normal.mp4"],
+        "failed_videos": [],
+        "affected_boards": ["none"],
+        "starred_skipped": ["starred.mp4"],
+    }
+
+
 def test_delete_uncategorized_videos_requires_auth(enable_multiuser_for_videos: Any, client: TestClient):
     response = client.delete("/api/v1/videos/uncategorized")
     assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
diff --git a/tests/app/services/images/test_images_default.py b/tests/app/services/images/test_images_default.py
index c97916dd139..91adb7e2aca 100644
--- a/tests/app/services/images/test_images_default.py
+++ b/tests/app/services/images/test_images_default.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ def _make_record(
     image_name: str = "abc12345-test.png",
     image_subfolder: str = "",
     is_intermediate: bool = False,
+    starred: bool = False,
 ) -> ImageRecord:
     now = get_iso_timestamp()
     return ImageRecord(
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ def _make_record(
         created_at=now,
         updated_at=now,
         is_intermediate=is_intermediate,
-        starred=False,
+        starred=starred,
         has_workflow=False,
         image_subfolder=image_subfolder,
     )
@@ -223,11 +224,12 @@ def test_record_preserved_when_file_delete_fails(self, image_service: ImageServi
         # File staging succeeds for first, fails for second
         invoker.services.image_files.stage_delete.side_effect = [object(), Exception("disk error")]
 
-        deleted, failed = image_service.delete_images_on_board("board-1")
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = image_service.delete_images_on_board("board-1")
 
         invoker.services.image_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with(["good.png"])
         assert deleted == ["good.png"]
         assert failed == ["bad.png"]
+        assert starred_skipped == []
 
     def test_file_cleanup_failure_does_not_raise(self, image_service: ImageService):
         """File cleanup errors are swallowed, not propagated."""
@@ -238,11 +240,12 @@ def test_file_cleanup_failure_does_not_raise(self, image_service: ImageService):
         invoker.services.image_records.get.return_value = record
         invoker.services.image_files.stage_delete.side_effect = Exception("permission denied")
 
-        deleted, failed = image_service.delete_images_on_board("board-1")
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = image_service.delete_images_on_board("board-1")
 
         invoker.services.image_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with([])
         assert deleted == []
         assert failed == ["img.png"]
+        assert starred_skipped == []
 
     def test_record_lookup_failure_does_not_block_others(self, image_service: ImageService):
         """If getting the record for one image fails, other images are still processed."""
@@ -255,13 +258,14 @@ def test_record_lookup_failure_does_not_block_others(self, image_service: ImageS
         ok_record = _make_record(image_name="ok.png", image_subfolder="")
         invoker.services.image_records.get.side_effect = [Exception("not found"), ok_record]
 
-        deleted, failed = image_service.delete_images_on_board("board-1")
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = image_service.delete_images_on_board("board-1")
 
         # File staging was attempted for the second image only
         invoker.services.image_files.stage_delete.assert_called_once_with("ok.png", image_subfolder="")
         invoker.services.image_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with(["ok.png"])
         assert deleted == ["ok.png"]
         assert failed == ["missing.png"]
+        assert starred_skipped == []
 
     def test_database_failure_restores_staged_files(self, image_service: ImageService):
         invoker = image_service._ImageService__invoker  # type: ignore
@@ -276,3 +280,54 @@ def test_database_failure_restores_staged_files(self, image_service: ImageServic
 
         invoker.services.image_files.rollback_delete.assert_called_once_with(token)
         invoker.services.image_files.commit_delete.assert_not_called()
+
+
+class TestStarredProtection:
+    def test_single_starred_image_is_deleted_by_default(self, image_service: ImageService):
+        invoker = image_service._ImageService__invoker  # type: ignore
+        invoker.services.image_records.get.return_value = _make_record(starred=True)
+
+        was_deleted = image_service.delete("starred.png")
+
+        assert was_deleted is True
+        invoker.services.image_files.delete.assert_called_once()
+        invoker.services.image_records.delete.assert_called_once_with("starred.png")
+
+    def test_single_starred_image_is_preserved(self, image_service: ImageService):
+        invoker = image_service._ImageService__invoker  # type: ignore
+        invoker.services.image_records.get.return_value = _make_record(starred=True)
+
+        was_deleted = image_service.delete("starred.png", delete_starred=False)
+
+        assert was_deleted is False
+        invoker.services.image_files.delete.assert_not_called()
+        invoker.services.image_records.delete.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_single_unstarred_image_is_deleted_when_protected(self, image_service: ImageService):
+        invoker = image_service._ImageService__invoker  # type: ignore
+        invoker.services.image_records.get.return_value = _make_record(starred=False)
+
+        was_deleted = image_service.delete("normal.png", delete_starred=False)
+
+        assert was_deleted is True
+        invoker.services.image_files.delete.assert_called_once()
+        invoker.services.image_records.delete.assert_called_once_with("normal.png")
+
+    def test_board_delete_reports_protected_starred_images(self, image_service: ImageService):
+        invoker = image_service._ImageService__invoker  # type: ignore
+        invoker.services.board_image_records.get_all_board_image_names_for_board.return_value = [
+            "starred.png",
+            "normal.png",
+        ]
+        invoker.services.image_records.get.side_effect = [
+            _make_record(image_name="starred.png", starred=True),
+            _make_record(image_name="normal.png", starred=False),
+        ]
+
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = image_service.delete_images_on_board("board-1", delete_starred=False)
+
+        assert deleted == ["normal.png"]
+        assert failed == []
+        assert starred_skipped == ["starred.png"]
+        invoker.services.image_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with(["normal.png"])
+        invoker.services.image_files.stage_delete.assert_called_once_with("normal.png", image_subfolder="")
diff --git a/tests/app/services/videos/test_videos_default.py b/tests/app/services/videos/test_videos_default.py
index 6cef061522d..292fc46b694 100644
--- a/tests/app/services/videos/test_videos_default.py
+++ b/tests/app/services/videos/test_videos_default.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from invokeai.app.util.misc import get_iso_timestamp
 
 
-def _make_record(video_name: str = "abc.mp4", video_subfolder: str = "") -> VideoRecord:
+def _make_record(video_name: str = "abc.mp4", video_subfolder: str = "", starred: bool = False) -> VideoRecord:
     now = get_iso_timestamp()
     return VideoRecord(
         video_name=video_name,
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def _make_record(video_name: str = "abc.mp4", video_subfolder: str = "") -> Vide
         created_at=now,
         updated_at=now,
         is_intermediate=False,
-        starred=False,
+        starred=starred,
         has_workflow=False,
         video_subfolder=video_subfolder,
     )
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def test_record_preserved_when_file_delete_fails(self, video_service: VideoServi
         ]
         invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete.side_effect = [object(), Exception("disk error")]
 
-        deleted, failed = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
 
         # Only the video whose file we successfully removed should have its record deleted.
         invoker.services.video_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with(["good.mp4"])
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ def test_record_preserved_when_file_delete_fails(self, video_service: VideoServi
         # and can report the failure without racily diffing a board listing.
         assert deleted == ["good.mp4"]
         assert failed == ["bad.mp4"]
+        assert starred_skipped == []
 
     def test_file_cleanup_failure_does_not_raise(self, video_service: VideoService):
         """A single file-delete failure must not surface as a 500 to the user — the rest of
@@ -80,12 +81,13 @@ def test_file_cleanup_failure_does_not_raise(self, video_service: VideoService):
         invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete.side_effect = Exception("permission denied")
 
         # Should not raise
-        deleted, failed = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
 
         # And the failing video's record must be preserved.
         invoker.services.video_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with([])
         assert deleted == []
         assert failed == ["v.mp4"]
+        assert starred_skipped == []
 
     def test_all_records_deleted_on_full_success(self, video_service: VideoService):
         invoker = video_service._VideoService__invoker  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
@@ -99,11 +101,12 @@ def test_all_records_deleted_on_full_success(self, video_service: VideoService):
         ]
         invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete.side_effect = [object(), object()]
 
-        deleted, failed = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
 
         invoker.services.video_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with(["a.mp4", "b.mp4"])
         assert deleted == ["a.mp4", "b.mp4"]
         assert failed == []
+        assert starred_skipped == []
 
     def test_staging_cleanup_failure_is_deferred_after_records_are_deleted(self, video_service: VideoService):
         invoker = video_service._VideoService__invoker  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
@@ -112,10 +115,11 @@ def test_staging_cleanup_failure_is_deferred_after_records_are_deleted(self, vid
         invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete.return_value = object()
         invoker.services.video_files.commit_delete.side_effect = OSError("staging directory busy")
 
-        deleted, failed = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1")
 
         assert deleted == ["v.mp4"]
         assert failed == []
+        assert starred_skipped == []
         invoker.services.video_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with(["v.mp4"])
         invoker.services.logger.error.assert_called()
 
@@ -149,6 +153,46 @@ def test_single_delete_rolls_files_back_when_record_delete_fails(self, video_ser
         invoker.services.video_files.rollback_delete.assert_called_once()
         invoker.services.video_files.commit_delete.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_single_starred_video_is_deleted_by_default(self, video_service: VideoService):
+        invoker = video_service._VideoService__invoker  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        invoker.services.video_records.get.return_value = _make_record(starred=True)
+
+        was_deleted = video_service.delete("starred.mp4")
+
+        assert was_deleted is True
+        invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete.assert_called_once_with("starred.mp4", video_subfolder="")
+        invoker.services.video_records.delete.assert_called_once_with("starred.mp4")
+        invoker.services.video_files.commit_delete.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_single_starred_video_is_preserved(self, video_service: VideoService):
+        invoker = video_service._VideoService__invoker  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        invoker.services.video_records.get.return_value = _make_record(starred=True)
+
+        was_deleted = video_service.delete("starred.mp4", delete_starred=False)
+
+        assert was_deleted is False
+        invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete.assert_not_called()
+        invoker.services.video_records.delete.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_board_delete_reports_protected_starred_videos(self, video_service: VideoService):
+        invoker = video_service._VideoService__invoker  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        invoker.services.board_video_records.get_all_board_video_names_for_board.return_value = [
+            "starred.mp4",
+            "normal.mp4",
+        ]
+        invoker.services.video_records.get.side_effect = [
+            _make_record(video_name="starred.mp4", starred=True),
+            _make_record(video_name="normal.mp4", starred=False),
+        ]
+
+        deleted, failed, starred_skipped = video_service.delete_videos_on_board("board-1", delete_starred=False)
+
+        assert deleted == ["normal.mp4"]
+        assert failed == []
+        assert starred_skipped == ["starred.mp4"]
+        invoker.services.video_records.delete_many.assert_called_once_with(["normal.mp4"])
+        invoker.services.video_files.stage_delete.assert_called_once_with("normal.mp4", video_subfolder="")
+
 
 class TestCreateRollback:
     """Per JPPhoto's PR review (May 22 follow-up): if the video file save fails after the DB