Abstract: Example embodiments relate to automatic WORM-retention state transitions. In example embodiments, a storage computing device may detect a request to access, via a file system, a file that is associated with a first retention state. The first retention state may indicate either a first type of WORM-retention protection for the file or no WORM-retention protection for the file. The storage computing device may determine, in response to the request, that the file should be designated with a second retention state. The second retention state may indicate a second type of WORM-retention protection for the file. The determination may be based on a retention policy file that is tightly integrated with the file system and metadata of the file. The storage computing device may transition the file (e.g., by communicating with the file system) to be associated with the second retention state instead of the first retention state.