Deleting your AWS account can seem like a daunting process due to its complexity, but it’s manageable if you follow the steps carefully. This guide will help you delete your AWS account and explain some key considerations before you proceed.
Quick Steps to Delete Your AWS Account
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sign in to the AWS Management Console as the root user |
| 2 | Go to the “Account” section in the Management Console |
| 3 | Click “Close Account” on the Account page |
| 4 | Confirm the closure by entering your account ID |
| 5 | Check your email for a closure confirmation |
Detailed Steps to Delete Your AWS Account
1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console as the Root User
Begin by visiting the AWS Management Console at AWS Management Console. You must sign in as the root user (the email address you used to create the account). Unfortunately, IAM users or roles cannot perform account closures.
2. Navigate to the “Account” Section
Once signed in, locate your account name or number at the upper-right corner of the console, click on it, and select “Account.” This will take you to the Account settings page where you can manage all aspects of your AWS account.
3. Click “Close Account”
Scroll down to find the Close Account option at the bottom of the Account settings page. Click the Close Account button to initiate the process.
4. Confirm Account Closure
In the closure window, you will need to enter your AWS Account ID to confirm that you have read and understood the process. After entering the information, click on Close Account to finalize the request.
5. Check Your Email for Confirmation
AWS will send you an email confirmation within a few minutes of closing your account. The email will be sent to the root user’s email address, confirming that the account has been successfully closed.
Things to Consider Before Closing Your AWS Account
Before deleting your AWS account, it’s crucial to understand the consequences:
- Outstanding Bills: You will remain responsible for all unpaid fees and charges for services consumed before closing the account. AWS will send you a final bill for the usage incurred before the closure.
- 90-Day Reopen Period: After account closure, you have 90 days to reopen the account. During this period, you can still log in to view billing information or access support, but all services and resources will be suspended.
- Data Backup: Before deleting your account, ensure that you have backed up any data or resources you need, as all active resources will be stopped once the account is closed.
- Billing Plans: Any outstanding Reserved Instances or Savings Plans will continue to be billed until they expire, even after closing the account.
About AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud services platform offering a wide range of services, including computing power, storage, and networking, to individuals and companies. AWS is used by many businesses to build, scale, and manage applications on the cloud.
Conclusion
Deleting your AWS account is permanent, and it comes with several important considerations. Ensure that you understand the implications, especially regarding any outstanding charges, billing cycles, or data you wish to preserve. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily and securely close your AWS account when the time comes.
Disclaimer
This guide provides instructions for deleting your AWS account. Be sure to consult AWS’s terms of service and privacy policy before proceeding, as they may update their guidelines at any time.