Account Management:Delete an Alibaba Cloud account

This topic describes the process of and procedure for deleting an Alibaba Cloud account.

Process

1. The owner of an Alibaba Cloud account initiates a request for account deletion. The system performs security authentication to verify the identity of the owner.

2. The system checks whether the account meets the conditions for deletion. An account can be deleted only if it meets the conditions for deletion.

3. If the account does not meet the conditions for deletion, the deletion request fails and the system returns a message that indicates the failure cause.

4. If the account meets the conditions for deletion, the system checks whether the account can be immediately deleted.

5. If the account meets the conditions for immediate deletion, the system deletes the account.

6. If the account does not meet the conditions for immediate deletion, the system creates a deletion task and the account enters a mute period. After the mute period ends, the system deletes the account.

7. The account is deleted. After the account is deleted, the system sends an email to notify the account owner of the successful deletion.

Procedure

1. Go to the Security Settings page in the Account Center console. On the Security Settings page, click Delete Account.

2. In the Identity Verify dialog box, enter the required information to complete identity verification. We recommend that you use a mobile number to complete identity verification. You can also use another method to complete identity verification. The available verification methods are displayed on the page.

3. Read the usage notes and the Deletion Agreement for Alibaba Cloud Accounts to which the link is directed. If you are sure that you want to delete your account, select I understand 《Deletion Agreement for Alibaba Cloud Accounts》 and click Next.

4. The system checks whether the account meets the conditions for deletion. The check takes 3 to 5 minutes.

5. After the check is passed, a message appears, which indicates that the account can be deleted. Click Confirm Deletion.

6. In the message that appears, click Confirm Deletion.

   Warning

   When the account is being deleted, do not perform other operations during this period. Otherwise, the account may fail to be deleted.

   In Step 5, if the system finds that one or more resources exist or one or more services are running within the account, you must manually release the resources or services before you can proceed. Alternatively, select the resources or services and click Discard or Release Selected Resources.

   Important

   If an account has a resource or service that needs to be manually released, you cannot delete the account. Before you can delete the account, you must release the service or resource.

   If an account is associated with a pay-as-you-go resource or service, you can renounce the resource or service. Then, the resource or service is released when the account is deleted.

7. After you manually release the resource or service, the system checks the account again. If the check is passed, you can delete the account.

8. The account enters a mute period.

   Important

   If your account has a pay-as-you-go instance within the previous month, the account enters a mute period after you submit the deletion request. After the mute period ends, the system automatically deletes the account.

9. During the mute period of the account, you can log on to the Alibaba Cloud official website to view the expected deletion time.