Expiration and release
What happens after my subscription ECS instance expires?
After a subscription Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance expires, it enters the Expired But Not Released state and stops running. The instance stays in this state for up to 15 days. During this period, data on its disks is retained, and you can renew the instance to bring it back online.
Data on local disks is deleted once the instance enters the reclamation period.
If you do not renew the instance within 15 days, both the instance and all its data are permanently released and deleted starting at 00:00 on the 16th day.
How do I renew an expiring instance after I receive a reminder?
Log on to the Renew page with the username from the text message. On the Manual Renewal tab, filter by ECS (Subscription) - International Site, find the target instance, click Renew, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Data backup after expiration
Can I get an extension before my expired instance is released?
Yes. If your instance is in the Expired But Not Released state and you have not backed up its data, request a one-day extension.
Why am I still being charged after my ECS instance expired?
Snapshots. ECS snapshots are billed independently and are not released when the instance is released. After the instance is gone, you continue to pay for snapshot storage based on capacity. For details, see Snapshot billing.
To stop these charges, delete the snapshot.
Snapshots cannot be recovered after deletion. Back up any data you need before deleting a snapshot.
How do I back up data from an expired instance before it is released?
If the instance is in the Expired But Not Released state and you need the data but do not plan to renew, choose one of these options:
| Option | Steps |
|---|---|
| Short-term renewal | Renew the instance for a brief period (for example, seven days), download the data to your local machine, then request a refund. |
| Custom image | Create a custom image from the instance and use it to launch new instances later. See Create a custom image from an instance. |
If you plan to stop using this account entirely, export the image to OSS, download it locally, or share it with another account. See Export a custom image and Share a custom image.
Creating and exporting custom images incurs fees. Delete images you no longer need.
Alibaba Cloud cannot temporarily recover an expired instance for you. Renew the instance for a short period instead.
If you do not renew within 15 days of expiration, the instance is released and its data cannot be recovered or downloaded.
Renewal issues
What does "Your account is abnormal" mean when I try to renew?
This error indicates a security risk on your account. The account cannot be renewed or unblocked. Create a snapshot immediately to back up your instance data. For instructions, see Create a snapshot. Contact customer service for details about the security risk.
Why does my subscription instance generate pay-as-you-go charges?
The Bandwidth Billing Method is set to Pay-by-traffic. Traffic-based bandwidth is a pay-as-you-go charge deducted from your account balance. If the balance runs out, an overdue payment occurs.
To resolve this, go to Expenses and Costs, top up your account, and clear the overdue amount.
Refunds for real-time downgrades
How are refunds calculated for a real-time downgrade?
The refund method depends on the currency used to pay:
| Payment currency | Refund method |
|---|---|
| USD | Price difference-based method |
| Local currency (for example, MYR) | Ratio-based method |
Key concepts
Remaining value -- Alibaba Cloud amortizes the cost of an instance linearly over its subscription period. The unused portion at any point is the remaining value. For example, if you pay 30 USD for a 30-day instance and unsubscribe after 10 days, the remaining value is 20 USD.
Lifecycle unchanged -- A real-time downgrade does not change the instance lifecycle. The expiration date stays the same.
Currency consistency required -- If the currencies used for the initial purchase and a later upgrade differ, real-time downgrade is not supported.
When you pay in a local currency, the USD order amount is converted at the exchange rate in effect at the time of payment. The ratio-based method uses this original exchange rate to calculate the refund, protecting you from exchange rate fluctuations between the purchase date and the downgrade date.
Price difference-based method (USD)
Example 1: Simple downgrade
On day 1, you purchase Instance A at 1 USD/day for 30 days, paying 30 USD total. On day 11, you downgrade to a configuration priced at 0.5 USD/day.
Remaining value (M) of Instance A: M = 30 USD x (30 - 10) / 30 = 20 USD
Cost of the new configuration (N) for the remaining 20 days: N = 0.5 USD/day x 20 days = 10 USD
Refund: Refund = M - N = 20 - 10 = 10 USD
Example 2: Upgrade, then downgrade
On day 1, you purchase Instance B at 1 USD/day for 30 days, paying 30 USD. On day 11, you upgrade to 2 USD/day and pay the price difference:
P = (2 - 1) x 20 days = 20 USD
On day 21, you downgrade to 0.5 USD/day.
Remaining value (M) of Instance B (two parts because of the earlier upgrade):
From the initial purchase: M1 = 30 x (30 - 20) / 30 = 10 USD
From the upgrade: M2 = 20 x (20 - 10) / 20 = 10 USD
Total: M = M1 + M2 = 20 USD
Cost of the new configuration (N) for the remaining 10 days: N = 0.5 x 10 = 5 USD
Refund: Refund = M - N = 20 - 5 = 15 USD
Ratio-based method (local currency)
Example 1: Simple downgrade (MYR)
On day 1, you purchase Instance A at 1 USD/day for 30 days (order value: 30 USD). The USD-to-MYR exchange rate is 1:10, so you pay 300 MYR. On day 11, you downgrade to 0.5 USD/day.
Remaining value (M): M = 300 MYR x (30 - 10) / 30 = 200 MYR
Refund proportion (R): R = (1 - 0.5) / 1 = 1/2
Refund: Refund = M x R = 200 x 1/2 = 100 MYR
Example 2: Upgrade, then downgrade (MYR)
On day 1, you purchase Instance B at 1 USD/day for 30 days. The exchange rate is 1:10, so you pay 300 MYR. On day 11, you upgrade to 2 USD/day. The exchange rate is now 1:11. You pay the price difference:
P = (2 - 1) x 20 x 11 = 220 MYR
On day 21, you downgrade to 0.5 USD/day.
Remaining value (M) -- two parts because of the earlier upgrade:
From the initial purchase: M1 = 30 x (30 - 20) / 30 x 10 = 100 MYR
From the upgrade: M2 = 20 x (20 - 10) / 20 x 11 = 110 MYR
Total: M = M1 + M2 = 210 MYR
Refund proportion (R): R = (2 - 0.5) / 2 = 3/4
Refund: Refund = M1 x R + M2 x R = 100 x 3/4 + 110 x 3/4 = 157.5 MYR
Why is my actual refund less than what I calculated?
Two common reasons: you received a discount on the initial purchase, or the original configuration price was adjusted at the time of the downgrade.
Example: You purchase an instance at 1 USD/day for 30 days with a USD-to-MYR rate of 1:10, paying 300 MYR. On day 11, you downgrade to 0.5 USD/day. You expect a refund of 100 MYR based on the original 1 USD/day price. However, the price was adjusted to 0.7 USD/day:
Remaining value (M): M = 300 MYR x (30 - 10) / 30 = 200 MYR
Refund proportion (R): R = (0.7 - 0.5) / 1 = 1/5
Actual refund: Refund = 200 x 1/5 = 40 MYR (not 100 MYR)
Account closure
Can I recover ECS data after closing my Alibaba Cloud account?
No. If you choose to release resources when closing your account, the instances do not enter the Expired state and their data cannot be recovered. After the account enters the quiescent period of the closure process, unsubscribed resources and released balances cannot be recovered.
For details, see Close your Alibaba Cloud account.