This topic describes how to switch the billing method of a disk. You can switch the billing method of your disk to suit your usage requirements. The billing methods of data disks attached to subscription instances can be configured. The billing methods of system disks and data disks attached to pay-as-you-go instances can only be switched when you switch the billing method of the entire instance.

Prerequisites

The disk is attached to an instance, and the instance is in the Running or Stopped state.

Background information

Switching method

Billing method of the instance Billing method of the disk Switching method Billed
Subscription System disk: subscription You can only switch the billing method of the disk when you switch the billing method of the entire instance. For more information, see Change the billing method of an instance from subscription to pay-as-you-go. No
Data disk: subscription Switch the billing method from subscription to pay-as-you-go (refer to the procedures in this topic) No
Data disk: pay-as-you-go Switch the billing method from pay-as-you-go to subscription (refer to the procedures in this topic) Yes
Pay-as-you-go System disk: pay-as-you-go You can only switch the billing method of the disk when you switch the billing method of the entire instance. For more information, see Change the billing method of an ECS instance from pay-as-you-go to subscription. Yes
Data disk: pay-as-you-go

Notes

  • Alibaba Cloud calculates whether the billing method of your ECS instance can be switched based on your usage of the instance. You can perform the operations described in this topic to check whether the ECS console displays an entry point to switch the billing method of your instance. If the entry point is not displayed in the console, the billing method of your instance cannot be switched.
  • You cannot switch the billing method within 5 minutes of a successful switch.

Switch the billing method from subscription to pay-as-you-go

This section describes how to switch the billing method of a data disk attached to a subscription instance from subscription to pay-as-you-go.

Note You may receive a refund when you use the configuration downgrade feature to switch the billing method of a data disk from subscription to pay-as-you-go. The refund amount is the difference between the price of the new configurations and the remaining price of the original configurations before the configuration downgrade.
  1. Log on to the ECS console.
  2. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
  3. Choose one of the following methods to switch the billing methods of your disks:
    • If you want to switch the billing methods of multiple data disks that are attached to the same instance, we recommend that you perform the operations on the Instances page.
      1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Instances & Images > Instances.
      2. Find the instance to which the disks are attached and click Upgrade/Downgrade in the Actions column.
      3. In the Upgrade/Downgrade Wizard dialog box, choose Downgrade > Disk Billing Method to Pay-as-you-go, and click Continue.
      4. On the Downgrade page, click the Disk Charge Type tab.
      5. Select the subscription data disk of which you want to switch the billing method.
    • If you want to switch the billing method of a specific data disk, we recommend that you perform the operations on the Disks page.
      1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Storage & Snapshots > Disks.
      2. Find the disk of which you want to switch the billing method. In the Actions column, choose More > Switch to Pay-As-You-Go.
  4. Read and select ECS Service Terms, and then click Downgrade Now.
    By default, after the billing method of a disk is switched to pay-as-you-go, the disk is retained after the instance to which the disk is attached is released. You can configure whether the disk is released together with the corresponding instance in the ECS console. For more information, see Release a disk.

Switch the billing method from pay-as-you-go to subscription

This section describes how to switch the billing method of a data disk attached to a subscription instance from pay-as-you-go to subscription.

  1. Log on to the ECS console.
  2. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
  3. Choose one of the following methods to switch the billing methods of your disks:
    • If you want to switch the billing methods of multiple data disks that are attached to the same instance, we recommend that you perform the operations on the Instances page.
      1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Instances & Images > Instances.
      2. Find the instance to which the disks are attached and click Upgrade/Downgrade in the Actions column.
      3. In the Upgrade/Downgrade Wizard dialog box, select Upgrade and click Continue.
      4. In the Disk payment method section of the Upgrade page, select the subscription data disk of which you want to switch the billing method.
    • If you want to switch the billing method of a specific data disk, we recommend that you perform the operations on the Disks page.
      1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Storage & Snapshots > Disks.
      2. Find the disk of which you want to switch the billing method. In the Actions column, choose More > Switch to Subscription.
      3. In the Disk Payment Method section, view the disk information that is selected by default.
  4. Read the notice, read and select ECS Service Terms, and then click Create Order.
  5. Complete the payment and confirm that the billing method of the disk is switched to subscription.