You can enable auto-renewal for subscription ApsaraDB RDS instances to avoid manual renewal and prevent service interruptions caused by expired instances. When auto-renewal is enabled, the system automatically deducts the renewal fee and extends the instance validity before expiration.
Pay-as-you-go and Serverless instances do not have an expiration time and are not subject to renewal.
Overview
Auto-renewal automatically extends the validity of a subscription instance before it expires. The system attempts to deduct the renewal fee from your account balance at a scheduled time prior to the expiration date. If the deduction succeeds, the instance continues to run without interruption.
Auto-renewal is suitable for production instances that need to remain available continuously without manual intervention. If you are running short-term test workloads, evaluating the service, or need to review costs before each billing cycle, manual renewal may be a better choice.
When to use auto-renewal versus manual renewal
Choose the renewal method based on your workload characteristics:
Auto-renewal (recommended for production) — Use for stable, long-running production workloads where service continuity is critical. Auto-renewal ensures your instance remains available without requiring manual action before each expiration date.
Manual renewal — Use for temporary workloads, evaluation environments, or when you need to review instance specifications and costs before each billing cycle. Manual renewal gives you full control over whether and when to extend the subscription.
You can switch between auto-renewal and manual renewal at any time through the Renewal Management page.
Considerations
Before you enable auto-renewal, consider the following:
Deduction schedule — The first deduction attempt occurs at 08:00 on the 3rd day before the instance expires. If the deduction fails, the system attempts once per day for the next 2 days (up to 3 attempts total). Ensure your Alibaba Cloud account has sufficient balance.
Effective time — Auto-renewal takes effect the next day after it is enabled. If the instance is due to expire the next day, manually renew the instance to avoid service interruption.
Manual renewal during the deduction period — If you manually renew the instance before the auto-renewal deduction period, the system attempts auto-renewal before the next expiration date.
If all three automatic deduction attempts fail, renew your instance manually to avoid service suspension and potential data loss.
Enable auto-renewal when purchasing an instance
When purchasing a subscription instance, you can select Enable Auto-renewal. The default auto-renewal period matches your purchase cycle: a monthly purchase defaults to a 1-month renewal period, and a yearly purchase defaults to a 1-year renewal period. You can modify the auto-renewal period after purchase.
For example, if you purchase a 6-month instance with auto-renewal enabled, the default auto-renewal period is 1 month, meaning the system will auto-renew for 1 month when the instance is about to expire.
Enable auto-renewal after purchase
Log on to the RDS console.
In the upper-right corner of the RDS console, move the pointer over the Billing Management icon and click Renewal Management to go to the Renewal Management page.
Use the search and filter features to find the target instance in the Manual Renewal or Non-Renewal tab. You can enable auto-renewal for a single instance or in bulk:
To enable auto-renewal for a single instance
Click Set Auto Renewal on the right side of the instance.
In the dialog box that appears, select the Auto Renewal Period and click Set Auto Renewal.
After auto-renewal is enabled, the system automatically renews the instance based on the renewal period you selected. For example, if you select a 3-month auto-renewal period, each auto-renewal will charge for 3 months. The instance appears in the Auto Renewal tab after the setting takes effect.
To enable auto-renewal in bulk
Select the target instances and click Set Auto Renewal below the list.
In the dialog box that appears, select the Auto Renewal Period and click Set Auto Renewal.
The selected instances appear in the Auto Renewal tab after the setting takes effect.
Modify the auto-renewal period
On the Renewal Management page, find the target instance in the Auto Renewal tab and click Modify Auto Renewal.
In the dialog box that appears, modify the auto-renewal period and click OK.
The auto-renewal period is updated immediately. Future renewal charges will be based on the new period you specified.
Disable auto-renewal
On the Renewal Management page, find the target instance in the Auto Renewal tab and click Disable Auto Renewal or Switch to Manual Renewal.
In the dialog box that appears, click OK.
The instance moves from the Auto Renewal tab to the Manual Renewal tab. The system no longer attempts automatic renewal for this instance. You must manually renew the instance before it expires to avoid service interruption.
FAQ
Why does the expiration time not update immediately in the console after RDS instance renewal?
The expiration time of an instance is displayed in the instance list of the RDS console and on the Renewal Management page in Billing Management. The expiration time is updated after a manual or automatic renewal succeeds.
Cause: The console page has caching or data display delay.
Solution: Wait a moment and refresh the page, or log out and log back into the console to view the updated information.
Verification: Go to the page, locate your instance ID, and check the order status. If the order status shows success, the renewal has taken effect and the expiration time has been updated.
Why can't I enjoy new-purchase discounts or why does the price increase significantly upon renewal?
New-purchase discount limitations: Promotional discounts (such as first-purchase offers for new users) are typically limited to initial purchases only. Renewal is considered resource continuation and does not qualify for new-purchase promotions. Consider checking for existing-user promotions, renewal coupons, or purchasing savings plans and resource packages to offset renewal costs.
Historical specification instances: Some historical specification instances do not support direct conversion to pay-as-you-go billing or changing the billing method. If you need to adjust the configuration or reduce costs, we recommend purchasing a new instance with the desired specification, using Data Transmission Service (DTS) to migrate your data, and then unsubscribing from the old instance.
Does the RDS instance support delayed release?
RDS instances do not directly support delayed release. After an instance expires and is released, it cannot be recovered. To prevent unintended release, we recommend enabling auto-renewal or setting a reminder to manually renew before expiration.
Does the RDS instance support short-term renewal?
7-day renewal: You can renew the instance for 7 days. If this option is not visible on the interface, try the standard renewal process.
Convert to pay-as-you-go: Before the instance expires, you can convert the billing method from subscription to pay-as-you-go. Any remaining balance will be refunded to the original payment method. Note that pay-as-you-go instances are billed hourly, and you must ensure your account is not in arrears.
Will the connection address change after renewal?
No. After the instance is renewed, the connection address (endpoint) remains unchanged.