Expiration and release
What happens after my subscription ECS instance expires?
After a subscription ECS instance expires, it enters the Expired But Not Released state and stops running. The instance remains in this state for up to 15 days. During this period, disk data is retained and you can renew the instance to restore it.
Local disk data is deleted when the instance enters the reclamation period.
If you do not renew within 15 days, the instance and all its data are permanently released 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 instance, and click Renew.
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, you can 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 with the instance. After the instance is released, you continue to pay for snapshot storage based on capacity. See Snapshot billing.
To stop these charges, delete the snapshot.
Deleted snapshots cannot be recovered. Back up any needed data 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, use one of these options:
|
Option |
Steps |
|
Short-term renewal |
Renew the instance for a short period (for example, seven days), download the data locally, then request a refund. |
|
Custom image |
Create a custom image from the instance and use it to launch new instances later. |
To stop using this account entirely, export the image to OSS, download it locally, or share it with another account.
-
Creating and exporting custom images incurs fees. Delete unneeded images.
-
Alibaba Cloud cannot temporarily recover an expired instance. Renew for a short period instead.
-
If you do not renew within 15 days of expiration, the instance and its data are permanently released and cannot be recovered.
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. 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 billed on a pay-as-you-go basis and deducted from your account balance. If the balance is depleted, an overdue payment occurs.
To resolve this, go to Expenses and Costs and top up your account to clear the overdue amount.
Refunds for real-time downgrades
How are refunds calculated for a real-time downgrade?
The refund method depends on the payment currency:
|
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 instance cost linearly over the 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 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 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 configuration price was adjusted before 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 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, unsubscribed resources and released balances cannot be recovered.