If you want to continue using your subscription ECS instance, you can renew it at any time before it expires. A renewal extends the service period of the instance and prevents it from being released. This topic describes how to renew an ECS instance.
You can choose a renewal method based on your needs at different stages of the instance lifecycle, such as creation, expiration, or release.
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Expiration: The last day the instance is available. If you successfully renew the instance, its expiration date is extended.
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Release: If you do not renew an instance within 15 days after it expires, the instance and its data are released at 00:00 on the 16th day.
Manual renewal
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Renew from the console: This recommended method offers comprehensive features.
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Renew from the Alibaba Cloud app: This method is convenient but does not support enabling or disabling auto-renewal during the renewal process.
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Renew using an API: This method does not support enabling or disabling auto-renewal during the renewal process.
Console
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Go to the Instances page in the ECS console. In the top menu bar, select your instance's region.
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On the Instances page, find the instance to renew, go to the instance details page, and then click Renew below the Expiration Time field. Follow the on-screen instructions to select a renewal duration and complete the payment.
You can renew multiple instances at once.
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To renew multiple instances in the same region, select the instances from the instance list. At the bottom of the list, choose More > billing > Renew.
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To renew multiple instances across different regions, go to the Renewal Management page. On the Manual Renewal tab, select one or more ECS instances to renew. Note that you cannot batch-renew ECS instances with other Alibaba Cloud services.
Alibaba Cloud app
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Log on to the Alibaba Cloud app and go to console > Renewal Management.
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Tap Subscription ECS Instance and select the region where the instance is located.
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Select one or more instances and tap Renew Now.
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Tap Submit Order and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the payment.
API
You can call the RenewInstance API operation to renew a single ECS instance. Specify the instance ID and one of the following renewal duration parameters depending on your scenario: Period, PeriodUnit, or ExpectedRenewDay. To renew multiple ECS instances, call this operation for each instance.
Other API operations are also available to manage subscription instance renewals:
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Enable auto-renewal: Call the ModifyInstanceAutoRenewAttribute operation. Set the InstanceId, Duration, and AutoRenew parameters to enable auto-renewal for an instance.
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Query instance renewal prices: Call the DescribeRenewalPrice operation. Specify parameters such as the region, instance type, and renewal duration to get the renewal cost of an instance.
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Query instances that expire within a specific time range: Call the DescribeInstances operation. Set the ExpiredStartTime and ExpiredEndTime filter parameters to find instances expiring in that range.
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Query the auto-renewal status of an ECS instance: Call the DescribeInstanceAutoRenewAttribute operation. You can query the auto-renewal status of a specific instance by setting the InstanceId parameter. You can also query for instances with a specific auto-renewal status by setting the RenewalStatus parameter.
More renewal methods
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Renewal method |
Time window |
Scenarios |
New billing cycle |
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Any time before the day of expiration |
This method only extends the subscription duration without changing the instance configuration. The system automatically renews the instance before it expires. This prevents business interruptions from forgotten renewals. Important
If your instance expires tomorrow, auto-renewal may fail due to payment processing times. In this case, manually renew the instance. |
After a successful auto-renewal, the new billing cycle starts from the original expiration date. |
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From 15 days before expiration until the instance is released |
This method allows you to downgrade resource configurations, such as the instance type or public bandwidth, during renewal. Use this method to reduce costs by downgrading the instance type or public bandwidth if you expect lower business demand or have over-provisioned resources. |
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From expiration until the instance is released |
This method allows you to upgrade or downgrade the instance type during renewal. Use this method to change the instance type during renewal to meet new business requirements. |
The new billing cycle starts on the renewal date. |
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Before the instance expires |
You can align the expiration dates of multiple subscription instances to the same day of a month. This simplifies instance management and renewal, and reduces the risk of business interruptions from missed renewals. |
The new billing cycle starts on the renewal date. |
Renewal reminders and subscriptions
Alibaba Cloud Message Center provides a renewal reminder feature. By default, you receive reminders for your subscription ECS instances by internal message, email, and SMS at 7 days, 3 days, and 1 day before expiration, on the expiration day, and 1 day before release. In Message Center, you can subscribe to receive reminders 15 or 30 days before expiration and update the mobile number for receiving reminders. For more information, see Set renewal reminders.
Non-renewal
If you are certain that you no longer need an instance after it expires, you can set it to Non-renewal. This reduces the expiration reminders you receive.
Even after you set an instance to Non-renewal, you can still renew it at any time before it expires.
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Go to the Renewal Management page and configure the filters.
For Product, select ECS - Subscription. Then, click the Manual Renewal or auto-renewal tab.
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Select one or more ECS instances. At the top of the list, click Set to Non-renewal. In the dialog box, confirm the details and click OK.
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After the setting is applied, you can view the instances on the Non-renewal tab.
You can still renew instances set to Non-renewal at any time before they are released. On the Non-renewal tab, find the instance and select any renewal option in the Actions column. This cancels the non-renewal setting.