You can delete unneeded snapshots or those that exceed your quota to free up storage space and avoid ongoing charges.
Considerations
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Deleting a snapshot is an irreversible action. You cannot recover a snapshot or its data after it is deleted. Proceed with caution.
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Deleting a snapshot does not affect the source cloud disk from which it was created.
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If a data disk was created from a snapshot, the disk continues to function normally after the snapshot is deleted. However, you can no longer use the Re-initialize data disk operation on the disk.
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If a custom image was created from a snapshot, you must delete the corresponding custom image before you can delete the snapshot. After the custom image is deleted, existing ECS instances created from that image continue to function normally. However, you can no longer use the Re-initialize system disk (reset OS) operation on those instances.
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Snapshots are billed on a per-region basis. Deleting a snapshot affects billing only for the current region. To delete all snapshots across all regions, you must switch to each region and delete them individually. You can view all regions that contain snapshots on the ECS overview page. For more information, see View snapshot sizes in all or a single region.
Limitations
You cannot directly delete the following types of snapshots. These snapshots are not automatically deleted upon expiration or when their source cloud disks are released:
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Shared snapshots. You must first unshare the snapshots before you can delete them.
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Snapshots from which custom images have been created. If the images are no longer in use, you must first delete the custom images before you can delete the snapshots.
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Snapshots created by Cloud Backup. These snapshots must be deleted from the ECS Instance Backup console. For more information, see Back up an ECS instance.
Procedure
You can delete snapshots manually, configure snapshots to be automatically deleted upon expiration, or set automatic snapshots to be deleted when their source cloud disks are released.
Manually delete a snapshot
Go to ECS console - Snapshots.
In the top navigation bar, select the region and resource group of the resource that you want to manage.
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On the Disk Snapshots tab, locate the snapshot that you want to delete and click Delete Snapshot in the Actions column.
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In the Delete Snapshot dialog box, follow the on-screen instructions to delete the snapshot.
No resources
If the snapshot is not associated with any resources, such as a cloud disk or an image, you can directly delete it.
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Select the I understand that snapshots cannot be restored and the snapshot data cannot be retrieved after the snapshots are deleted. checkbox.
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Click OK.
Data disk
If a data disk has been created from the snapshot, you must forcibly delete the snapshot.
ImportantAfter you forcibly delete the snapshot, the data disk created from the snapshot remains usable, but you can no longer re-initialize the cloud disk.
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Review the risks of force deletion, select the I am aware of the risks and want to delete the snapshots. checkbox, and then click Next.
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Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the deletion.
NoteIf you no longer need the cloud disk, you can also go to the Disks page to release the cloud disk and then return to the Snapshots page to delete the snapshot.
Image
If an image has been created from the snapshot, you must delete the corresponding image before deleting the snapshot.
ImportantAfter you delete the custom image, ECS instances that were created from the image continue to function normally. However, you can no longer re-initialize the system disk (reset the OS). For more information about how to delete a custom image, see Delete a custom image.
Click the Images link to go to the Images page, delete the custom image, and then return to the Snapshots page to delete the snapshot.
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Automatic deletion upon expiration
When you manually create a snapshot or create an automatic snapshot policy, you can set a Retention Period for the snapshot. The snapshot is automatically deleted when its retention period ends. For more information about parameter settings, see Manually create a snapshot and Create an automatic snapshot policy.
If Delete Automatic Snapshots While Releasing Disk is enabled for the cloud disk associated with an automatic snapshot, the automatic snapshot is deleted when the cloud disk is released, even if the snapshot's retention period has not ended.
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Starting three days before a snapshot is scheduled for deletion, a highlighted notification that says Released After {days} Days appears in the Retention Period column of the snapshot list.
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If you specify a custom retention period in days, you can extend the retention period before the snapshot expires. For more information, see Extend the retention period of a snapshot.
Automatic deletion when a cloud disk is released
If you enable Delete Automatic Snapshots While Releasing Disk, the automatic snapshots of the cloud disk are automatically deleted when the disk is released. A cloud disk can be released in scenarios such as when you manually release the disk, the disk is released with its associated instance, or you replace the system disk. For more information, see Configure automatic snapshots to be deleted when the source disk is released.
If the retention period of an automatic snapshot ends before the associated cloud disk is released, the snapshot is deleted when its retention period ends.