Renew expiring resources

Renew subscription resources before they expire to avoid service suspension or data loss. Pay-as-you-go resources do not require renewal — keep a sufficient account balance.

Impact of non-renewal

Expired subscription resources are suspended and eventually released. Once released, all data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

After expiration, most cloud products go through two phases: suspension and release and deletion.

Suspension: Lasts 1 to 15 days. The service stops, but the resource and data are retained.
Release and deletion: After the suspension period, the system releases the resource and permanently deletes all data.

A few cloud products are released immediately upon expiration. For example, OSS resource plans with a fixed capacity are released when they expire. You can continue using OSS, and billing automatically switches to pay-as-you-go.

Expiration rules vary by product. The following table lists status changes for common cloud products after expiration.

Common products	Suspension phase	Release and deletion phase
ECS/dedicated host/Simple Application Server	15 days	The resource is automatically released after 15 days. Data cannot be recovered.
ApsaraDB RDS	For 7 days after expiration, the instance is locked and inaccessible.	From day 8 to day 15 after expiration, compute resources are released, but data backups are retained. On day 16 after expiration, instance data is deleted.
Tair	For 15 days after expiration, the instance is inaccessible. From day 15 to day 22, the instance is in the `recycle bin` and can be restored. Data is retained for this period.	After 22 days, the instance is permanently destroyed. Data is no longer retained and cannot be recovered.
DataWorks	Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Edition features stop immediately upon expiration, and the service is downgraded to the Basic Edition. For Intelligent Data Modeling, the feature is immediately disabled if not renewed upon expiration. Created models are not deleted. To continue using the feature, you must renew the Intelligent Data Modeling product.
Edge Node Service (ENS)	For 15 days, compute resources (vCPUs and memory), local disks, cloud disks, and their data are retained. However, you cannot start the instances.	After 15 days, your compute resources (vCPUs and memory), local disks, and cloud disks are released. All your service data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
WUYING Workspace	15 days	Release begins after 15 days.
DataV	N/A	Workspace resources are released immediately upon expiration. Saved visualization projects and other production content are retained for 15 days. To use them again, you must repurchase the service.

How to renew

Note

To renew resources for domain name, Alibaba Mail, or Cloud Web Hosting, go to their respective consoles.

You can renew a resource at any time before it is released. The new service period depends on when you renew:

Renew before expiration: The new service period starts when the previous subscription ends.
Renew after expiration:
- If the resource is not yet suspended, the new service period starts when the previous subscription ends.
- If the resource is already suspended, the new service period starts after the renewal succeeds. You are not charged for the time the resource was suspended.

You can renew resources using manual renewal or auto-renewal.

Renewal method

Time frame

Details

Manual renewal

Before the resource is released

Initiate a renewal manually. The validity period extends immediately after payment.

Each instance supports only one pending renewal order. You cannot start another renewal until the current order takes effect.

Auto-renewal

Up to two days before the resource expires

Set a renewal cycle in advance. Resources are automatically renewed at a scheduled time before they expire.

For most Alibaba Cloud products, the first payment deduction for auto-renewal occurs at 08:00, nine days before the expiration date. For some domain name and website products, the deduction occurs at 08:00, 15 days before the expiration date. If a payment deduction fails, the system retries once per day. The retries continue until the day before the instance expires, or until the renewal succeeds.

You can cancel auto-renewal at any time after you enable it.

Note

Pay-as-you-go resources do not require renewal. Ensure your account has a sufficient balance to continue using them.

For auto-renewal to succeed, ensure your account has a sufficient balance for the payment deduction.

To renew third-party products from the Alibaba Cloud Marketplace, go to the Alibaba Cloud Marketplace console or contact customer service.

Alibaba Cloud accounts have renewal permissions by default. Before a RAM user can perform renewal operations, the Alibaba Cloud account must grant the RAM user relevant permissions, such as AliyunBSSFullAccess or AliyunBSSRenewFullAccess.

Manual renewal

Renew resources in the console:

Log on to the Expenses and Costs console, go to the Resource Renewal page, click the Manual Renewal tab, select the product to renew, and then click Renew. You can Batch Renewal of the same cloud product in a batch to generate a single order.
On the renewal details page, select a Renewal Duration. The Expiration Time (After Renewal) appears on the page. Then, click Confirm Order or Buy Now.
On the Payment page, confirm the order details and complete the payment.

Note

Before you manually renew a resource, you can Export Renewal Bill to request a quote or apply for funds.

You can renew instances by calling an API. For more information, see RenewInstance.

Note

This API does not support the renewal of ECS, RDS, or Redis instances. Use the dedicated renewal API operations for these products.

Some cloud products allow you to change instance configurations during renewal. The renewal fee reflects the new specifications you select.

The available renewal and upgrade options vary by cloud product. Perform the operations in the console of the specific product. For example, subscription ECS instances support renewal with a downgrade and renewal with an upgrade.

Auto-renewal

When you purchase a subscription resource, you can enable auto-renewal. For example, on the ECS purchase page, select Enable Auto-renewal in the Auto-renewal section.

You can set up auto-renewal in the Expenses and Costs console.

Log on to the Resource Renewal page. On the Manual Renewal tab, select one or more products to renew, and then click Enable Auto-renewal.
On the Enable Auto-renewal page, configure the Auto-renewal Cycle, and then click Enable Auto-renewal. After auto-renewal is enabled, you can view the details on the Auto-renewal tab.
By default, the system automatically renews resources 9 days before they expire. You can change this setting by clicking Set Auto-renewal Amount Deduction Date in the upper-right corner of the Resource Renewal page. The minimum auto-renewal period is 3 days before expiration.
Note
- Auto-renewal does not renew the resource immediately — it sets the renewal cycle, effective the next day. Payment is deducted at 08:00, 9 days before expiration. If deduction fails, the system retries daily until successful or 1 day before expiration.
- For some products, the earliest deduction time is 1 day before expiration by default. Even if you set an earlier renewal time, the payment is still deducted 1 day before expiration.
Go to the Auto-renewal tab. For instances with auto-renewal enabled, you can perform operations such as Renew, Modify Auto-renewal Settings, Nonrenewal, and Enable Manual Renewal.
- Renew: Immediately renew an instance that is set for auto-renewal. After a successful renewal, the system will automatically renew the instance again based on the new expiration date.
- Modify Auto-renewal Settings: Change the auto-renewal cycle.
- Nonrenewal: Do not renew an instance that is set for auto-renewal after it expires.
- Enable Manual Renewal: Switch an instance from auto-renewal back to manual renewal.

Note

If your instance expires tomorrow, it will not be automatically renewed. Renew it manually.

After a successful renewal, you can log on to the Resource Renewal page. Click the Manual Renewal tab to view all instances set for manual renewal. Click the Auto-renewal tab to view all instances set for auto-renewal.

Note

If you have enabled the multi-account management feature for your enterprise, the management account (MA) can view the instances of member accounts on the Resource Renewal page but cannot perform operations on them.

Renewal recommendations

Pay attention to expiration and renewal reminders

The system sends you reminders by Message Center, email, and SMS 7 days, 3 days, and 1 day before your resources expire. It also sends reminders on the expiration date and the day before the resources are released. For ECS and RDS, you can also subscribe to reminders 15 or 30 days before instance expiration, or modify the mobile phone number that receives the reminders. Log on to the Message Center - Basic Reception Management page to manage your subscriptions. For more information, see Set renewal reminders.

Regularly check expiring resources

Log on to the Resource Renewal page. Find expiring resources by filtering by Expiration Time or Region. You can also search for a specific instance ID or filter by instance status to find and renew resources.

Align ECS expiration dates for centralized renewal

Use the align expiration date feature to renew all ECS instances to the same day of the month. The new billing cycle starts on the renewal date. Align the expiration dates of subscription ECS instances.

Set resources to not renew to reduce notifications

If you no longer need a resource after it expires, set it to not renew to reduce expiration reminders. Back up your data before the resource expires.

Log on to the Expenses and Costs console and go to the Resource Renewal page.
On the Manual Renewal or Auto-renewal tab, find the resources that you do not want to renew.
In the Actions column on the right, click Nonrenewal. Alternatively, select multiple cloud products of the same type and click Set as Nonrenewal.
Switch to the Nonrenewal upon Expiration tab to view the resources that will not be renewed after they expire.

FAQ

I received an SMS reminder to renew a resource. Where can I do this?

Log on to the Resource Renewal page. Find expiring resources by filtering by expiration time or region. You can also search for a specific instance ID or filter by instance status to find and renew resources. For domain names, Alibaba Mail, and Cloud Web Hosting, go to their respective consoles to perform the renewal.

How do I request an invoice after renewal?

After a successful renewal, go to the Invoices page to find the renewal order and issue an invoice. Issue an invoice.

Why can't I find the instance I want to renew on the renewal page?

If an instance does not support renewal, it is not displayed on the renewal page. Common examples include:
- Pay-as-you-go instances, which do not require renewal.
- Instances that have been released, which cannot be renewed.
Resource plan instances are renewed on the Resource Plan page.
Some special cloud products, such as IoT SIM cards, can only be renewed in their own consoles.
For domain names, Alibaba Mail, and Cloud Web Hosting, click the link in the upper-right corner of the renewal management page to go to the corresponding console.

I renewed the wrong resource. Can I get a refund?

Log on to the Unsubscribe page to check if the renewal order has taken effect:

If the order is on the Unsubscribe Renewal That Does Not Take Effect tab, it has not yet taken effect. You can apply for a full refund.
If the order is on the Unsubscribe Resource tab, it has taken effect. A partial refund will be issued according to the non-full refund rules.

Refund details are covered in Unsubscription rules.

When I renew for one month, why is the duration sometimes 29, 30, or 31 days?

When you renew for one month, the expiration date is extended to 00:00 on the corresponding day of the next month. For example:

If a resource expires at 00:00 on January 31 and you renew it for one month, the new expiration date is February 29 (or February 28). Subsequent renewals will also expire on the 29th (or 28th).
If a resource expires at 00:00 on February 1 and you renew it for one month, the new expiration date is 00:00 on March 1. The renewal period is 29 or 28 days.
If a resource expires at 00:00 on May 21 and you renew it for one month, the new expiration date is 00:00 on June 21. The renewal period is 31 days.
If a resource expires at 00:00 on June 1 and you renew it for one month, the new expiration date is 00:00 on July 1. The renewal period is 30 days.

How do I renew a Model Studio Coding Plan?

When you purchase a Coding Plan, you can select auto-renewal. If you do not select it, you cannot manually renew the plan after it expires. You must purchase a new plan.

I bought an ECS instance for 99 CNY. Can I still get a discount when I renew it?

During the promotion period, an individual verified user can have only one "99 CNY e-instance" at a time. An enterprise verified user can have only one "99 CNY e-instance" or one "199 CNY u1-instance" at a time. After the instance expires, you can continue to renew it at a low price as long as the promotion is active. New purchases are at the official website price. This offer cannot be combined with coupons or vouchers.

For detailed rules, log on to the promotion page. The rules on that page prevail.

For other renewal questions, see: