How to cancel your AWS subscription
To cancel AWS, you log into your account, go to the Account menu, select "Close AWS Account," and confirm the closure. AWS will stop charging you when ready, but you have a few days to recover data before the account fully closes. The process takes about five minutes, though you may need to delete certain resources first if you have active services running.
Before you close the account, AWS requires that you have no outstanding balance and no active resources that would incur charges — things like running EC2 instances, active databases, or stored data in S3 buckets. If you do have resources, you can delete them first, or AWS will delete them automatically when the account closes. Either way, you will not be charged for resources after closure begins.
Key Takeaways
- AWS stops charging you the moment you request closure, even if the account takes a few days to fully close.
- You must have a zero balance on your account before you can close it — if you owe money, pay it first.
- Active resources like running servers or databases may need to be deleted before closure, or AWS will delete them for you.
- After you request closure, you have a short window to read or back up any data before the account is permanently deleted.
- If you only want to stop charges without closing the account, you can delete individual services instead of closing the whole account.
What happens to your data and services when you close
When you close your AWS account, all your data is deleted permanently. This includes databases, files stored in S3 buckets, backups, snapshots, and any other information associated with the account. AWS does not keep a copy, so you cannot recover it later. If you have anything you need to keep, read or back it up to another location before you close the account.
Your services stop running when ready. If you have websites, applications, or other services running on AWS, they will go offline as soon as the closure is confirmed. Any domain names you registered through AWS Route 53 are also deleted, though you can transfer them to another registrar before closing if you want to keep them.
You will receive a final bill for any charges incurred up to the moment of closure. This bill appears in your account within a few days. If you have credits or free tier usage remaining, those are forfeited when the account closes.
Steps to close your AWS account
Log into your AWS Management Console using your email and password. At the top right, click on your account name and select "Account" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your account settings page.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the "Close AWS Account" button. Click it. AWS will show you a warning that explains what will happen — all resources will be deleted, all data will be erased, and you will not be able to recover anything. Read through this carefully.
Check the box that says you understand the consequences. Enter your AWS account number (a 12-digit number shown on the page) to confirm. Click "Close Account." AWS will send a confirmation email to the address associated with your account. The account closure is now in progress.
Deleting resources before closing your account
If you have active services running, AWS may require you to delete them before the account closes. The most common resources that block closure are EC2 instances (virtual servers), RDS databases, and Elastic Load Balancers. You do not have to delete these yourself — AWS will delete them automatically when the account closes — but deleting them first gives you more control over the process.
To delete resources, go to each service in the AWS Management Console and remove them one by one. For example, to stop an EC2 instance, go to the EC2 dashboard, select the instance, and choose "Terminate." For an RDS database, go to the RDS dashboard, select the database, and choose "Delete." Each service has its own deletion process, but they all follow the same pattern: select the resource and choose delete or terminate.
If you are not sure which resources are running, go to the Billing Dashboard and look at your current charges. Any service showing a charge is likely active. You can also use the AWS Resource Groups Tagging API to see all resources across your account at once, though this requires some technical knowledge.
Stopping charges without closing your account
If you want to keep your AWS account but stop paying, you can delete the services you are using instead of closing the entire account. This is useful if you think you might use AWS again later, or if you want to keep your account history and settings intact.
Go to each service you are paying for and delete it. Stop EC2 instances, delete RDS databases, empty and delete S3 buckets, and remove any other active services. Once everything is deleted, your charges will drop to zero. You can keep the account open indefinitely at no cost, and reactivate services whenever you want.
Be aware that some services have ongoing costs even when not in active use. For example, Elastic IPs (static IP addresses) that are not attached to a running instance still cost money. Reserved Instances that you purchased also continue to charge until their term expires. Check your billing dashboard regularly to catch any unexpected charges.
What to do if you cannot close your account
If AWS will not let you close your account, the most common reason is that you have an outstanding balance. Go to the Billing Dashboard, check your current charges, and pay any amount owed. Once the balance is zero, you should be able to close the account.
Another reason closure might be blocked is that you have resources that AWS considers critical and will not auto-delete. This is rare, but it can happen with certain database configurations or security settings. If you run into this, contact AWS Support through the Support Center in your account. They can help you identify which resources are blocking closure and walk you through removing them.
If you have a linked account (part of an AWS Organization), you may not be able to close it directly. You will need to remove it from the organization first, then close it as a standalone account. Go to the AWS Organizations console, find the account, and choose "Remove Account."
After your account closes
Once closure is complete, you will receive a final confirmation email. Your account will no longer appear in the AWS Management Console, and you will not be able to log in. Any services or websites running on that account will be offline.
You can create a new AWS account using the same email address if you want to use AWS again in the future. The new account will be treated as a separate account with its own billing, resources, and settings. You will not have access to any data or resources from the closed account.
If you registered a domain through AWS Route 53 and did not transfer it before closing, that domain will be released and may become available for others to register. If you want to keep the domain, transfer it to another registrar before you close the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be charged after I request account closure?
No. AWS stops charging you the moment you submit the closure request. Any resources still running will be deleted, and you will not be billed for them. You may receive a final bill for charges incurred before the closure request, but nothing after.
Can I reopen my AWS account after closing it?
No. Once an account is closed, it cannot be reopened. However, you can create a new AWS account using the same email address. The new account will be separate and will not have access to any data from the closed account.
How long does it take for my account to fully close?
AWS stops charging when ready when you request closure, but the account may take a few days to fully delete all data and resources. During this time, you can still log in and read any remaining data. After the account is fully closed, you will not be able to access anything.
What happens to my domain if I close my AWS account?
If you registered a domain through Route 53, it will be deleted when the account closes. If you want to keep the domain, transfer it to another registrar before closing the account. You can do this through the Route 53 console by unlocking the domain and obtaining the authorization code.
Do I lose my free tier if I close my account?
Yes. If you have remaining free tier credits or monthly free usage, those are forfeited when the account closes. You cannot transfer them to a new account. However, a new AWS account will receive its own free tier benefits if you create one.