If you’re no longer using Amazon Web Services (AWS), you might be wondering how to delete AWS account properly. Whether you’re closing it for security, billing concerns, or just switching platforms, it’s important to follow the correct steps to avoid unexpected charges or data loss.
Why You Might Want to Delete Your AWS Account
There are several reasons users decide to delete their AWS accounts:
- You no longer need cloud services
- You want to avoid monthly billing surprises
- You created a test account and now it’s unused
- You’re switching to a different cloud provider
- You’re concerned about account security
Whatever your reason, deleting your AWS account is a straightforward process—but you must follow each step carefully.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Delete AWS Account
Follow these steps to permanently close your AWS account:
1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console
Go to https://aws.amazon.com/ and log in using the root user (the one that created the account). Only the root user can delete the account.
2. Back Up Important Data
Before deleting your account, make sure you:
- Download important S3 files
- Export database backups
- Save billing records
- Deactivate resources that may incur charges
3. Terminate All Active AWS Services
Manually go through each region and stop or terminate services such as:
- EC2 instances
- RDS databases
- Load balancers
- Lambda functions
- SES or SNS configurations
Even inactive services can sometimes lead to hidden costs, so be thorough.
4. Cancel All Subscriptions and Reserved Instances
If you’ve purchased any third-party services or reserved capacity (like EC2 Reserved Instances), cancel those too.
5. Close Your AWS Account
Now for the final step:
- Go to Account Settings in the Billing & Cost Management dashboard
- Scroll down to Close Account
- Tick the checkbox confirming you understand the terms
- Click Close Account
You’ll receive a confirmation email. After 90 days, AWS will permanently delete your account and associated data.
What Happens After You Delete Your AWS Account?
Once your account is closed:
- You can’t sign in again
- AWS will delete all your resources
- Billing stops immediately
- AWS retains your data for 90 days before full deletion
If you change your mind during that period, you may contact AWS Support to reopen it—but that’s not guaranteed.
Final Words
Now that you know exactly how to delete AWS account, make sure you follow each step to avoid future billing or data loss. Always back up your files, terminate all services, and double-check your billing dashboard. Deleting an AWS account is permanent, so be 100% sure before you proceed.
Bonus Tip: If you purchased an AWS account from a third party or you’re using a pre-verified account, ensure that you have full root access before attempting deletion.