How to delete databases in Amazon RDS

Post Date: May 18, 2020
Last Updated: November 13, 2026

Introduction

This guide explains how to delete databases in Amazon RDS from the AWS console and the AWS CLI. Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) is a managed service for running relational databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and MariaDB in the cloud. When you no longer need an instance, deleting it stops the charges, but the deletion is permanent, so the order of the steps matters.

The original guide covered the console steps in short form. This version adds the deletion protection check, the exact options on the delete screen, the AWS CLI commands, a verification step and troubleshooting. It also explains the difference between deleting a whole DB instance and dropping one database inside an instance.

Warning: When you delete databases in Amazon RDS, the data is gone for good unless you keep a final snapshot. Automated backups are removed with the instance unless you choose to retain them. Check that you selected the right instance before you confirm.

Prerequisites

Before you delete databases in Amazon RDS, make sure you have:

• An AWS account and an IAM user or role with the rds:DeleteDBInstance permission
• The DB identifier and the AWS Region of the instance you want to remove
• A recent backup or a plan to take a final snapshot
• Confirmation that no application still connects to the instance
• For the CLI method, the AWS CLI installed and configured (aws configure)

Architecture

• A DB instance is the managed database server that runs your engine and holds your databases
• Deletion protection, if enabled, blocks every delete request until you turn it off
• A final snapshot is a manual backup that RDS takes just before it removes the instance
• Automated backups support point-in-time recovery and are deleted with the instance unless you retain them
• The delete request comes from the console, the AWS CLI or an API call, and the instance status changes to deleting until it disappears

The image below shows the workflow. For the official reference, see the AWS guide on deleting a DB instance and the delete-db-instance CLI reference.

Steps to Delete Databases in Amazon RDS

Short answer: To delete databases in Amazon RDS, open the RDS console, choose Databases, select the DB identifier, then choose Actions and Delete. Keep “Create final snapshot” selected, tick the acknowledgment box, type delete me, and click Delete. If deletion protection is on, turn it off first.

1. Open Amazon RDS and Select the Database

Sign in to the AWS Management Console, open Amazon RDS, and choose Databases in the left menu. Select the DB identifier of the instance you want to remove. Check the Region in the top-right corner, because RDS instances are listed per Region.

2. Turn Off Deletion Protection

If deletion protection is enabled, the Delete option fails. Choose Modify, clear Enable deletion protection, and choose Continue, then Apply immediately.

3. Choose Actions, Then Delete

With the instance selected, click Actions and choose Delete. The delete screen opens with several options.

4. Set the Snapshot and Backup Options

Keep Create final snapshot selected and enter a snapshot name, such as mydb-final-2026-11. The final snapshot is the only way to restore the data later. Leave Retain automated backups selected if you want point-in-time recovery for a while, and note that retained backups can still cost money.

5. Confirm the Deletion

Tick the acknowledgment box. Then type delete me into the confirmation field. The Delete button stays disabled until you type it exactly. Click Delete to finish. The status changes to deleting, and the instance disappears from the list after a few minutes.

6. Delete Databases in Amazon RDS with the AWS CLI

You can do the same from the command line. First turn off deletion protection if it is on:

aws rds modify-db-instance \
  --db-instance-identifier mydb \
  --no-deletion-protection \
  --apply-immediately

Then delete the instance and keep a final snapshot:

aws rds delete-db-instance \
  --db-instance-identifier mydb \
  --final-db-snapshot-identifier mydb-final-2026-11

To remove the instance without a snapshot, use --skip-final-snapshot instead. Only do that for test data. To remove the retained automated backups too, add --delete-automated-backups.

7. Verify the Deletion and the Snapshot

Check the instance status and list the snapshot:

aws rds describe-db-instances --db-instance-identifier mydb --query 'DBInstances[0].DBInstanceStatus'
aws rds describe-db-snapshots --db-snapshot-identifier mydb-final-2026-11

The first command prints deleting, then an error that the instance was not found once it is gone. The snapshot should show the status available.

Dropping One Database Instead of the Whole Instance

If you only want to remove one database inside a running instance, connect with a client and run SQL instead. For MySQL or MariaDB:

DROP DATABASE database_name;

Take a snapshot or a dump first, because DROP DATABASE cannot be undone.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot delete databases in Amazon RDS, check these:

• “Cannot delete protected DB Instance, please disable deletion protection and try again.”: Turn off deletion protection (Step 2) and retry
• “DBSnapshotAlreadyExists”: A snapshot with that name already exists. Use a new --final-db-snapshot-identifier
• “InvalidDBInstanceState”: The instance is busy, for example while backing up or modifying. Wait until the status is available, then retry
• The Delete button stays disabled: Type delete me exactly, with no extra spaces, and tick the acknowledgment box
• “User is not authorized to perform: rds:DeleteDBInstance”: Your IAM policy lacks permission. Ask an administrator to add it
• The instance is a source for read replicas: Review the replicas first. RDS promotes or detaches them in ways that can surprise you, so check the AWS documentation before deleting
• Charges continue after deletion: Manual snapshots and retained automated backups keep costing storage. Delete them from Snapshots in the RDS console when you no longer need them

Conclusion

To delete databases in Amazon RDS, turn off deletion protection, choose Actions and Delete, keep the final snapshot, type delete me and confirm. The CLI does the same with delete-db-instance. Always check the instance and Region before you confirm, and verify the snapshot afterward so you can restore the data if you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo it if I delete databases in Amazon RDS by mistake?
Only if you kept a final snapshot or retained automated backups. You can then restore a new instance from the snapshot. Without them, the data cannot be recovered.

Does deleting an RDS instance stop all charges?
It stops instance charges. Manual snapshots and retained backups still cost storage until you delete them.

Why do I have to type “delete me”?
It is a safety check from AWS that prevents accidental deletion. The Delete button stays disabled until the text matches.

What is the difference between deleting an instance and dropping a database?
Deleting an instance removes the whole managed server and every database on it. DROP DATABASE removes a single database and leaves the instance running.

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