Section Cleanup EC2 Instance Storage

🧹 Cleanup Checklist: AWS Free Tier Resources

❓ Why Bother Cleaning Up?

Even on the free tier, it's good practice to:

• Avoid unnecessary resource usage

• Prevent surprise charges in other regions

• Keep your account organized

🖥️ Check What's Running

Go to the EC2 Dashboard and review resources in your current region:

• Instances 💻

• EBS Volumes 💽

• Snapshots 📸

• Key pairs 🔑

• Security groups 🛡️

💡 Key pairs and security groups are free — no need to delete them. But if you wish you can do it.

✅ These numbers can be different for you

⚡ Terminate EC2 Instances

1. Select all instances

2. Right-click → Terminate

3. Confirm

Root EBS volumes attached to these instances are deleted automatically.

Your number of instances might be different — just delete whatever's showing on your end.

💽 Delete Leftover EBS Volumes

• Find any volumes not attached to an instance

• Select → Actions → Delete Volume

• Confirm deletion ✅

📸 Delete Snapshots

• Go to Snapshots

• Select unneeded ones → Actions → Delete Snapshot

• If a snapshot won't delete, it's likely still linked to an AMI

🖥️ Deregister AMIs

• Go to AMIs

• Select → Deregister

• Confirm

• Head back to Snapshots — the previously blocked one should now delete

✅ Final Check

Your account should now show:

• Instances: none running

• EBS Volumes: none left

• Snapshots: empty

• AMIs: empty

• Key pairs & Security groups: fine to keep (free)

Refresh the EC2 dashboard to confirm everything's clean.

🤝 Quick Reference

💡 Exam Tip

• Cleaning up avoids unnecessary costs and keeps your account tidy

• Remember the dependency order: Instances → EBS → Snapshots → AMIs

• Check resources across all regions, not just the default one