For AI agents: The documentation index is at https://docs.digitalocean.com/llms.txt. Markdown versions of pages use the same URL with index.html.md in place of the HTML page (for example, append index.html.md to the directory path instead of opening the HTML document).

Deleting a Droplet permanently and irreversibly destroys the Droplet. Optionally, you can also destroy a Droplet and its associated snapshots, volumes, and volume snapshots.

To save one or more of the backup images, convert the backup into a snapshot before deleting the Droplet.

Destroying a Droplet does not destroy its automated backups. Automated backups remain for four weeks after creation and then expire. To save backup images, convert the backups into snapshots.

Destroy a Droplet from the Control Panel

To destroy a Droplet from the control panel, click the Droplet’s name to open its detail page, then click the Settings tab and click Destroy. You can also click Actions and select Destroy, or click the More menu next to the Droplet on the Droplets list and select Destroy.

The Droplet Danger Zone window opens. Click the Destroy tab.

If the Droplet has associated resources, you can also choose to delete some or all of them, but they are not destroyed by default. Check the boxes next to any of the Droplet’s associated snapshots, volumes, or volume snapshots that you would like to destroy along with the Droplet.

Type the name of the Droplet in the confirmation field, then click Destroy to destroy the Droplet and any selected associated resources.

Any resources that you do not destroy appear in their respective category in the control panel’s Manage section.

Automate the Destruction of a Droplet

curl -X DELETE \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164494"

import (
    "context"
    "os"

    "github.com/digitalocean/godo"
)

func main() {
    token := os.Getenv("DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN")

    client := godo.NewFromToken(token)
    ctx := context.TODO()

    _, err := client.Droplets.Delete(ctx, 3164494)
}

require 'droplet_kit'
token = ENV['DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN']
client = DropletKit::Client.new(access_token: token)

client.droplets.delete(id: 3164494)

import os
from pydo import Client

client = Client(token=os.environ.get("DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN"))

resp = client.droplets.destroy(droplet_id=553456)

curl -X DELETE -H "X-Dangerous: true" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/187000742/destroy_with_associated_resources/dangerous"

import os
from pydo import Client

client = Client(token=os.environ.get("DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN"))

resp = client.droplets.destroy_with_associated_resources_dangerous(droplet_id=524512)