> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.z-api.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Deleting an instance

> Deletes an instance linked to your integrator partner account

## Overview

Method used to delete an instance linked to your account. To delete several at once, use [Deleting instances in bulk](/en/partner/delete-instances).

<Warning>
  To use Partner endpoints, provide the Partner Token in the **Authorization** field using the following format: `Bearer <Partner-Token>`

  It is not necessary to send the **Client-Token** in these requests.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
</Warning>

***

## Eligibility rules

An instance is only deleted when it meets **all** of the conditions below:

* It is **disconnected** from WhatsApp and from the phone.
* Its subscription is **canceled**. Paid instances, pending ones, ones with a pending bank slip, ones in the cancellation process, or ones in payment retry are not eligible.
* It is not in **trial**. A trial must expire naturally or be canceled first.
* The **40-day grace period** counted from the subscription cancellation date has already passed.

***

## Attributes

### Header

<ParamField header="Authorization" type="string" required>
  Partner token in the `Bearer <Partner-Token>` format
</ParamField>

### Path

<ParamField path="instanceId" type="string" required>
  Your instance ID. Available in the Z-API panel under **Instances**.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="token" type="string" required>
  Your Z-API instance token.
</ParamField>

***

## Response

### 204

The instance was deleted. The response has no body.

### 400

The instance does not meet the eligibility rules. The `message` field states the reason.

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"poimandres"}}
{
  "message": "Cannot delete instance because it is still in the grace period of 40 days after cancellation"
}
```

Possible messages:

| Message                                                                                        | When it happens                                  |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| `Cannot delete instance because it is still connected to WhatsApp or phone`                    | The instance is still connected.                 |
| `Cannot delete a trial instance. Trials must expire naturally or be canceled first`            | The instance is in trial.                        |
| `Cannot delete instance because it is still active`                                            | The subscription is still active.                |
| `Cannot delete instance because payment status is not canceled`                                | The subscription is not canceled.                |
| `Cannot delete instance because it is still in the grace period of 40 days after cancellation` | The instance was canceled less than 40 days ago. |
| `Cannot delete instance because payment status is unknown`                                     | The payment status could not be determined.      |

### 401

The **Authorization** header was not sent or the Partner Token is invalid.

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"poimandres"}}
{
  "message": "Authorization token is empty"
}
```

### 404

No instance exists for the given `instanceId` and `token` pair.

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"poimandres"}}
{
  "message": "Instance not found"
}
```

### 405

Make sure you are correctly sending the method specification, that is, verify that you sent DELETE as specified at the beginning of this topic.

### 415

If you receive a 415 error, make sure to add the "Content-Type" header to your request, which in most cases is "application/json".