# Deleting a Multi-AZ DB cluster for Amazon RDS
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You can delete a DB Multi-AZ DB cluster using the AWS Management Console, the AWS CLI, or the RDS API.

The time required to delete a Multi-AZ DB cluster can vary depending on the following factors:
+ Thee backup retention period (that is, how many backups to delete).
+ How much data is deleted.
+ Whether a final snapshot is taken.

Deletion protection must be disabled on the Multi-AZ DB cluster before you can delete it. For more information, see [Prerequisites for deleting a DB instance](USER_DeleteInstance.md#USER_DeleteInstance.DeletionProtection). You can disable deletion protection by modifying the Multi-AZ DB cluster. For more information, see [Modifying a Multi-AZ DB cluster for Amazon RDS](modify-multi-az-db-cluster.md).

## Console
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**To delete a Multi-AZ DB cluster**

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the Amazon RDS console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/).

1. In the navigation pane, choose **Databases**, and then choose the Multi-AZ DB cluster that you want to delete.

1. For **Actions**, choose **Delete**.

1. Choose **Create final snapshot?** to create a final DB snapshot for the Multi-AZ DB cluster. 

   If you create a final snapshot, enter a name for **Final snapshot name**.

1. Choose **Retain automated backups** to retain automated backups.

1. Enter **delete me** in the box.

1. Choose **Delete**.

## AWS CLI
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To delete a Multi-AZ DB cluster by using the AWS CLI, call the [delete-db-cluster](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/rds/delete-db-cluster.html) command with the following options:
+ `--db-cluster-identifier`
+ `--final-db-snapshot-identifier` or `--skip-final-snapshot`

**Example With a final snapshot**  
For Linux, macOS, or Unix:  

```
aws rds delete-db-cluster \
    --db-cluster-identifier mymultiazdbcluster \
    --final-db-snapshot-identifier mymultiazdbclusterfinalsnapshot
```
For Windows:  

```
aws rds delete-db-cluster ^
    --db-cluster-identifier mymultiazdbcluster ^
    --final-db-snapshot-identifier mymultiazdbclusterfinalsnapshot
```

**Example With no final snapshot**  
For Linux, macOS, or Unix:  

```
aws rds delete-db-cluster \
    --db-cluster-identifier mymultiazdbcluster \
    --skip-final-snapshot
```
For Windows:  

```
aws rds delete-db-cluster ^
    --db-cluster-identifier mymultiazdbcluster ^
    --skip-final-snapshot
```

## RDS API
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To delete a Multi-AZ DB cluster by using the Amazon RDS API, call the [DeleteDBCluster](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/API_DeleteDBCluster.html) operation with the following parameters:
+ `DBClusterIdentifier`
+ `FinalDBSnapshotIdentifier` or `SkipFinalSnapshot`