# Deleting your Simple AD
<a name="simple_ad_delete"></a>

When a Simple AD is deleted, all of the directory data and snapshots are deleted and cannot be recovered. After the directory is deleted, all instances that are joined to the directory remain intact. You cannot, however, use your directory credentials to log in to these instances. You need to log in to these instances with a user account that is local to the instance.

When a AWS Managed Microsoft AD, Simple AD, or hybrid directory is deleted, all of the directory data and snapshots are deleted and cannot be recovered. After the directory is deleted, all instances that are joined to the directory remain intact. You cannot, however, use your directory credentials to log in to these instances. You need to log in to these instances with a user account that is local to the instance.

When an AD Connector is deleted, your on-premises directory remains intact. All instances that are joined to the directory also remain intact and remain joined to your on-premises directory. You can still use your directory credentials to log in to these instances.

**To delete a directory**

1. In the [AWS Directory Service console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/directoryservicev2/) navigation pane, select **Directories**. Ensure you are in the AWS Region where your Active Directory is deployed. For more information, see [Choosing a Region](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//awsconsolehelpdocs/latest/gsg/select-region.html).

1. Ensure that no AWS applications are enabled for the directory you intend to delete. Enabled AWS applications will prevent you for deleting your AWS Managed Microsoft AD or Simple AD.

   1. On the **Directories** page, choose your directory ID.

   1. On the **Directory details** page, select the **Application management** tab. In the **AWS apps & services** section, you see which AWS applications are enabled for your directory.
      + Disable AWS Management Console access. For more information, see [Disabling AWS Management Console access](ms_ad_management_console_access.md#console_disable).
      + To disable Amazon WorkSpaces, you must deregister the service from the directory in the WorkSpaces console. For more information, see [Delete a directory](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/latest/adminguide/delete-workspaces-directory.html) in the *Amazon WorkSpaces Administration Guide*.
      + To disable WorkDocs, you must delete the WorkDocs site in the WorkDocs console. For more information, see [Delete a site](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workdocs/latest/adminguide/delete_site.html) in the *Amazon WorkDocs Administration Guide*.
      + To disable Amazon WorkMail, you must remove the Amazon WorkMail organization in the Amazon WorkMail console. For more information, see [Remove an organization](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workmail/latest/adminguide/remove_organization.html) in the *Amazon WorkMail Administrator Guide*.
      + To disable Amazon FSx for Windows File Server, you must remove the Amazon FSx file system from the domain. For more information, see [Working with Active Directory in FSx for Windows File Server](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/fsx/latest/WindowsGuide/aws-ad-integration-fsxW.html) in the *Amazon FSx for Windows File Server User Guide*.
      + To disable Amazon Relational Database Service, you must remove the Amazon RDS instance from the domain. For more information, see [Managing a DB instance in a domain](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/USER_SQLServerWinAuth.html#USER_SQLServerWinAuth.Managing) in the *Amazon RDS User Guide*.
      + To disable AWS Client VPN Service, you must remove the directory service from the Client VPN Endpoint. For more information, see [Work with Client VPN](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//vpn/latest/clientvpn-admin/cvpn-working.html) in the *AWS Client VPN Administrator Guide*.
      + To disable Amazon Connect, you must delete the Amazon Connect Instance. For more information, see [Delete your Amazon Connect instance](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/connect/latest/adminguide/delete-connect-instance.html) in the *Amazon Connect Administration Guide*.
      + To disable Amazon Quick, you must unsubscribe from Amazon Quick. For more information, see [Closing your Amazon Quick account](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/quicksight/latest/user/closing-account.html) in the *Amazon Quick User Guide*.
**Note**  
If you are using AWS IAM Identity Center and have previously connected it to the AWS Managed Microsoft AD directory you plan to delete, you must first change the identity source before you can delete it. For more information, see [Change your identity source ](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/singlesignon/latest/userguide/manage-your-identity-source-change.html) in the *IAM Identity Center User Guide*.

1. In the navigation pane, choose **Directories**.

1. Select only the directory to be deleted and click **Delete**. It takes several minutes for the directory to be deleted. When the directory has been deleted, it is removed from your directory list.