---
name: account-reclaim-resource
title: Using resource reclamations
description: You can use the IBM Cloud® CLI or the IBM Cloud® Resource Controller API to manage the reclamation process of specific resources. For more information, see FAQ about resources
last-updated: 2025-10-24
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/account?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Using resource reclamations
{: #resource-reclamation}

You can use the IBM Cloud® CLI or the [IBM Cloud® Resource Controller API](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/resource-controller/resource-controller?code=go#run-reclamation-action) to manage the reclamation process of specific resources. For more information, see [FAQ about resources](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/account?topic=account-resources-faq&interface=cli&format=markdown)
{: shortdesc}

## Listing reclaimed resources by using the CLI
{: #list-reclaimed-cli}
{: cli}

To list reclaimed resources that can be restored or deleted by using the CLI, run the following command:

```bash
ibmcloud resource reclamations [--resource-instance-id INSTANCE_ID]
```
{: codeblock}

Enter the following command option:

* **--resource-instance-id**: The globally unique ID (GUID) of the resource instance.

The following example shows how to list the reclamations of a particular service instance:

```bash
ibmcloud resource reclamations --resource-instance-id abcd1234-ef56-486e-b293-22d6c7eb6699
```

## Listing reclaimed resources by using the API
{: #list-reclaimed-api}
{: api}

To list reclaimed resources that can be restored or deleted, call the [IBM Cloud® Resource Controller API](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/resource-controller/resource-controller#list-reclamations) as shown in the following example:

Use the `ListReclamationsOptions.Builder` to create a `ListReclamationsOptions` object that contains the parameter values for the `listReclamations` method.
{: java}

Instantiate the `ListReclamationsOptions` struct and set the fields to provide parameter values for the `ListReclamations` method.
{: go}

```bash
curl -X GET https://resource-controller.cloud.ibm.com/v1/reclamations?account_id=b80a8b513ae24e178438b7a18bd8d609 -H 'Authorization: Bearer <IAM_TOKEN>'
```
{: codeblock}
{: curl}

```java
ListReclamationsOptions listReclamationsOptions = new ListReclamationsOptions.Builder()
  .accountId(accountId)
  .build();

Response<ReclamationsList> response = service.listReclamations(listReclamationsOptions).execute();
ReclamationsList reclamationsList = response.getResult();

System.out.printf("listReclamations() response:\n%s\n", reclamationsList.toString());
```
{: codeblock}
{: java}

```javascript
const params = {
  accountId: accountId,
};

resourceControllerService.listReclamations(params)
  .then(res => {
    var resources = res.result.resources;
    resources.forEach(reclaim => {
      if (reclaim.resource_instance_id.toString() === instanceGuid) {
        reclamationId = reclaim.id;
      }
    });
    console.log('listReclamations() response:\n' + JSON.stringify(res.result, null, 2));
  })
  .catch(err => {
    console.warn(err)
  });
```
{: codeblock}
{: javascript}

```python
reclamations_list = resource_controller_service.list_reclamations(
    account_id=account_id
).get_result()

print('\nlist_reclamations() response:\n',
      json.dumps(reclamations_list, indent=2))
```
{: codeblock}
{: python}

```go
listReclamationsOptions := resourceControllerService.NewListReclamationsOptions()
listReclamationsOptions = listReclamationsOptions.SetAccountID(accountID)
reclamationsList, response, err := resourceControllerService.ListReclamations(listReclamationsOptions)
if err != nil {
  panic(err)
}
b, _ := json.MarshalIndent(reclamationsList, "", "  ")
fmt.Printf("\nListReclamations() response:\n%s\n", string(b))
```
{: codeblock}
{: go}


## Deleting a reclaimed resource by using the CLI
{: #delete-reclaimed-cli}
{: cli}

To delete a reclaimed resource by using the CLI, run the following command:

```bash
ibmcloud resource reclamation-delete ID [--comment COMMENT] [--f, --force]
```
{: codeblock}

Enter the following command options:

* **ID**: The ID of the resource reclamation. This is the reclamation ID and not the resource instance ID. (Required).
* **--comment**: Comments about the action.
* **-f, --force**: Force deletion without confirmation.

The following example shows how to delete a resource reclamation with ID `d9fendfwlw`:

```bash
ibmcloud resource reclamation-delete "d9fendfwlw"
```

The following example shows how to delete a resource reclamation with ID `d9fendfwlw` and leave a comment of `no longer needed` without confirmation:

```bash
ibmcloud resource reclamation-delete "d9fendfwlw" --comment "no longer needed" -f
```

## Deleting resource by using the API
{: #delete-reclaimed-api}
{: api}

To reclaim (provisionally delete) a resource, call the [IBM Cloud&reg; Resource Controller API](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/resource-controller/resource-controller?code=go#run-reclamation-action) as shown in the following example. Specify `reclaim` to delete a resource. `id` is the reclamation ID and not the resource instance ID. 

```bash
curl -X POST https://resource-controller.cloud.ibm.com/v1/reclamations/0114be9024c6eede47d08a85ac0c5c43/actions/reclaim -H 'Authorization: Bearer <IAM_TOKEN>' -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{
    "request_by": "bar",
    "comment": "reclaim resource instance 614fc866-1d4f-4c9e-973e-637f1089a6a1"
  }'
```
{: codeblock}
{: curl}

```java
RunReclamationActionOptions runReclamationActionOptions = new RunReclamationActionOptions.Builder()
  .id(reclamationId)
  .actionName("reclaim")
  .build();

Response<Reclamation> response = service.runReclamationAction(runReclamationActionOptions).execute();
Reclamation reclamation = response.getResult();

System.out.printf("runReclamationAction() response:\n%s\n", reclamation.toString());
```
{: codeblock}
{: java}

```javascript
const params = {
  id: reclamationId,
  actionName: 'reclaim',
};

resourceControllerService.runReclamationAction(params)
  .then(res => {
    console.log('runReclamationAction() response:\n' + JSON.stringify(res.result, null, 2));
  })
  .catch(err => {
    console.warn(err)
  });
```
{: codeblock}
{: javascript}

```python
reclamation = resource_controller_service.run_reclamation_action(
    id=reclamation_id,
    action_name='reclaim'
).get_result()

print('\nrun_reclamation_action() response:\n',
      json.dumps(reclamation, indent=2))
```
{: codeblock}
{: python}

```go
runReclamationActionOptions := resourceControllerService.NewRunReclamationActionOptions(
  reclamationID,
  "reclaim",
)

reclamation, response, err := resourceControllerService.RunReclamationAction(runReclamationActionOptions)
if err != nil {
  panic(err)
}
b, _ := json.MarshalIndent(reclamation, "", "  ")
fmt.Printf("\nRunReclamationAction() response:\n%s\n", string(b))
```
{: codeblock}
{: go}

## Restoring a resource by using the CLI
{: #restore-resource-cli}
{: cli}

Resources can typically be restored within 3 days of deletion. However, restoration periods might vary depending on the service, as each one follows its own retention policy. For more information, refer to the individual service's documentation.

Not all resources can be restored. You can run the **`ibmcloud resource reclamations`** command to check the resources that you can restore.
{: important}

To restore a resource by using the CLI, run the following command:

```bash
ibmcloud resource reclamation-restore ID [--comment COMMENT]
```
{: codeblock}


Enter the following command options:

* **ID**: The ID of the resource reclamation. This is the reclamation ID and not the resource instance ID.  (Required)
* **--comment**: Comments about the action.

The following example shows how to restore a resource with the `d9fendfwlw` ID:

```bash
ibmcloud resource reclamation-restore "d9fendfwlw"
```

For more information, see the [`ibmcloud resource reclamations` command reference](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli?topic=cli-ibmcloud_commands_resource&format=markdown#ibmcloud_resource_reclamations).

## Restoring a resource by using the API
{: #restore-resource-api}
{: api}

Resources can typically be restored within 3 days of deletion. However, restoration periods might vary depending on the service, as each one follows its own retention policy. For more information, refer to the individual service's documentation.

Not all resources can be restored. [Get a list of all reclaimations](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/resource-controller/resource-controller?code=go#list-reclamations) to check the resources that you can restore.
{: important}

To restore a resource by using the API, call the [IBM Cloud&reg; Resource Controller API](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/resource-controller/resource-controller?code=go#run-reclamation-action) as shown in the following example. Specify `restore` to restore a resource. `id` is the reclamation ID and not the resource instance ID. 

```bash
curl -X POST https://resource-controller.cloud.ibm.com/v1/reclamations/0114be9024c6eede47d08a85ac0c5c43/actions/restore -H 'Authorization: Bearer <IAM_TOKEN>' -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{
    "request_by": "bar",
    "comment": "restore resource instance 614fc866-1d4f-4c9e-973e-637f1089a6a1"
  }'
```
{: codeblock}
{: curl}

```java
RunReclamationActionOptions runReclamationActionOptions = new RunReclamationActionOptions.Builder()
  .id(reclamationId)
  .actionName("restore")
  .build();

Response<Reclamation> response = service.runReclamationAction(runReclamationActionOptions).execute();
Reclamation reclamation = response.getResult();

System.out.printf("runReclamationAction() response:\n%s\n", reclamation.toString());
```
{: codeblock}
{: java}

```javascript
const params = {
  id: reclamationId,
  actionName: 'restore',
};

resourceControllerService.runReclamationAction(params)
  .then(res => {
    console.log('runReclamationAction() response:\n' + JSON.stringify(res.result, null, 2));
  })
  .catch(err => {
    console.warn(err)
  });
```
{: codeblock}
{: javascript}

```python
reclamation = resource_controller_service.run_reclamation_action(
    id=reclamation_id,
    action_name='restore'
).get_result()

print('\nrun_reclamation_action() response:\n',
      json.dumps(reclamation, indent=2))
```
{: codeblock}
{: python}

```go
runReclamationActionOptions := resourceControllerService.NewRunReclamationActionOptions(
  reclamationID,
  "restore",
)

reclamation, response, err := resourceControllerService.RunReclamationAction(runReclamationActionOptions)
if err != nil {
  panic(err)
}
b, _ := json.MarshalIndent(reclamation, "", "  ")
fmt.Printf("\nRunReclamationAction() response:\n%s\n", string(b))
```
{: codeblock}
{: go}