---
type: api
title: Start the ILM plugin
description: Start the index lifecycle management plugin if it is currently stopped.
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-ilm-start
resource: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-ilm-start
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# Start the ILM plugin

Availability: 6.6+

## Paths

- `POST` `/_ilm/start`

- [Api key auth](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/authentication#apikeyauth)
- [Basic auth](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/authentication#basicauth)
- [Bearer auth](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/authentication#bearerauth)

## Description

Start the index lifecycle management plugin if it is currently stopped.
ILM is started automatically when the cluster is formed.
Restarting ILM is necessary only when it has been stopped using the stop ILM API.

## Required authorization

* Cluster privileges: `manage_ilm`

## Query String Parameters

- `master_timeout` (string Duration · default: 30s)
  Period to wait for a connection to the master node. If no response is received before the timeout expires, the request fails and returns an error.
- `timeout` (string Duration · default: 30s)
  Period to wait for a response. If no response is received before the timeout expires, the request fails and returns an error.

## Response

`application/json`

- `acknowledged` (boolean)
  For a successful response, this value is always true. On failure, an exception is returned instead.
## Code Examples

#### Console

```console
POST _ilm/start
```

#### JavaScript

```javascript
const response = await client.ilm.start();
```

#### Python

```python
resp = client.ilm.start()
```

#### curl

```curl
curl -X POST "$ELASTICSEARCH_URL/_ilm/start" \
  -H "Authorization: ApiKey $ELASTIC_API_KEY"
```

#### Java

```java
client.ilm().start(s -> s);
```

#### C#

```c#
var response = await client.IndexLifecycleManagement.StartAsync();
```

#### PHP

```php
$resp = $client->ilm()->start();
```

#### Ruby

```ruby
response = client.ilm.start
```

## Response Examples

#### Start ilmresponse example1

A successful response when stating the ILM plugin.

```json
{
  "acknowledged": true
}
```