---
type: api
title: Delete the license
description: When the license expires, your subscription level reverts to Basic.
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4493/api/doc/elasticsearch/v9/operation/operation-license-delete
resource: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4493/api/doc/elasticsearch/v9/operation/operation-license-delete
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# Delete the license

## Paths

- `DELETE` `/_license`

## Description

When the license expires, your subscription level reverts to Basic.

If the operator privileges feature is enabled, only operator users can use this API.

[About managing your license](https://www.elastic.co/docs/deploy-manage/license/manage-your-license-in-self-managed-cluster)

## Required authorization

- Cluster privileges: `manage`

## Authentication

- Api key: `Authorization: <value>`
  Elasticsearch APIs support key-based authentication.
  You must create an API key and use the encoded value in the request header.
  For example:
  
  
  ```
  curl -X GET "${ES_URL}/_cat/indices?v=true" \
    -H "Authorization: ApiKey ${API_KEY}"
  ```
  
  To get API keys, use the `/_security/api_key` APIs.
- Basic: `Authorization: Basic <credentials>`
- Bearer: `Authorization: Bearer <token>`
  Elasticsearch APIs support the use of bearer tokens in the `Authorization` HTTP header to authenticate with the API.
  For examples, refer to [Token-based authentication services](https://www.elastic.co/docs/deploy-manage/users-roles/cluster-or-deployment-auth/token-based-authentication-services)

## Query string parameters

- `master_timeout` (string · default: 30s) — optional
  The period to wait for a connection to the master node.
- `timeout` (string · default: 30s) — optional
  The 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
DELETE /_license
```

#### JavaScript

```javascript
const response = await client.license.delete();
```

#### Python

```python
resp = client.license.delete()
```

#### curl

```curl
curl -X DELETE "$ELASTICSEARCH_URL/_license" \
  -H "Authorization: ApiKey $ELASTIC_API_KEY"
```

#### Java

```java
client.license().delete(d -> d);
```

#### C#

```c#
var response = await client.LicenseManagement.DeleteAsync();
```

#### PHP

```php
$resp = $client->license()->delete();
```

#### Ruby

```ruby
response = client.license.delete
```