# Aura Free Instance (Instance01) Deleted After Pause – Any Recovery Options Available?

**URL:** <https://community.neo4j.com/t/aura-free-instance-instance01-deleted-after-pause-any-recovery-options-available/79257>\
**Category:** Neo4j Graph Platform\
**Created:** [June 9, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/aura-free-instance-instance01-deleted-after-pause-any-recovery-options-available/79257 "2026-06-09T12:19:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![balaji.ajai0407](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/balaji.ajai0407/32/36776_2.png) [@balaji.ajai0407](https://community.neo4j.com/u/balaji.ajai0407)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/aura-free-instance-instance01-deleted-after-pause-any-recovery-options-available/79257/1 "2026-06-09T12:19:10Z")

</div>

Hello Neo4j Team,

I am using a Neo4j Aura Free instance named "Instance01".

Recently, I noticed that my instance disappeared from the Aura dashboard. I then found an email from the Aura Team stating:

"We've deleted the content of paused database named Instance01. You can no longer access the data in this database, but you retain the ability to login and create a new Free Instance within Aura forever."

This database contained data for my project, and I was unaware that the instance would be permanently deleted.

Could someone please help me with the following questions:

1. Is there any possibility of recovering the deleted database?
2. Are there any backups retained for a short period after deletion?
3. Can Neo4j Support verify whether the deletion is permanent?
4. Is there any way to restore the instance or export the data if it still exists internally?

Account Email: [balaji.ajai0407@gmail.com](mailto:balaji.ajai0407@gmail.com)  
Instance Name: Instance01

 ![Screenshot 2026-06-09 174806](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/uploads/neo4jcommunity/original/3X/7/9/79622ec464c12f09866b7387ff7b37cedb605895.png)

 ![Screenshot (1050)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/uploads/neo4jcommunity/original/3X/3/b/3b48c1ae2baf937a02609be7121481ac4f55e525.png)

I would greatly appreciate any guidance or assistance.

Thank you,  
Balaji

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dana\_canzano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/dana_canzano/32/27392_2.png) [@dana\_canzano](https://community.neo4j.com/u/dana_canzano)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/aura-free-instance-instance01-deleted-after-pause-any-recovery-options-available/79257/2 "2026-06-15T14:53:16Z")

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@balaji.ajai0407

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/uploads/neo4jcommunity/original/3X/0/a/0a111f40cf19870b94897eca18ef799d2644a070.png)

> **[Pause an instance - Instance actions - Neo4j Aura](https://neo4j.com/docs/aura/managing-instances/instance-actions/#_pause_an_instance)**
>
> Perform multiple instance actions directly from an instance card: connect to tools, pause/resume, inspect the instance’s details, take a snapshot, restore a backup, clone to new instance/clone to existing instance, edit secondaries, delete, resize,...

```auto
Note: You cannot manually pause an AuraDB Free instance; they are paused automatically after 72 hours of inactivity.

```

and

```auto
Warning:
Aura Free instances do not automatically resume after 30 days. If an Aura Free instance remains paused for more than 30 days, Aura deletes the instance, and all information is lost.

```

as to your questions.

1. Is there any possibility of recovering the deleted database?  
no. deletion of databases is non recoverable
2. Are there any backups retained for a short period after deletion?  
no. same as above
3. Can Neo4j Support verify whether the deletion is permanent?  
yes. as above it is permanent
4. Is there any way to restore the instance or export the data if it still exists internally?  
no. the data no longer exists internally