---
title: How to Remove Instances from a Cluster
url: https://docs.vultr.com/products/compute/clusters/how-to-remove-instances-from-a-cluster
description: Remove instances from a Vultr cluster in bulk or individually. Detached instances remain on your account as standalone servers with fabric removed.
publish_date: 2026-04-17T14:09:08.071136Z
last_updated: 2026-04-23T16:41:11.503243Z
---

Removing instances from a cluster detaches them from the cluster and removes their fabric networking associations. The instances are not destroyed, they remain on your account as standalone servers.

This guide explains how to remove instances from a cluster using the Vultr API.

1. Send a `GET` request to the [**List Clusters** endpoint](https://www.vultr.com/api/#tag/clusters/operation/list-clusters) to retrieve all clusters.

    ```console
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/clusters" \
        -X GET \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}"
    ```

    Note the `id` of the cluster from which you want to remove instances.

1. Send a `GET` request to the [**Get Cluster** endpoint](https://www.vultr.com/api/#tag/clusters/operation/get-cluster) to retrieve the cluster details. Replace `{cluster-id}` with the cluster id.

    ```console
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/clusters/{cluster-id}" \
        -X GET \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}"
    ```

    Note the `id` of the instance(s) you want to remove from the cluster.

## Remove Multiple Instances

1. Send a `POST` request to the [**Mass Update Cluster Instances** endpoint](https://www.vultr.com/api/#tag/clusters/operation/mass-update-cluster-instances) to remove multiple instances from the cluster. Replace `{cluster-id}` with the cluster id and provide the instance IDs in the `instances` array. Set `action` to `remove`.

    ```console
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/clusters/{cluster-id}" \
        -X POST \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}" \
        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
        -d '{
            "action": "remove",
            "instances": [
                "INSTANCE-ID-1",
                "INSTANCE-ID-2"
            ]
        }'
    ```

    A successful request returns an HTTP `202 Accepted` response.

1. Send a `GET` request to the [**Get Cluster** endpoint](https://www.vultr.com/api/#tag/clusters/operation/get-cluster) to retrieve the cluster details.

    ```console
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/clusters/{cluster-id}" \
        -X GET \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}"
    ```

    Verify that the removed instances no longer appear in the cluster's instance list.

## Remove a Single Instance

1. Send a `POST` request to the [**Remove Single Instance** endpoint](https://www.vultr.com/api/#tag/clusters/operation/update-cluster-instance) to remove a single instance from the cluster. Replace `{cluster-id}` with the cluster id and `{instance-id}` with the instance id.

    ```console
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/clusters/{cluster-id}/remove/{instance-id}" \
        -X POST \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}"
    ```

    A successful request returns an HTTP `202 Accepted` response.

1. Send a `GET` request to the [**Get Cluster** endpoint](https://www.vultr.com/api/#tag/clusters/operation/get-cluster) to retrieve the cluster details.

    ```console
    $ curl "https://api.vultr.com/v2/clusters/{cluster-id}" \
        -X GET \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer ${VULTR_API_KEY}"
    ```

    Verify that the instance no longer appears in the cluster's instance list.