> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.coral.inc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Terminate on Hetzner

> How to permanently delete a Hetzner Cloud server running OpenClaw

This guide covers deleting a Hetzner Cloud server. Deletion permanently removes the server and its primary disk. Volumes, snapshots, and backups are not deleted automatically.

<Warning>
  Complete the [pre-termination checklist](/security/terminate-instance#pre-termination-checklist) before proceeding. Server deletion is irreversible.
</Warning>

***

## Option 1: Hetzner Cloud Console

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Hetzner Cloud Console">
    Sign in to the [Hetzner Cloud Console](https://console.hetzner.cloud/) and select your project.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the server list">
    Navigate to **Servers** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select your server">
    Click the name of the server running OpenClaw. Confirm the correct server by checking its IP address against what appeared on the watchboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Delete the server">
    Click the **•••** (more options) menu in the top right of the server detail page and select **Delete**. Confirm the deletion in the dialog.

    Alternatively, from the server list, click the **•••** menu on the server row and select **Delete**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Official Hetzner documentation:** [Hetzner Cloud Servers FAQ](https://docs.hetzner.com/cloud/servers/faq/)

***

## Option 2: hcloud CLI

If you have the [hcloud CLI](https://github.com/hetznercloud/cli) installed:

```bash theme={null}
# List servers to find the server ID or name
hcloud server list

# Delete a server by name or ID
hcloud server delete SERVER_NAME_OR_ID
```

You'll be prompted to confirm. Add `--force` to skip the prompt.

***

## Option 3: Hetzner Cloud API

```bash theme={null}
curl -X DELETE \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $HETZNER_API_TOKEN" \
  "https://api.hetzner.cloud/v1/servers/SERVER_ID"
```

A successful response returns HTTP 200 with an action object. See the [Hetzner Cloud API reference](https://docs.hetzner.cloud/#servers-delete-a-server) for details.

***

## Post-termination cleanup

### Delete volumes

Volumes attached to the server are not deleted when the server is deleted. In the Cloud Console, navigate to **Volumes**, identify volumes that are no longer attached (Status = "Available"), and delete them.

Using the CLI:

```bash theme={null}
# List volumes
hcloud volume list

# Delete a volume
hcloud volume delete VOLUME_NAME_OR_ID
```

### Delete snapshots

Snapshots created from this server are not deleted automatically:

```bash theme={null}
# List snapshots (images with type=snapshot)
hcloud image list --type snapshot

# Delete a snapshot
hcloud image delete IMAGE_ID
```

### Delete backups

If automated backups were enabled for the server, they are deleted automatically when the server is deleted. If you need to verify:

```bash theme={null}
hcloud image list --type backup
```

### Release Floating IPs

Floating IPs are not deleted when a server is deleted. They continue to incur charges:

```bash theme={null}
# List floating IPs
hcloud floating-ip list

# Delete a floating IP
hcloud floating-ip delete FLOATING_IP_ID
```

### Remove the server from any Load Balancers or Networks

If the server was part of a Load Balancer or private network, remove it:

```bash theme={null}
# Detach from a private network
hcloud server detach-from-network SERVER_NAME --network NETWORK_NAME

# Remove from a load balancer
hcloud load-balancer remove-target LOAD_BALANCER_NAME --type server --server SERVER_NAME
```

***

## Rotate credentials

After deletion, rotate everything the agent had access to. See the [post-termination checklist](/security/terminate-instance#post-termination-checklist) for the full list.