# Can I delete a data-stream backing index?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-delete-a-data-stream-backing-index/264449>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Tags:** datastreams\
**Created:** [February 16, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-delete-a-data-stream-backing-index/264449 "2021-02-16T15:00:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gkman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/gkman/32/74525_2.png) [@gkman](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gkman)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-delete-a-data-stream-backing-index/264449/1 "2021-02-16T15:00:53Z")

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I have a few data-streams configured in my Elasticsearch cluster (with ILM policy).  
Suppose I run into storage problems and etc. and I want to prematurely delete a few backing indices of the data-streams- Is it possible?

Currently the backing indices are locked for deleting- is there a way to unlock them and safely delete them?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-delete-a-data-stream-backing-index/264449/2 "2021-03-16T15:01:07Z")

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