# Delete by query api - \[FORBIDDEN/8/index write (api)\]

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/delete-by-query-api-forbidden-8-index-write-api/244188>\
**Category:** Kibana\
**Created:** [August 7, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/delete-by-query-api-forbidden-8-index-write-api/244188 "2020-08-07T14:47:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Angelos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Angelos](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Angelos)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/delete-by-query-api-forbidden-8-index-write-api/244188/1 "2020-08-07T14:47:52Z")

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Hello,

The version of our Elasticsearch is: 7.8 (Platinum)

I tried to delete some indices by using delete\_by\_query and I have the following error.

```auto
"type" : "cluster_block_exception",
          "reason" : "index [shrink-index-data-000012] blocked by: [FORBIDDEN/8/index write (api)];"

```

I also checked that I have enough space and the cluster is green with No unassigned shards.  
Why am I having this error? How can I delete those documents in this specific index?

/Angelos

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kim-Kruse-Hansen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f1d935/32.png) [@Kim-Kruse-Hansen](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Kim-Kruse-Hansen)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/delete-by-query-api-forbidden-8-index-write-api/244188/2 "2020-08-07T17:49:32Z")

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Hi

Check if your index is set as readonly

Regards

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Angelos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Angelos](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Angelos)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 8:35am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/delete-by-query-api-forbidden-8-index-write-api/244188/3 "2020-08-10T08:35:11Z")

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Hi Kim,

Thank you for your response.

It is not read only.

```auto
index.blocks.read_only_allow_delete": "false"

```

/Angelos

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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:** [September 7, 2020, 8:35am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/delete-by-query-api-forbidden-8-index-write-api/244188/4 "2020-09-07T08:35:11Z")

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