# How can I delete a closed index with curator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [July 29, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-can-i-delete-a-closed-index-with-curator/56773 "2016-07-29T20:46:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jerry\_Hoffmeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90ced4/32.png) [@Jerry\_Hoffmeister](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Jerry_Hoffmeister)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-can-i-delete-a-closed-index-with-curator/56773/1 "2016-07-29T20:46:12Z")
Not sure I need to add any more than the topic sentence? My intention is to close indexes \> x days old then delete them at some later date. This is log data... ---
**Author:** ![theuntergeek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/theuntergeek/32/44961_2.png) [@theuntergeek](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/theuntergeek)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-can-i-delete-a-closed-index-with-curator/56773/2 "2016-07-29T21:05:00Z")
Only two actions may be taken against closed indices: Opening them, and Deleting them _and Deleting a closed index results in Elasticsearch briefly re-opening the index (under the hood) and then immediately deleting it._ (see note below). You select them via filters just like you would any other indices and use the `delete_indices` action (if you're using Curator 4). **Edited:** It turns out this old dog has been misinformed. Deletes do _not_ re-open indices. I don't recall where I picked up this bit of misinformation, but it turned out to be incorrect. I apologize for spreading misinformation. Thanks @Clinton_Gormley for asking @Boaz_Leskes to check the code. ---
**Author:** ![Jerry\_Hoffmeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90ced4/32.png) [@Jerry\_Hoffmeister](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Jerry_Hoffmeister)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-can-i-delete-a-closed-index-with-curator/56773/3 "2016-07-29T21:36:54Z")
Thanks, using dry-run I saw this log entry and assumed it meant that it wouldn't delete closed indexes: 2016-07-29 20:32:17,951 INFO (CLOSED) indices may be shown that may not be acted on by action "delete\_indices". ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-can-i-delete-a-closed-index-with-curator/56773/4 "2017-07-05T22:31:36Z")