# How do I add a lifecycle policy to an index via the API? **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Tags:** ilm-index-lifecycle-management\ **Created:** [November 4, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-do-i-add-a-lifecycle-policy-to-an-index-via-the-api/254295 "2020-11-04T15:36:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jmcclelland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@jmcclelland](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jmcclelland)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-do-i-add-a-lifecycle-policy-to-an-index-via-the-api/254295/1 "2020-11-04T15:36:41Z")
In Kibana, if I click on an index, and then click the Manage button, I have the option to "Add lifecycle policy" to that existing index - I'm asked for the policy to add and the rollover index. How do I do this via the API? I see [documentation on how to remove a policy](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/ilm-remove-policy.html) but nothing on how to add one. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-do-i-add-a-lifecycle-policy-to-an-index-via-the-api/254295/2 "2020-11-04T16:26:23Z")
Isn't this page? > **[Create lifecycle policy API | Elasticsearch Reference \[7.9\] | Elastic](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/ilm-put-lifecycle.html)** ---
**Author:** ![jmcclelland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@jmcclelland](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jmcclelland)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-do-i-add-a-lifecycle-policy-to-an-index-via-the-api/254295/3 "2020-11-04T16:44:58Z")
Thanks for getting back to me. I just updated my question to make it clearer - that page describes how to add a life cycle policy. I'm trying to figure out how to add an existing lifecycle policy to an existing index ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-do-i-add-a-lifecycle-policy-to-an-index-via-the-api/254295/4 "2020-11-04T16:52:38Z")
It's an index settings. So you need to call the [update index settings API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/indices-update-settings.html) or the [index template API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/indices-put-template.html). Of course this also works with the [create index API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/indices-create-index.html). See [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/ilm-settings.html#\_index\_level\_settings](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/ilm-settings.html#_index_level_settings) Specifically `index.lifecycle.name`. ---
**Author:** ![jmcclelland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@jmcclelland](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jmcclelland)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-do-i-add-a-lifecycle-policy-to-an-index-via-the-api/254295/5 "2020-11-04T16:56:12Z")
Thank you!! That looks like it's exactly what I need. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-do-i-add-a-lifecycle-policy-to-an-index-via-the-api/254295/6 "2020-12-02T16:56:13Z")
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