# ILM unable to delete old index since upgrade to 8.19.20

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/ilm-unable-to-delete-old-index-since-upgrade-to-8-19-20/390601>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Tags:** ilm-index-lifecycle-management\
**Created:** [September 23, 2026, 8:58am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/ilm-unable-to-delete-old-index-since-upgrade-to-8-19-20/390601 "2026-09-23T08:58:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![numpty-boy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/numpty-boy/32/137176_2.png) [@numpty-boy](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/numpty-boy)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 8:58am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/ilm-unable-to-delete-old-index-since-upgrade-to-8-19-20/390601/1 "2026-09-23T08:58:47Z")

</div>

Morning Team,

Since upgrading to 8.19.20, I've started getting these errors:

```auto
policy [.fleet-actions-results-ilm-policy] for index [.ds-.fleet-actions-results-2026.05.02-000014] on an error step due to a transient error, moving back to the failed step [wait-for-shard-history-leases] for execution. retry attempt [143]

policy [.fleet-actions-results-ilm-policy] for index [.ds-.fleet-actions-results-2026.05.02-000014] failed on step [{"phase":"delete","action":"delete","name":"wait-for-shard-history-leases"}]. Moving to ERROR step

```

Problem just concerns this one index.

I've tried deleting manually but no joy.

My instinct is to leave things alone until [at least] after our monthly upgrade, next week.

I'd appreciate any suggestions as to cause of the problem, best way to 'fix' it, and how to prevent it happening again.

Many thanks.