# Reducing the number of replicas will release disk space an each node of the cluster?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/reducing-the-number-of-replicas-will-release-disk-space-an-each-node-of-the-cluster/295526>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [January 26, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/reducing-the-number-of-replicas-will-release-disk-space-an-each-node-of-the-cluster/295526 "2022-01-26T23:59:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guillermo\_Garcia1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/guillermo_garcia1/32/100924_2.png) [@Guillermo\_Garcia1](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Guillermo_Garcia1)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/reducing-the-number-of-replicas-will-release-disk-space-an-each-node-of-the-cluster/295526/1 "2022-01-26T23:59:43Z")

</div>

Hello there,

We have a problem with shard allocation due to disk space usage in several indices (yellow status). We have 2 replicas for each primary shard.

We want to update the index settings to 1 replica instead of 2.

I know that the allocation will be "easier" because there is less document to allocate (so the cluster might become green again) but ... this operation will release disk space too ? In other words : reducing replicas will delete the the replicas of the previous allocation ?

Thanks in advance,

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/reducing-the-number-of-replicas-will-release-disk-space-an-each-node-of-the-cluster/295526/2 "2022-01-27T00:00:04Z")

</div>

Welcome to our community! 😃

Yes, it will.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guillermo\_Garcia1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/guillermo_garcia1/32/100924_2.png) [@Guillermo\_Garcia1](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Guillermo_Garcia1)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 12:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/reducing-the-number-of-replicas-will-release-disk-space-an-each-node-of-the-cluster/295526/3 "2022-01-27T00:01:11Z")

</div>

Wow,

Thanks for the instant response !

---

<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:** [February 24, 2022, 12:02am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/reducing-the-number-of-replicas-will-release-disk-space-an-each-node-of-the-cluster/295526/4 "2022-02-24T00:02:11Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 28 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.