# Should we remove ilm policy first before switch to another?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/should-we-remove-ilm-policy-first-before-switch-to-another/192216>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Tags:** ilm-index-lifecycle-management\
**Created:** [July 25, 2019, 10:11am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/should-we-remove-ilm-policy-first-before-switch-to-another/192216 "2019-07-25T10:11:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LoadingZhang](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/loadingzhang/32/22391_2.png) [@LoadingZhang](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/LoadingZhang)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 10:11am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/should-we-remove-ilm-policy-first-before-switch-to-another/192216/1 "2019-07-25T10:11:03Z")

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Would it get problem if switch another ilm policy directly, not remove first?

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**Author:** ![William\_Brafford](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/william_brafford/32/51559_2.png) [@William\_Brafford](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/William_Brafford)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/should-we-remove-ilm-policy-first-before-switch-to-another/192216/2 "2019-08-02T20:53:56Z")

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If you switch policies by updating the `lifecycle.name` in the index settings, the change will not take effect until the currently executing phase of the previous policy completes. This is explained in a little more detail in the docs for "[Switching policies for an index](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/_switching_policies_for_an_index.html)". As long as you are all right with that behavior, then updating an index policy directly should be fine.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/should-we-remove-ilm-policy-first-before-switch-to-another/192216/3 "2019-08-30T21:05:52Z")

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