Update an existing Recycle Bin retention rule

You can update an unlocked retention rule's description, resource tags, and retention period at any time after creation. You can't update a retention rule's resource type or unlock delay period, even if the retention rule is unlocked.

You can't update a locked retention rule in any way. If you need to modify a locked retention rule, you must first unlock it and wait for the unlock delay period to expire.

If you need to modify the unlock delay period for a locked retention rule, you must unlock the retention rule, and wait for the current unlock delay period to expire. When the unlock delay period is expired, you must relock the retention rule and specify the new unlock delay period.

After you update a retention rule, the changes only apply to new resources that it retains. The changes do not affect resources that it previously sent to the Recycle Bin. For example, if you update a retention rule's retention period, only snapshots that are deleted after the update are retained for the new retention period. Snapshots that it sent to the Recycle Bin before the update are still retained for the previous (old) retention period.

You can update a retention rule using one of the following methods.