Merge pull request #302651 from RoseHJM/mdb-auto-delete

MDB - auto delete dev boxes

Author: AnnaMHuff

articles/dev-box/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box.md

@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+---
+title: Enable Dev Box Auto-Delete to Control Costs
+description: Dev Box autodeletion helps you control costs by removing unused Dev Boxes. Learn how to enable, configure, and cancel autodeletion in Azure.
+#customer intent: As a Dev Box admin, I want to enable auto-deletion for unused Dev Boxes so that I can control costs in my Azure subscription.
+author: RoseHJM
+contributors: null
+ms.topic: how-to
+ms.date: 07/11/2025
+ms.author: rosemalcolm
+ms.reviewer: rosemalcolm
+ms.custom:
+  - ai-gen-docs-bap
+  - ai-gen-title
+  - ai-seo-date:07/11/2025
+  - ai-gen-description
+---
+
+# Configure Microsoft Dev Box autodeletion
+
+Microsoft Dev Box Auto Delete (Preview) helps organizations manage resources and control costs by automatically deleting unused Dev Boxes. This article explains how to enable the feature, configure autodeletion settings, and cancel scheduled deletions in both the Azure portal and developer portal. Use these steps to optimize Dev Box usage in your Azure subscription.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Microsoft Dev Box configured with a dev center and at least one project.
+
+## Enable the preview feature
+
+While the Dev Box Auto Delete feature is in Preview, you must manually enable it in your Azure subscription. Follow these steps:
+
+1. Sign in to the [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com).
+1. Go to the Azure subscription where you want to enable Dev Box autodeletion.
+1. In the left menu, select **Preview features**.
+1. In the search box, type "Dev Box Auto".
+1. Select **Dev Box Auto Delete Preview**, and then select **Register**.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-enable-preview.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Azure portal showing the Preview features pane with Dev Box Auto Delete Preview selected." lightbox="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-enable-preview.png":::
+
+   After you register the feature, it will be available for use in your subscription.
+
+## Set up autodeletion in a project
+
+To configure autodeletion for unused dev boxes in a project, follow these steps in the Azure portal:
+
+1. Open an existing Dev Box project, or create a new one in your subscription.
+1. In the left menu, under **Settings**, select **Dev box settings**.
+1. On the **Dev box settings** page, in the **Cost controls** section, select **Automatically delete unused dev boxes**.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-enable.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Azure portal showing the option to enable automatic deletion of unused dev boxes in project settings." lightbox="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-enable.png":::
+ 
+1. When automatic deletion is enabled, you can configure the following options:
+   - **Inactivity threshold**: Enter the number of inactive days before a Dev Box is scheduled for automatic deletion (for example, 30 days).
+   - **Grace period**: Enter the number of days the developer or admin has to respond and keep the Dev Box (for example, 30 days).
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-settings.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Dev box settings page in Azure portal showing the cost controls section with autodeletion options." lightbox="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-settings.png"::: 
+
+1. Select **Apply**.
+
+## Cancel scheduled deletions in the Azure portal
+
+To cancel a scheduled deletion in the Azure portal, follow these steps:
+
+1. Go to the pool that has your Dev Box scheduled for deletion.
+1. Select that pool to view its Dev Boxes. You need Project Admin access to finish this step.
+1. Select the ellipses (**...**) next to the Dev Box scheduled for deletion.
+1. Select **Cancel deletion**. 
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-azure-portal-cancel-auto-delete.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Azure portal showing the pool details and the cancel deletion option for a Dev Box." lightbox="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-azure-portal-cancel-auto-delete.png":::
+
+The selected dev box isn't deleted.
+
+## Cancel scheduled deletions in the developer portal
+
+After reaching the inactivity threshold, you'll get an email notification warning you that your Dev Box is scheduled for deletion. 
+
+:::image type="content" source="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-email.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing an email notification informing the user that their dev box will be deleted. The message states when dev box will be deleted." lightbox="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-email.png":::
+
+If you want to cancel the scheduled deletion and keep your dev box, follow these steps:
+
+1. Sign in to the [developer portal](https://aka.ms/devbox-portal).
+1. In the developer portal, find the dev box scheduled for deletion.
+1. Select **Keep this dev box** to cancel the automatic deletion.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-developer-portal-keep.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Dev Box developer portal showing the scheduled deletion notice and the option to keep the dev box.":::
+
+The selected dev box isn't deleted.
+
+If you don't see a dev box tile with a pending deletion notice, check with your admin that you still have access to the project containing the dev box.
+
+## Related content
+
+- [Autostop your Dev Boxes on schedule](how-to-configure-stop-schedule.md)

articles/dev-box/index.yml

@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ landingContent:
             url: how-to-request-quota-increase.md
           - text: Configure Dev Box Hibernation
             url: how-to-configure-dev-box-hibernation.md
+          - text: Delete unused dev boxes
+            url: how-to-auto-delete-dev-box.md
           - text: Autostop Dev Boxes on schedule             
             url: how-to-configure-stop-schedule.md
           - text: Skip or delay a scheduled shutdown

articles/dev-box/media/how-to-auto-delete-dev-box/dev-box-auto-delete-email.png

@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ items:
       - name: Connect to a dev box with a dev tunnel
         href: how-to-set-up-dev-tunnels.md
   - name: AI on Dev Box
-    items: 
+    items:
       - name: Configure Serverless GPU
         href: how-to-configure-dev-box-serverless-gpu.md
   - name: Security
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ items:
         href: how-to-configure-stop-on-disconnect.md
       - name: Skip or delay an automatic shutdown
         href: how-to-skip-delay-stop.md
+      - name: Delete unused dev boxes
+        href: how-to-auto-delete-dev-box.md
   - name: Connect devices to dev boxes
     items:
       - name: Connect physical devices to a dev box
@@ -172,7 +174,7 @@ items:
         href: how-to-get-help.md
   - name: Reference
     items:
-      - name: 'Reference: imagedefinition.yaml and task.yaml files'
+      - name: "Reference: imagedefinition.yaml and task.yaml files"
         href: reference-dev-box-customizations.md
         displayName: Customize, schema, yaml, imagedefinition, task
       - name: Install Azure CLI devcenter extension