How to Delete Idle Compute Engine Instances in GCP

Idle Compute Engine Instances are one of the most common sources of wasted cloud spend in GCP. They often get left behind when instances are terminated or projects are deleted.

The Manual Way (Hard)

To find these manually in GCP Console:

1. Log in to the GCP Console.
2. Navigate to the Compute/Storage section.
3. Filter for resources with status "Available" or "Unattached".
4. Check the "Last Attached" date to ensure safety.
5. Select and delete each one manually.

Repeating this for every region is tedious and error-prone.

The Automated Way (Easy)

Cloud Waste Scanner automates this process. It scans all regions in GCP simultaneously and identifies Idle Compute Engine Instances that have been idle for more than 7 days.

Key Benefits

• Safe: We check for usage metrics before flagging.
• Fast: Scan 20+ regions in under 30 seconds.
• Local-First: Your GCP credentials never leave your computer.