---
title: "Stop or start a vector database"
description: "Stop a Qdrant vector database in TIR to pause its compute charge, and start it again when you need it."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "vector-database"
platform: "TIR"
url: "/tir/vector-database/how-to/stop-or-start-a-vector-database/"
topic: ["manage"]
---

# Stop or start a vector database

Stop a database while it sits idle to pause its compute charge, and start it again when you need it.
A stopped database is still charged for its disk above 30 GB per node and for its snapshots, until
you delete them or the database.

## Before you begin

You need a role with Update permission on Vector Database. You can stop a database while it is
**Running** and any snapshot has finished. You can start one while it is **Stopped**. On a prepaid
account, starting also needs credit for at least 1 hour of its nodes.

Compute is billed only while the database runs. See
[Vector Database billing](/tir/vector-database/concepts/vector-database-billing/).

## Stop a database

1. In **Manage Vector Database**, select **Actions** in the database's row, then **Stop**. The item
   is available while the database is **Running**.
2. In **Stop Vector Database**, confirm.

TIR says "Database <name> stopped successfully". The **Status** changes to **Stopping** and then
**Stopped**.

## Start a database

1. Select **Actions** in the row, then **Start**. The item is available while the database is
   **Stopped**.
2. In **Start Vector Database**, confirm.

TIR says "Database <name> started successfully". The database returns with the same number of nodes
it had when it stopped, and compute billing begins again.

## What to do next

To stop every charge, [delete the database](/tir/vector-database/how-to/delete-a-vector-database/).
If a stop or start is refused, see
[Troubleshooting Vector Database](/tir/vector-database/troubleshooting/vector-database/).