# How to shut down your IVM

### Why it is necessary to shut down your IVM

* You’ll **reduce** your [**costs**](/working-in-the-sandbox/billing-information-and-where-to-find-more-details.md)
* Unused IVMs shut down after two days
* **after an upgrade**, you will need to shut down and reopen your Sandbox. If you don't restart after an upgrade sometimes unexpected behaviors can occur.
* It is **always safer** to shut down your IVM **before an upgrade**.

### How to shut it down

You can shut down your IVM from **3 places** indicated on the diagram:

1. from the button located on the desktop
2. from the sidebar opening from arrowhead (>) at left
3. from top-right drop-down menu

![](/files/I4cARo2CIV885OZo6LUh)

### Forcing a shutdown

If your IVM is unresponsive you may have [exceeded the memory limit](/working-in-the-sandbox/running-analyses-in-sandbox/managing-memory-in-sandbox-and-data-filtering-tips.md) in your Sandbox. To force IVM to shut down see if the start button in the left sidebar (step 2 in the above figure) is available and click it.

If the start button is not available contact <finngen-servicedesk@helsinki.fi>.


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