> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/home/containers/managed-kubernetes/how-tos/remove-taint.md).
# Remove a Taint
Remove taints from IONOS CLOUD Managed Kubernetes node pools or individual nodes with the DCD, IONOS CLOUD API, Terraform, or kubectl.
Remove a taint when you no longer want it to repel workloads from the nodes, such as when a maintenance window ends, when a workload no longer requires dedicated nodes, or when you finish testing. After you remove a taint, the scheduler can assign pods without a matching toleration to the node again. Remove a taint at the same level where you added it:
* **Node pool level:** Remove the taint from the node pool specification. The change applies to all nodes in that pool.
* **Individual node level:** Remove the taint from a single node with `kubectl`. The change applies only to that node.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Prerequisites:** Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
* A node pool or node with at least one taint. For more information, see [Configure Taints and Tolerations](/cloud/home/containers/managed-kubernetes/how-tos/configure-node-pool-taints.md).
* `kubectl` installed and configured to access your cluster.
{% endhint %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important:** Leave the taints that Kubernetes manages in place. For more information, see [System taints](/cloud/home/containers/managed-kubernetes/overview/taints-and-tolerations.md#system-taints).
{% endhint %}
## Remove a taint from a node pool
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="DCD" %}
1. In the **DCD**, go to **Menu** > **Containers** > **Managed Kubernetes**.
2. Select a cluster from the list and go to the **Node pools in Cluster** tab.
3. Select the node pool you want to update.
4. In the **Advanced settings** section, go to **Taints**. Select the **x** next to each taint you want to remove.
5. Select **Edit node pool** to save your changes.
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="IONOS CLOUD API" %}
To remove all taints from a node pool using the space.vars.ionos\_cloud\_api, set the `taints` array to an empty array:
```bash
curl -X PUT \
"https://api.ionos.com/cloudapi/v6/k8s/CLUSTER_ID/nodepools/NODEPOOL_ID" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"properties": {
"nodeCount": NODE_COUNT,
"taints": []
}
}'
```
Replace `CLUSTER_ID`, `NODEPOOL_ID`, `YOUR_API_TOKEN`, and `NODE_COUNT` with your values. `NODE_COUNT` is the current number of nodes in the node pool. The `nodeCount` property is required in every update request.
To remove a specific taint, send the full `taints` array without the taint you want to remove.
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="Terraform" %}
1. In the `ionoscloud_k8s_node_pool` resource, delete the `taints` block for each taint you want to remove.
2. Apply the configuration:
```bash
terraform apply
```
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
To verify that the taints are removed from the nodes in the pool, run the following command after the node pool reaches the **Available** state:
```bash
kubectl get nodes -o custom-columns='NAME:.metadata.name,TAINTS:.spec.taints'
```
The `TAINTS` column no longer lists the removed taints.
## Remove a taint from an individual node
To remove a taint, append `-` to the taint specification.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** If the taint comes from the node pool, it returns on the node the next time the node pool is updated. To remove it permanently, remove it from the node pool. For more information, see [Remove a taint from a node pool](#remove-a-taint-from-a-node-pool).
{% endhint %}
1. Remove the taint by `key`, `value`, and `effect`. If you do not know the exact value, remove it by `key` and `effect` only:
```bash
# Remove by key, value, and effect
kubectl taint nodes NODE_NAME key=value:NoSchedule-
# Remove by key and effect only
kubectl taint nodes NODE_NAME key:NoSchedule-
```
2. Verify the taint was removed:
```bash
kubectl describe node NODE_NAME | grep Taints
```
If no taints remain, the output shows:
```
Taints:
```
## Next steps
* [Configure Taints and Tolerations](/cloud/home/containers/managed-kubernetes/how-tos/configure-node-pool-taints.md)
* [Taints and tolerations overview](/cloud/home/containers/managed-kubernetes/overview/taints-and-tolerations.md)
* [Kubernetes Documentation about Taints and Tolerations](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/scheduling-eviction/taint-and-toleration/)
* [Manage Node Pools](/cloud/home/containers/managed-kubernetes/how-tos/management-of-node-pools.md)
---
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