How to Remove an Azure ExpressRoute Gateway

Steps

Follow these steps:

1. Check and Remove Dependencies

Before deleting the gateway, verify there are no active ExpressRoute connections attached to it.

In Azure Portal

1. Go to Virtual network gateways.
2. Select your ExpressRoute gateway.
3. Open Connections.
4. Delete all connections listed.

Using Azure CLI

az network express-route gateway connection list </span>

  --gateway-name <GatewayName> </span>

  --resource-group <ResourceGroup>

You must ensure this list is empty before proceeding. 

2. Delete the ExpressRoute Gateway

Azure CLI

az network vnet-gateway delete </span>

  --name <GatewayName> </span>

  --resource-group <ResourceGroup> </span>

  --no-wait

This deletes the ExpressRoute virtual network gateway after dependencies are cleared. 

PowerShell Alternative

If you are using Virtual WAN ExpressRoute Gateway, use:

Remove-AzExpressRouteGateway -ResourceGroupName <RG> -Name <GatewayName> -Force

This also deletes all ExpressRoute connections attached to it. 

3. Remove Associated Resources (Optional but Recommended)

After the gateway is removed:

• Delete unused Public IPs:

az network public-ip delete --name <PublicIPName> --resource-group <ResourceGroup>

• Remove GatewaySubnet if you will no longer use it on the VNet.

4. Verify the Gateway Is Deleted

az network express-route gateway list </span>

  --resource-group <ResourceGroup>

Ensure the gateway no longer appears. 

If You Still Can’t Delete It

If Azure refuses deletion due to circuit state issues (common when circuits aren’t properly deprovisioned), ensure:

• The ExpressRoute circuit is deprovisioned by the service provider.
  Azure will not allow deletion until this is completed.
• All linked VNets are unlinked. 

If deletion still fails (e.g., due to a stuck/failed connection in "Failed" state), use the Azure Resource Explorer workaround:

• Go to Resource Explorer in the portal.
• Navigate to: Subscriptions → [your subscription] → resourceGroups → [your RG] → providers → Microsoft.Network → virtualNetworkGateways → [your gateway].
• Under Connections (or directly on the gateway), find the stuck connection and use the DELETE action (switch to Read/Write mode if needed).

Delete via Azure CLI

Bash

# 1. List connections to confirm they are gone

az network express-route gateway connection list --gateway-name <GatewayName> --resource-group <ResourceGroupName>

# 2. Delete any remaining connections (if any)

az network vpn-connection delete --name <ConnectionName> --resource-group <ResourceGroupName>

# 3. Delete the gateway

az network vnet-gateway delete --name <GatewayName> --resource-group <ResourceGroupName>

Delete via PowerShell

PowerShell

# Delete the gateway (add -Force if needed)

Remove-AzVirtualNetworkGateway -Name <GatewayName> -ResourceGroupName <ResourceGroupName> -Force

Note: There is also a separate resource called ExpressRoute gateway used in Virtual WAN (Microsoft.Network/expressRouteGateways). If that's what you have (scalable gateway in a Virtual Hub), use these commands instead:

• CLI: az network express-route gateway delete --name <Name> --resource-group <RG>
• PowerShell: Remove-AzExpressRouteGateway -Name <Name> -ResourceGroupName <RG>