---
title: "Activate Kubernetes Monitoring and send data from your account | Grafana Cloud documentation"
description: "How and why to activate or deactivate the Kubernetes Monitoring app"
---

> For a curated documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt). For the complete documentation index, see [llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt).

# Activate and send data from your account

Before you can configure and use Kubernetes Monitoring, you must activate it. Activation ensures you have access and enables [billing for usage](/docs/grafana-cloud/platform/pricing-and-usage/kubernetes-monitoring/), which is based on [active host hours and active container hours](/docs/grafana-cloud/platform/pricing-and-usage/kubernetes-monitoring/#definitions). You’re charged when your Cluster sends `kube-state-metrics` data. Next, you send your data to Grafana Cloud. To do so, complete the following steps:

1. Go to your Grafana Cloud account, and click **My Account**.
2. Select the [stack](/docs/grafana-cloud/security-and-account-management/cloud-stacks/) where you want to install Kubernetes Monitoring. A stack is a Grafana Cloud environment made up of a Grafana instance and the databases that store your telemetry.
3. Click **Details** next to the name of your stack.
4. At your stack page, click **Launch** to open Kubernetes Monitoring.
5. Click **Activate** to activate Kubernetes Monitoring.
6. At the Activate Kubernetes Monitoring dialog box, select the box and click **Activate**.
7. Click **Start sending data**.

Kubernetes Monitoring displays the **Cluster configuration** tab of the **Configuration** page, where you complete configuration. Refer to [Configuration steps for Kubernetes Monitoring with Helm chart](/docs/grafana-cloud/monitor-infrastructure/kubernetes-monitoring/configuration/helm-chart-config/hc-config-steps/).

## Deactivate Kubernetes Monitoring

If you need to discontinue use of Kubernetes Monitoring, complete these steps:

1. Navigate to **Configuration**, and click the **Manage app** tab.
2. Click **Deactivate**.
3. At the dialog box, select **I understand**, and click **Deactivate**.

Deactivation only affects [host-based billing](/docs/grafana-cloud/platform/pricing-and-usage/kubernetes-monitoring/) and access to Kubernetes Monitoring. It has no affect on metrics.