EC2 Instance is not visible

If your EC2 instances have suddenly become invisible in the instance tab, there are several potential reasons and steps you can take to troubleshoot:

1. Check the region: Ensure you're looking in the correct AWS region where you originally launched the instances. Sometimes the console defaults to a different region, making it appear as if your instances are missing.

2. Use EC2 Global View: This feature allows you to see EC2 resources across all regions. Access it from the EC2 dashboard to check if your instances are visible there.

3. Verify account login: Confirm you're logged into the correct AWS account, especially if you have multiple accounts.

4. Check instance states: Your instances may have been stopped or terminated. Look for stopped instances in the EC2 dashboard, as these won't appear in the default "Running instances" view.

5. Clear browser cache: Sometimes, browser-related issues can cause display problems in the AWS console. Try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then log in again.

6. Review CloudTrail logs: Check CloudTrail for any events related to stopping, terminating, or modifying your instances.

7. Verify permissions: Ensure you have the necessary IAM permissions to view EC2 instances in the AWS Management Console.

8. Check for filters: Make sure no filters are applied in the EC2 dashboard that might be hiding your instances.

If none of these steps resolve the issue and your applications are still running (indicating the instances still exist), it's advisable to contact AWS Support for further assistance. They can help investigate why your resources are not visible in the console despite being operational.
Sources
EC2 Instance not visible on EC2 Dashboard on my account | AWS re:Post
My all data disappeared | AWS re:Post

Hi,

A common mistake is accessing a different region than the one where you set up your EC2 instance. The EC2 Global View feature can help you check all your instances across all regions.

If you still can't find your EC2 instance, note that AWS CloudTrail keeps a record of any actions taken by a user, role, or AWS service for the last 90 days in each region, so you can use it to figure out what happened.