diff --git a/admin/internal/api/customer.go b/admin/internal/api/customer.go
index 5d71a11..2619149 100644
--- a/admin/internal/api/customer.go
+++ b/admin/internal/api/customer.go
@@ -308,6 +308,72 @@ func createInstance(c *gin.Context) {
 	c.JSON(http.StatusCreated, rec)
 }
 
+// renewInstance extends a Free licence by another term.
+//
+// Renewal is manual on purpose: it is the entire reclaim signal. An instance
+// nobody renews is an instance nobody is using, and that is what makes the
+// reaper safe to run at all.
+func renewInstance(c *gin.Context) {
+	inst, ok := ownedInstance(c, c.Param("id"))
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	if inst.Tier != license.TierFree {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{
+			"error": "only Free instances renew here; paid plans renew through billing"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+
+	var current models.License
+	if err := db.Admin("licenses").FindOne(ctx,
+		bson.M{"license_id": inst.CurrentLicense}).Decode(&current); err != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "no licence issued yet"})
+		return
+	}
+	if time.Now().UTC().Before(current.ExpiresAt.Add(-models.RenewWindow)) {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{
+			"error": fmt.Sprintf("this licence is not due yet; you can renew from %s",
+				current.ExpiresAt.Add(-models.RenewWindow).Format("2 January 2006"))})
+		return
+	}
+
+	lic, err := licensing.Issue(ctx, licensing.IssueInput{
+		InstanceID: inst.InstanceID,
+		Tier:       license.TierFree,
+		Term:       "monthly",
+		Reason:     models.ReasonRenewal,
+		IssuedBy:   "self-serve",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+	inject.Deliver(ctx, lic)
+
+	// Clear the notice log so the next term starts the sequence again. Issue has
+	// already set status back to active.
+	if _, err := db.Admin("admin_instances").UpdateOne(ctx,
+		bson.M{"instance_id": inst.InstanceID},
+		bson.M{"$unset": bson.M{"notices_sent": ""}}); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("renewInstance: clear notices for %s: %v", inst.InstanceID, err)
+	}
+
+	s := auth.Current(c)
+	audit.Write(ctx, models.AuditEntry{
+		Actor: s.Email, Action: "instance.renewed", AccountID: s.AccountID,
+		Target: inst.InstanceID, IP: c.ClientIP()})
+
+	if mail.Enabled() {
+		if err := mail.SendRenewed(s.Email, inst.Name, lic.ExpiresAt); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("renewInstance: renewed email to %s: %v", s.Email, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, lic)
+}
+
 // loginURLFor fills the {slug} template in APP_LOGIN_URL. An empty template
 // yields an empty string, and the email simply omits the link.
 func loginURLFor(slug string) string {
diff --git a/admin/internal/api/routes.go b/admin/internal/api/routes.go
index dfe1f49..e647bc0 100644
--- a/admin/internal/api/routes.go
+++ b/admin/internal/api/routes.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ func Routes(cfg config.Config) http.Handler {
 		cust.POST("/instances", createInstance)
 		cust.POST("/instances/link", linkInstance)
 		cust.POST("/instances/:id/relink", relinkInstance)
+		cust.POST("/instances/:id/renew", renewInstance)
 		cust.GET("/instances/:id/license", getInstanceLicense)
 		cust.GET("/instances/:id/license/download", downloadInstanceLicense)
 		cust.GET("/subscriptions", listSubscriptions)
diff --git a/admin/internal/mail/mail.go b/admin/internal/mail/mail.go
index 14da8e3..043bd7b 100644
--- a/admin/internal/mail/mail.go
+++ b/admin/internal/mail/mail.go
@@ -73,3 +73,10 @@ func SendInstanceReady(to, instanceName, loginURL string, expires time.Time) err
 		expires.Format("2 January 2006"))
 	return send(to, instanceName+" is ready", body)
 }
+
+// SendRenewed confirms a renewal and states the new date.
+func SendRenewed(to, instanceName string, expires time.Time) error {
+	return send(to, instanceName+" renewed",
+		fmt.Sprintf("%s is renewed.\n\nYour Free licence now runs until %s.\n",
+			instanceName, expires.Format("2 January 2006")))
+}
diff --git a/admin/internal/models/models.go b/admin/internal/models/models.go
index e13eb02..1234277 100644
--- a/admin/internal/models/models.go
+++ b/admin/internal/models/models.go
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ const MaxRelinksPerTerm = 3
 // paying customer's instance goes read-only.
 const GracePeriod = 3 * 24 * time.Hour
 
+// RenewWindow is how long before expiry a Free instance may be renewed.
+//
+// Renewal stays available after expiry too, right up until the reaper takes the
+// instance, so the same button rescues a lapsed instance instead of needing a
+// second mechanism.
+const RenewWindow = 7 * 24 * time.Hour
+
 type Account struct {
 	ID               bson.ObjectID `bson:"_id,omitempty" json:"-"`
 	AccountID        string        `bson:"account_id" json:"account_id"`