What Happens When a Domain Expires?

## What Happens When a Domain Expires? Every domain name has an expiration date. When you register a domain for one year, you have the right to use it for 365 days. After that, unless you renew, something very specific happens — and understanding the timeline can be the difference between keeping your domain and losing it forever. ## Why Domain Expiration Matters Many domain owners treat expiration casually, assuming they will just renew when they get around to it. But the domain expiration process has strict, industry-standard phases. Once a domain enters the deletion pipeline, recovering it becomes increasingly expensive — and eventually impossible. Domains have been lost because: - The registrar sent renewal notices to an outdated email address - A credit card on file expired and auto-renewal failed - The domain owner forgot they owned it - A company shut down without migrating domain registrations Some of the internet's most valuable domains have been lost this way. A domain squatter purchased `microsft.com` (a common typo of Microsoft) when it briefly expired. The stakes are real. ## The Domain Expiration Timeline The exact timeline varies by TLD and Domain Registrar, but the standard pattern for most generic TLDs (including `.com`, `.org`, `.net`) follows this sequence: ### Phase 1: Active (Before Expiration) Your domain is fully functional. Your website resolves, email works, and you have full control over DNS settings. Your Domain Registrar will typically send renewal reminder emails at 90, 60, 30, 15, and 7 days before expiration. **Action:** Renew at any time before expiration at the standard renewal price. ### Phase 2: Expired (Day 0) The expiration date passes. What happens next depends on the Domain Registrar and the TLD: **Some registrars** continue to resolve the domain for a brief period after expiration, giving you a few extra days before anything breaks. During this time, your site may still work normally. **Other registrars** immediately suspend DNS resolution, causing your website and email to stop working the moment the domain expires. **Regardless:** The domain is now in jeopardy. Do not wait. ### Phase 3: Grace Period (Typically Days 1–30 After Expiration) ICANN's Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy includes provisions for a grace period, and most gTLD registries offer one — typically 0 to 30 days after expiration, depending on the specific TLD. During the **Grace Period**: - You can renew at the **standard renewal price** — no penalty fees - The domain is not yet available for others to register - DNS may or may not be working (depends on registrar policy) - The Domain Registrar continues sending renewal reminder emails **Action:** Renew immediately. This is the cheapest time to recover an expired domain. **Important:** Not all TLDs have a grace period. Some delete immediately on expiration. Check your specific TLD's policies. ### Phase 4: Redemption Period (Typically Days 30–60 After Expiration) If the grace period passes without renewal, the domain enters the **Redemption Period** — also called the Redemption Grace Period (RGP) in the technical ICANN documentation. During the Redemption Period: - The domain **stops resolving** — your website and email are down - The domain is **not available for others to register** — it is held for you - You can still recover the domain, but you must pay a **redemption fee** in addition to the renewal fee - Redemption fees are typically **$80–$200+** on top of the standard renewal price - Total cost to recover: $90–$215+ The registry charges the Domain Registrar a restore fee (specified in their registry agreement), and the registrar passes this cost on to you, usually with their own markup. **Action:** Contact your Domain Registrar and initiate a redemption. It is expensive but possible. ### Phase 5: Pending Delete (Typically Days 60–65 After Expiration) After the redemption period, the domain enters a short **"pending delete"** phase, typically lasting 5 days. During this time: - The domain **cannot be renewed or recovered** — it is too late - The domain is **not yet available for registration** — it is queued for deletion - There is absolutely nothing you can do This phase exists to give the registry time to process deletions in batches. **Action:** None possible. Prepare for the domain to be permanently released. ### Phase 6: Deleted and Available for Re-Registration After the pending delete phase, the domain is released and becomes available for anyone to register — on a first-come, first-served basis. **What happens next:** - Domain drop-catching services (automated bots) monitor the deletion feed and attempt to register desirable domains the instant they become available - Valuable domains are often captured by drop-catchers within seconds of release - The domain may end up at a domain auction, where you might be able to buy it back — at auction prices (often much higher than the original renewal cost) If the domain is your primary business address or brand name, losing it to a drop-catcher and having to buy it back at auction can cost thousands of dollars. ## The Full Timeline Summary | Phase | Time After Expiration | Cost to Recover | What Happens | |-------|----------------------|----------------|--------------| | Active | Before expiration | Standard renewal | Full functionality | | Expired | Day 0 | Standard renewal | DNS may stop working | | Grace Period | Days 1–30 | Standard renewal | Not publicly available | | Redemption Period | Days 30–60 | Renewal + $80–$200+ | Domain is down, but recoverable | | Pending Delete | Days 60–65 | Not recoverable | Queued for deletion | | Deleted | Day 65+ | Auction/market price | Available to anyone | *Exact timing varies by TLD and registrar.* ## How to Never Lose a Domain The best strategy is prevention: ### 1. Enable Auto-Renewal **Auto-Renewal** automatically charges your payment method and renews your domain before expiration. This is the single most important protection against accidental loss. Enable it at registration and check periodically that: - Auto-renewal is still enabled (it can sometimes get disabled during account updates) - Your payment method is current and not expired - The billing email receives renewal confirmations ### 2. Use a Reliable Email Address All renewal notices go to the email on your Domain Registrar account. If that email: - Is no longer active - Goes to spam - Is a work address you lose access to ...you will miss renewal reminders. Use a personal, permanent email address. ### 3. Set Manual Reminders Even with auto-renewal, set a calendar reminder 60 days before your domain expiration date to: - Confirm auto-renewal is still enabled - Verify your payment method is valid - Double-check the renewal processed correctly ### 4. Register for Multiple Years Registering for 2, 3, or 5 years reduces the frequency of renewals you need to manage. The renewal price per year is usually the same, but fewer renewal events means fewer opportunities for something to go wrong. ### 5. Keep Contact Information Current Your WHOIS contact information (especially email) must be accurate. If you change your email address, update it at your Domain Registrar immediately. ## What If You Lost Your Domain? If your domain has been deleted and re-registered by someone else: **If it was recently captured by a drop-catcher:** Domain registrars and aftermarket platforms (GoDaddy Auctions, NameJet, Sedo) sometimes hold captured domains for auction. Search for your domain on these platforms. **If a squatter has it:** You may be able to negotiate a purchase. Use WHOIS Lookup Tool to find their contact information. Be aware that prices may be very high. **If a squatter is clearly bad-faith:** You may have options under UDRP (if you have trademark rights) or ACPA (in the U.S.). Consult an intellectual property attorney. **If you genuinely cannot recover it:** Choose a new domain name or a different TLD. The internet moves on. Many successful businesses have survived a domain change. ## Key Takeaways - Domain expiration is a multi-phase process with strict timelines. - The **Grace Period** (days 1–30) allows renewal at standard price. - The **Redemption Period** (days 30–60) allows recovery at high extra cost ($80–$200+). - After **pending delete** (days 60–65), the domain cannot be recovered. - Enable **Auto-Renewal** and maintain a current payment method to prevent accidental loss. - Use a permanent personal email for your Domain Registrar account to receive renewal notices. For the domain management terms used in this guide, see Domain Registration Terms Every Owner Should Know. To protect your personal information in the WHOIS database, read domain-privacy-whois.