What happens if my domain name expires?
The short answer
Your website and email on that domain stop working, but you can usually still get it back. For .com and other generic domains, your registrar must give you at least 8 days to renew after switching the site off, and then there’s usually a 30-day redemption period where you can restore it for an extra fee. After that, anyone can register it.
For .com, .net, .org and other generic domains, ICANN’s rules set out what happens:
- Before expiry: your registrar must email you reminders about a month and a week before the expiry date. Make sure they go to an address you read.
- Expiry day: the registration ends, and the registrar sends another reminder within 5 days.
- Switched off, at least 8 days: before deleting an expired domain, the registrar must switch off your website and email for at least 8 days, and you can still renew during that time. Many registrars allow longer: check yours.
- Redemption, usually 30 days: once the domain is deleted, you can usually still restore it through the same registrar, but only by paying a restore fee on top of the renewal. Fees vary, and registrars must show them on their website.
- Released, about 5 days later: the domain is gone for good, and anyone can register it, including people who resell expired domains.
Country domains, such as .com.au or .co.uk, follow their own registry’s rules.
If your domain has just expired
- Sign in to your registrar now and renew. Check the card on file is valid.
- If you can’t sign in, contact the registrar’s support straight away. Every day counts.
- Once renewed, check your website and email work again. It can take a few hours.
Words used here
- Domain expiry
- The day a domain registration ends. After a short grace period, anyone can register the name — including your competitors.
- Auto-renew
- The provider charges your card automatically when the period ends. Great for things you need, like your domain — but it’s also how forgotten trials and add-ons keep costing you.
- Lapsed
- The renewal date passed with auto-renew off, so the service has probably stopped.
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