Don't panic. Most TLDs give you a grace period after expiry where you can still renew without losing the domain. Here's how it goes.
The lifecycle of an expired domain
For most generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org, .info, etc.):
Day 0: Expiry
The domain expires. Your website and email stop working — visitors see error pages or registrar parking pages. The domain is still recoverable.
Days 0–30: Grace period
You can renew at standard pricing. Pay the renewal invoice and the domain comes back online within minutes (the registry restores the records).
Days 30–60: Redemption period
The domain enters "redemption." It's still recoverable, but:
- The registry charges a redemption fee (typically $80–150 on top of the renewal cost).
- We can't redeem via the standard renewal flow — you need to open a ticket.
- Recovery typically takes 1–3 business days during redemption.
Days 60–75: Pending delete
The domain is on its way to release. It cannot be recovered during this window — the registry has it queued for deletion.
Day 75+: Released
The domain is back on the open market. Anyone can register it.
Country-code TLDs and some specialty TLDs have different timelines — typically shorter (e.g., .de has a 30-day redemption rather than the generic 30+30+15). The portal shows you exact dates for each domain.
How to avoid all of this
Auto-renew is on by default. As long as your saved payment method works, we charge it before expiry and the domain renews automatically.
The simple version of "don't lose your domain":
- Make sure auto-renew is on (default).
- Make sure your payment method on file is current.
- Make sure you're seeing our renewal reminder emails (not in spam).
That's it.
Renewal reminders we send
For each domain approaching expiry, we email you at:
- 30 days before expiry — "renewal coming up."
- 14 days before — "still unpaid."
- 7 days before — "urgent."
- 1 day before — "last chance."
- Daily during the grace period — "your domain has expired but is still recoverable."
If you're not seeing these emails, check your spam folder and make sure your account email is still current at Account → Profile.
Recovering during the grace period
If your domain is in the standard 30-day grace period:
- Sign in and go to Billing.
- Find the unpaid renewal invoice for the domain.
- Pay it.
- The domain comes back online within minutes.
That's the same as a normal renewal — no extra fees.
Recovering during redemption
If your domain is past the grace period (30+ days expired):
- Open a ticket with our team titled "redemption recovery for yourdomain.com."
- We'll quote the redemption fee (set by the registry, varies by TLD — typically $80–150).
- You pay the renewal + redemption combined invoice.
- We submit the redemption request to the registry.
- The domain typically restores within 1–3 business days.
It's not fast, but it's possible. Don't wait — every day brings the domain closer to pending-delete, where recovery is impossible.
What if it's already gone?
If the domain has been released and someone else has registered it, you're out of luck — you can't force a transfer back. Options:
- Wait for them to drop it (some registrants don't renew either; you can backorder the domain to register it the moment it releases again).
- Buy it from the new owner (if they're willing to sell — often expensive).
- Pick a different domain.
The whole point of the lifecycle above is to protect you from this scenario as long as you're paying attention. Catching it during the grace period is straightforward; once it's released, you're at the mercy of whoever registers next.