The time available to renew or restore your domain depends on its extension (TLD) and where it currently sits in the expiration process.
1. Right after expiration
Once your domain expires, we wait at least 14 days before taking any further action on it, for extensions with a grace period — a little longer than some other registrars, giving you extra breathing room. For a small number of extensions without a grace period, this can happen sooner, so renewing before your expiration date is always the safest bet. During this window, your domain may stop resolving, but it's usually still renewable at the standard fee.
2. If the domain isn't renewed in time
If the window passes without renewal, the domain may move into a recovery phase where:
- Standard renewal is no longer available
- Getting it back may require a Restore, which carries an additional fee (separate from the renewal fee)
- Whether Restore is available, and at what cost, depends on the domain's exact status and the relevant registry's rules
Reach out any time with your domain name and we'll check exactly where things stand.
3. Pending Delete and release
If a domain isn't renewed or restored in time, it eventually enters Pending Delete at the registry a short final stage before release to the public. Once it reaches this point, renewal or restoration is no longer possible, so it's worth acting before then.
A note on domains that reach this stage
If a domain isn't renewed and completes this process, it may become available to others, including through resale or auction. Once that happens we can't reverse it so we'd always rather help you renew or restore while there's still time.
A note on domains we take over
In some cases, where a domain isn't renewed, we may make use of it ourselves for a period. If that generates any proceeds, we may at our discretion credit a share of the net amount to your account. This isn't guaranteed and depends on the individual case, but it's something we're happy to discuss if it applies to you.
A few things to keep in mind
- Timelines can vary by extension some TLDs have little to no grace period.
- Fees and options for renewal or restoration depend on your domain's exact status when you reach out.
- The safest move is always renewing before the expiration date, which avoids extra fees entirely.
Not sure where your domain stands? Contact our support team with your domain name and we'll check its current status and walk you through your options.