Domain expired? What happens and how to get it back
What happens when a domain expires, stage by stage: grace period, redemption, pending delete and the drop. How to recover an expired domain and how to make sure it never happens.
If your domain expires, you usually don't lose it straight away. There's a series of stages, and the sooner you act, the cheaper and easier it is to get it back. Here's exactly what happens, based on ICANN's rules for generic endings like .com.
Before it expires: reminders
ICANN's Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP) requires registrars to send at least two reminders before expiry: about a month before, and about a week before. They go to the registrant email on the domain, which is why keeping your contact email current matters so much.
The stages after expiry
| Stage | How long | What happens | Can you get it back? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Expired / grace period | Up to about 45 days (varies by registrar) | Your website and email may stop working. The registrar must disrupt DNS for up to 8 days before deleting it, as a final warning. | Yes, usually at the normal renewal price or a little more. |
| 2. Redemption grace period | 30 days | The domain is deleted from the registrar's side but held by the registry. It can't be transferred. | Yes, but with a restore fee that's often far higher than a renewal. |
| 3. Pending delete | About 5 days | The domain is locked and waiting to be released. | No. |
| 4. Dropped | Instant | The name is released and anyone can register it. Valuable names are often caught within seconds by drop-catching services. | Only by registering it again, if you're fast enough. |
These are typical stages for generic endings. Some registrars auction expired names during the grace period, and country endings set their own rules. Check your registrar's terms.
Watch out: expired-domain auctions
Many registrars send valuable expired names to auction during the grace period, through platforms like GoDaddy Auctions or NameJet. Your registrar's terms decide whether this can happen. If you renew in time, the auction is cancelled. See domain auction sites.
How to recover an expired domain
- Log in to your registrar immediately and look for a renew or restore option.
- If you can't log in, contact support with proof of identity and ownership.
- If it's in redemption, ask for the restore price and pay it if the domain matters to you.
- If it's dropped, try to register it again right away, or place a backorder with a drop-catching service.
- If someone else got it, check whether it's for sale, or see how to buy a domain that's taken.
How to make sure it never happens
- Turn on auto-renew, with a card that won't expire soon.
- Keep your registrant email current, and use one you check daily, not one on the same domain that's expiring.
- Register important domains for several years at a time.
- Keep all your domains at one or two registrars so nothing gets forgotten.
- Add renewal dates to your calendar as a backup.
Why it matters: if your domain lapses and someone else registers it, they can receive email sent to your old addresses, including password resets for your other accounts.
Sources
Questions
Can I get my expired domain back?
Usually, yes, if you act quickly. During the grace period you can renew it, often at the normal price. In the 30-day redemption period you can restore it for a higher fee. After that it's released to the public.
How long after a domain expires can someone else buy it?
For generic endings like .com, typically somewhere around 65 to 80 days after expiry, depending on the registrar's grace period, plus the 30-day redemption and about 5 days of pending delete. Some registrars auction names sooner.
Will my email stop working if my domain expires?
Yes. Website and email usually stop working soon after expiry.