Guides ·
My domain is about to expire: what happens and what to do
When a domain's registration lapses, its website and its email stop – and after the grace periods, someone else can register it. The check below asks your domain's registry for its real expiry date.
What happens when it lapses
For most generic domains, the registrar may keep it for a grace period after expiry, often stopping your website and email straight away. After that comes a 30-day redemption period, when you can still recover it for a higher fee, then five days pending deletion – and then anyone can register it.
What to do now
Turn on automatic renewal with your registrar and check that the payment card it holds is current. If the expiry date below is within a month, renew now rather than relying on reminders: reminder emails go to the address on the registration, which is often out of date.