A complete explanation of the domain lifecycle — from available, registered, expired, redemption, to becoming available again for public registration.
Domains on the internet have a lifecycle — from being publicly available, to being owned by someone, to potentially becoming available again if the owner does not renew. Here are the stages of the domain lifecycle:
Domain Lifecycle Stages
| Status | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Available | — | The domain is publicly available and can be registered by anyone. First come, first served. |
| Registered | Per purchase period | The domain is owned by someone. As long as it is renewed, it remains theirs. If not renewed, it moves to the next stage. |
| Expired | 40 days | The domain is suspended due to non-renewal. It can still be renewed at the normal price. If renewed, it automatically becomes active again. |
| Redemption | 30 days | A last chance for the domain owner. To recover the domain, the owner must pay a renewal fee 10× the normal price to reactivate it. |
| Pending Delete | 5 days | The domain is about to be deleted. No one can renew or register it during this period. |
| Domain Available Again | — | The domain is publicly available again and can be registered by anyone. |
Tips
- Renew your domain before it expires to avoid the 10× redemption fee.
- Enable auto-renewal in the client portal so you never miss a renewal deadline.