What happens when a domain expires

If a domain is not renewed by its expiry date, it does not disappear immediately, but you should act quickly. The typical stages are:

  1. Expiry date reached: the domain stops working. Your website and email tied to it may go offline.
  2. Grace period: for a short window after expiry you can still renew at the normal price. Renew here to avoid extra fees.
  3. Redemption period: after the grace period, the domain enters redemption. It can often still be recovered, but a higher redemption fee applies on top of the renewal price.
  4. Release: once redemption ends, the domain is released and anyone can register it.

The simplest protection is to renew early and enable auto renew. If your domain has already expired, open a ticket right away and we will tell you which stage it is in and what it costs to recover.

  • 139 Users Found This Useful
Was this answer helpful?

Related Articles

How to register a .rw domain name

  Go to https://www.register.rw. Type the domain you want in the search box (for example...

.rw domain extensions and pricing

We are a .rw registrar, so you can register the full family of Rwandan domain names with us....

How to renew your domain

Domains must be renewed each year to stay active. We send renewal reminders to your registered...

How to point your domain to your hosting

To make your website load on your domain, the domain needs to use the correct nameservers. If...

How to manage your DNS records

DNS records control where different services for your domain point. You manage them under Domains...