What Happens When a Domain Name Lapses: A Step-by-Step Guide

Illustration of a laptop with a domain name error

Owning a domain name is a crucial part of any an online presence, either a website, email or both. However, it's not uncommon for the registration of domain names to lapse—either because the owner forgets to renew it or decides to close their online presence. Understanding what happens when a domain name lapses can help you understand how important it is to maintain active management of your domain, and how vital it is to ensure that your domain remains registered.

1. Grace Period

When a domain name expires, it doesn't disappear immediately. Most domain registrars offer a grace period, typically lasting between 30 and 45 days, depending on the registrar and the specific domain extension (TLD). During this grace period, the domain is technically expired, and any traffic directed to it, be that website visitors or email, will go no-where, but the original owner can still renew the domain without any additional penalties beyond the standard renewal fee.

Impact

Your website will go offline, and any emails associated with that domain will bounce back to the sender. If you renew the domain within this grace period, everything should return to normal.

2. Redemption Period

If the domain is not renewed during the grace period, it enters a redemption period, which typically lasts another 30 days. During this time, the domain is still not available for re-registration by the public, but it is more costly to reclaim. The original owner can renew the domain, but they will have to pay a redemption fee, which is significantly higher than the standard renewal cost.

Impact

The domain is still recoverable, but at a higher cost. It's essential to act quickly if you want to reclaim the domain without further complications.

3. Pending Deletion

After the redemption period ends, the domain enters a pending deletion status. This phase usually lasts around 5 days. During this time, the domain is in a final queue to be released back into the pool of available domain names. Once this period ends, the domain will be made publicly available for anyone to register.

Impact

The domain is essentially lost at this stage. Unless you're prepared to compete with others who might want to register it, your ownership of the domain is likely over.

4. Domain Auction

In some cases, especially with high-value or popular domains, registrars may auction off expired domains before they reach the public re-registration phase. These auctions can occur during the grace period or redemption period, depending on the registrar's policies. If the domain is auctioned, the highest bidder will win the rights to register the domain once it is released.

Impact

If your domain is valuable, it could be sold to the highest bidder. Reclaiming it might require participating in the auction or negotiating with the new owner, often at a much higher cost than the standard renewal fee.

5. Public Availability and Re-Registration

Finally, if no one claims the domain during the grace period, redemption period, or through an auction, it becomes publicly available for anyone to register. At this point, anyone—including your competitors—can purchase the domain and use it as they see fit.

Impact

Losing control over your domain can have significant consequences. If the domain is associated with your brand, it could lead to customer confusion, loss of traffic, or even reputational damage if the new owner uses the domain for malicious purposes.

6. Preventing Domain Lapses

To avoid the stress and potential loss associated with a lapsed domain, here are some proactive steps you can take:

Set Up Auto-Renewal

Most registrars offer an auto-renewal option, which ensures that your domain will be renewed automatically before it expires. This is one of the simplest ways to prevent a lapse.

Keep Contact Information Updated

Ensure your registrar has your current contact details, and especially a correct Email Address. Many registrars will send renewal reminders, and having up-to-date information ensures you receive these alerts. In addition having the Registrant Contact Email pointing to an email address that you have access to makes it much easier to manage the domain as a whole and ensure that you can request any changes to it that need to be made.

Monitor Expiration Dates

Regularly check the expiration dates of your domain names, especially if you manage multiple domains. Setting calendar reminders can help keep track of important dates.

Renew for Multiple Years

Consider renewing your domain for multiple years at a time. This reduces the chances of accidentally letting it expire and often comes with a discount.

Pay someone to Manage your domain

As Domains can only be registered on an annual basis it is easy for them to slip through the cracks from year to year as they don’t require any attention for long periods of time. As such it can be a good idea to pay another company to manage the domain on your behalf. As they will be managing multiple domains they will have the processes in place to ensure that there is no risk of the domain not being renewed and accidentally expiring. The added cost of having someone whose business is built around managing domains looking after it for you can be well worth it when the risk of it expiring could mean your website and email cease working for months before the domain can be re-registered again.

*****

A lapsed domain name can have serious consequences, from the temporary loss of your website and email services to the permanent loss of the domain to another party. Understanding the process of domain expiration—grace periods, redemption periods, and auctions—can help you navigate the situation if it arises. By taking proactive steps, such as setting up auto-renewal and keeping your contact information current, you can avoid the risks associated with a lapsed domain and maintain control over your online presence.