Domain name lifecycle, renewal, deletion

Procédure

When a domain name is not renewed in time, it does not always disappear immediately. Depending on its extension, it may go through several stages: deactivation, restoration period, deletion, then becoming available again.

This help explains what happens after a domain name expires, the possible actions depending on its status, and the risks to know before waiting for its release.

What happens when a domain name expires?

On its expiration date, a domain name that has not been renewed may be suspended. The website, email addresses and services linked to the domain may then stop working.

Depending on the extension, the domain may then go through one or more phases:

• a period during which it can still be renewed normally;
• a restoration period, sometimes called quarantine or redemption;
• a deletion period during which no action is generally possible;
• a release back into availability, where the domain can be registered by anyone.

Understanding the main states of an expired domain

A domain name can show different states after expiration. The terms may vary depending on the extension, but the principle remains similar.

Expired or suspended domain
The domain was not renewed on time. The website and emails may be interrupted, but renewal may still sometimes be possible from the LWS customer area.

Domain in quarantine or redemption
The domain is no longer active, but it may still be restored under certain conditions. This restoration may incur additional fees.

Domain pending deletion
The domain is being deleted by the registry. At this stage, it is generally no longer possible to renew or restore it.

Released domain
The domain becomes available for registration again. It can be purchased by you, but also by someone else.

Usual timeframes according to extensions

The timeframes below are given for guidance only:

The deletion periods vary depending on the extension of the domain name, here are some examples of the most common domains:

What should you do if your domain has expired?

The first thing to do is check whether the domain still appears in your LWS customer area.

1. Log in to your LWS customer area.
2. Go to the management of your domain names.
3. Search for the domain in question.
4. Check whether a renewal or restoration action is offered.
5. Follow the procedure displayed if the domain can still be recovered.

If the domain no longer appears, or if no action is offered, it may already be too far along in its expiration cycle. In this case, recovery may no longer be possible from the customer area.

Can an expired domain be transferred?

An expired, suspended, quarantined or redemption domain cannot generally be transferred to another provider.

If you want to transfer a domain, it is better to do so 15 days before its expiration date, when the domain is still active and unlockable.

Renew before the deadline

You can renew a domain name before its expiration date. The remaining days are not lost: the renewed duration is added to the period already in progress.

For example, if your domain expires in 20 days and you renew it for one year, the new expiration date will be extended from the original expiration date, not from the day of payment.

Why does LWS send reminders before expiration?

LWS sends notifications before the deadline in order to allow you to renew your domain in time. These reminders are sent to the email address associated with your customer account.

To avoid a service interruption, regularly check that:

• the email address on your LWS account is correct;
• your payment method is up to date if you use automatic renewal;
• automatic renewal is properly enabled if you want to keep the domain without manual action.

If the domain was associated with hosting

If your domain was linked to web hosting, expiration also has consequences for your website and emails.

The domain and hosting are two different services, but they are billed and renewed together. If the hosting is not renewed, the site files, databases or emails will be deleted according to the timeframes applicable to the service.

If you need to recover data after hosting expiration, consult the dedicated help on restoration or contact LWS support from your customer area to find out what options are available.

Check that the domain has been renewed properly

After a renewal or restoration, check that the domain is active again.

You can check the following points:

• the domain appears as active in your LWS customer area;
• the new expiration date has been updated;
• the website starts displaying again;
• the email addresses linked to the domain work again;
• the domain’s DNS servers are still correct.

Common issues

My domain no longer appears in my customer area

The domain may have been deleted, released, or no longer attached to the customer account used. Check that you are logged into the correct LWS account. If you have several accounts, also check your old login email addresses.

If the domain is no longer visible and you believe it was indeed managed at LWS, contact support with the exact domain name.

My domain is in quarantine or redemption

This means that the domain is no longer active, but restoration may still be possible. If a restoration action is offered in the customer area, follow it quickly.

Additional fees may apply, as restoration depends on the registry rules for the extension.

The amount requested is higher than a normal renewal

This is possible if the domain is no longer in its standard renewal period. In quarantine, redemption or restoration, the registry may apply specific fees.

The displayed cost depends on the extension and the domain’s status at the time of the request.

My site still does not work after renewal

First check that the domain is indeed active in the LWS customer area. Then check that the DNS servers are correct and that the associated hosting is also active.

If the domain has just been restored, wait for DNS propagation. The website and emails may not come back immediately.

I do not want to renew my domain

If you do not want to keep the domain, you can let it expire or disable automatic renewal from your customer area.

Before doing so, make sure the domain is no longer used for a website, email addresses, an online store or an external service. Once released, it can be registered by another person.