How to Recover an Expired Domain
Every domain name is registered for a set period - usually between 1 and 10 years. You can renew your domain while it’s still active, or you can recover it after it expires, depending on how much time has passed.
Here’s what you need to know if your domain has expired and how to get it back.
When Does a Domain Expire?
A domain expires at midnight on the final day of its registration period. Right after it expires:
- The domain’s nameservers are replaced with default ones.
- Your website and emails connected to the domain will stop working.
What Happens After Expiration?
If your domain was registered through a provider like Namecheap, it usually stays in your account for 30 days after it expires.
During this time, your domain will show one of these two labels in your Domain List:
1. Grace Period
This means the domain is expired, but still within the timeframe where you can renew it directly.
2. Expired
This means the domain has passed its expiration date, but can still be recovered.
You can renew your domain from your account dashboard during this 30-day window.
If You Don’t Renew Within 30 Days
After 30 days, the domain will be removed from your account and moved into what’s called the Redemption Grace Period.
At this point:
- You can still get your domain back, but you’ll need help from support.
- There will be an extra fee to recover the domain during this stage.
Special Note for Certain Domains
Some domain extensions (ccTLDs) like:
- .CH, .ES, .FR, .LI, .PE, .SG, .DE, .EU may show as expired a few days before the actual expiration date. But overall, the VivintHost team will email you 30 days before expiration.
Always check the details for your specific domain extension to avoid confusion.
What Happens to Your Website and Email?
- When your domain expires, your website will be replaced with a temporary holding page.
- Your hosting files are not deleted, but the domain will no longer point to them.
- Any emails sent to your domain-based email address will not be delivered.
If you renew your domain within the 30-day period, your original DNS settings will be restored. It may take 24 to 48 hours for your website and emails to start working again due to DNS updates.
Domain Contact Information After Expiration
Once a domain expires:
- You can’t update or change the contact details.
- The Edit button for contact information will be disabled in your account.
If your domain had Privacy Protection and it expired, your personal details may become public in Whois - unless you're protected by GDPR rules or you reactivate the Privacy service within 16 days.
We’ll Remind You Before Expiration
To help you avoid domain loss, we’ll send you email reminders:
- 30 days before expiration
- 15 days
- 7 days
- 1 day before
- And on the expiration day
These reminders go to both your Vivint Host account email and the registrant email linked to the domain.
Tip: Set Up Auto-Renewal
To avoid the risk of losing your domain, we recommend turning on automatic renewal in your account settings. This way, your domain will renew on its own before the expiration date.
Need Help?
If your domain has expired and you’re unsure what to do, our support team is here 24/7. We can help with renewals, redemptions, and restoring your services quickly.