What Happens After Your Domain Expires? Understanding Grace Periods (.com & .org)

When you register a domain name like `.com` or `.org`, it’s important to remember: your domain has an expiry date. If you don’t renew it in time, your website and email services could stop working—and worse, someone else might grab your domain!

At Web Register Limited, we want to ensure you never lose your online identity. This article breaks down what happens after your domain expires, and how the “grace period” works for `.com` and `.org` domains.

What Is a Domain Grace Period?

A grace period is the extra time you get after your domain expires, during which you can still renew it before it’s deleted or made available to others. These grace periods are part of a standard domain lifecycle and give domain owners a chance to act before it’s too late.

Domain Expiry Timeline: What to Expect

Let’s break it down step-by-step:

  ✅ 1. Auto-Renew Grace Period (0–30 Days After Expiry)

* Duration: Up to 30 days (varies by registrar)
* Website/Email: Usually stops working
* Renewal Cost: Standard price
* Status Code: `clientHold` or `autoRenewPeriod`
* 🛠️ What to Do: Just renew your domain as normal. No penalties, no extra charges.

This is your first warning. At this stage, your domain is inactive, but still safe.

Note that some registrars may put the domains directly to redemption period only after 3 days of expiry.

—

 ⛔ 2. Redemption Grace Period (RGP) (\~30–60 Days After Expiry)

* Duration: 30 days
* Website/Email: Still offline
* Renewal Cost: Standard price + Redemption Fee (typically \$70–\$150)
* Status Code: `redemptionPeriod`
* 🛠️ What to Do: Contact support to restore your domain. This is your last chance before deletion.

At Web Register Limited, we’ll assist you with the process if you reach out in time.

⚠️ 3. Pending Delete(60–65 Days After Expiry)

* Duration: 5 days
* Action: No longer recoverable
* Status Code: `pendingDelete`
* Website/Email: Still offline
* 🛠️ What Happens: The domain will be **permanently deleted** and may become available for anyone to register.

🔓 4. Available to the Public (\~66 Days After Expiry)

Your domain is now publicly available for registration.
If someone else registers it, you lose it permanently.

This is why timely renewal is crucial, especially for brands, businesses, or personal blogs that depend on their domain.

—

🧾 Summary Table

| Stage                                   |  Days After Expiry                       | Can Renew?                           | Cost                                           | Notes |
| Auto-Renew Grace          | 0–30                                               | ✅ Yes                                     | Normal                                     | Domain inactive but recoverable |
| Redemption Period         | 30–60                                             | ✅ Yes                                     | Renewal + Redemption Fee | Recovery possible with extra charge |
| Pending Delete                 | 60–65                                             | ❌ No                                      | N/A                                            | Scheduled for deletion |
| Available                            | \~Day 66+                                     | ✅ Yes                                     | New registration                     | Anyone can claim it |

—

💡 Tips from Web Register Limited

Enable Auto-Renew: Set your domain to auto-renew in your account to avoid missing deadlines.
Keep Your Email Updated: Always ensure your contact email is current to receive expiry reminders.
Renew Early: You can renew domains up to 10 years in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute!

🔒 Secure Your Domain with Web Register Limited

Whether you’re registering a new domain or managing an existing one, Web Register Limited is here to help. We offer:

✅ Reliable domain registration
✅ Auto-renew setup
✅ Expiry reminders
✅ Recovery assistance during grace periods

📞 Need help? Contact us today at [info@webregister.co.ke]or visit https://webregister.co.ke

—

Never risk losing your domain. Stay informed, stay protected.

Team Web Register Limited.