Domain expired: how to get it back (.com)

What happens after a .com domain expires

When a .com domain passes its expiry date, it does not vanish at once. The registrar that holds it keeps it on a recovery path, and you are usually the only person who can bring it back. ICANN's Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP) sets the minimum rules registrars follow.

Registrars must send at least two reminders before expiry, about a month and about a week ahead. If the name is neither renewed nor deleted within five days after expiry, they must send another notice with renewal instructions. The policy also says you must be allowed to renew after expiry.

The order is simple. First comes the renewal window at your registrar. If nobody renews, the name is deleted and enters a 30-day redemption period. After that comes a 5-day pending delete stage, and then the name is released for anyone to register.

• Before expiry: reminders about a month and a week ahead.
• After expiry: renew with the registrar while it is allowed.
• Redemption: 30 days, restore only.
• Pending delete: 5 days, no restore.
• Release: open to anyone, first come first served.

Stage 1: expired but still renewable

Right after the expiry date the domain can still be renewed. Your registrar may switch off your website and email, because the ERRP requires DNS to be interrupted before deletion. That outage is a warning sign, not the end.

What to do: log in to the registrar account that holds the name and renew it. If you cannot log in, search your inbox and spam for the expiry notices and contact the registrar's support. If someone else bought the name for you, ask them for the account details today.

Renewal after expiry is allowed, but the policy does not say the price must match the normal renewal price. Registrars must show their renewal, post-expiry and redemption fees on their website, so read that page before paying. For general renewal prices, see our guide “What a domain costs to renew, and why year two can cost more”.

Stage 2: the 30-day redemption period

If a .com is deleted, ICANN says it enters a redemption period of 30 days. In this stage the name can still be restored, but ordinary renewal is no longer the route. You ask the registrar to redeem it.

During redemption the registry must switch off DNS and block transfers. So your site stays down and you cannot move the name to another registrar until it is restored.

Redemption fees are set by each registrar, not by ICANN, so we cannot give you a figure. Ask your registrar for the exact amount before you pay, and expect it to differ from a normal renewal. Act early in these 30 days. The clock does not stop while you compare options or wait for a reply.

Stage 3: pending delete and release

After redemption, a name that has not been restored moves to PendingDelete for 5 days, according to ICANN. All services stay disabled in this stage.

When the 5 days end, the name is released and can be registered by anyone on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the moment backorder services and watchers compete for.

Do not plan around counting days to the hour. Registries and registrars may differ in small ways, and the exact release moment is not announced to you in advance. If you still want the name, restore it during redemption. After that your only routes are to catch it at release or to buy it from the next owner.

The path is the same whether the name is quiet or busy. A valuable name does not get extra days.

Why an expired name still shows as taken

Many people search a lapsed name, see it listed as registered, and assume the owner is ignoring it. In fact a name can sit in several stages where it still appears in records: expired but renewable, in redemption, or in pending delete. ICANN notes that after cancellation or expiry you may not be able to register it elsewhere right away.

A the WHOIS lookup lookup shows the registrar, the dates and the status codes. Look for the expiry date and for status words such as redemptionPeriod or pendingDelete. These hint at the stage the name is in. The lookup may lag behind the registry, so treat it as a guide, not a promise.

If the status shows redemption or pending delete, nobody can buy it from the registrar yet. If it shows an expiry date in the past with a normal status, the owner may still be able to renew. Either way, repeated searching will not free the name sooner.

Backorder or watchlist: what each can and cannot do

A backorder service tries to register the name at the moment it is released. Several services may chase the same name, and only one wins. Read each service's terms and fees yourself; we do not rank them.

Our watchlist works differently. It checks the name every night and sends you a WhatsApp message when its status changes or it becomes available. It is a way to stop forgetting, not a robot that grabs the name for you. It cannot guarantee a catch, and no service honestly can.

The practical plan: watch the name from the day you notice it expiring and have payment ready. When the alert arrives, check the domain search right away and register it in your own name. You can use a backorder and the watchlist together. Remember the original owner can still restore the name until it is released.

If someone else registered it

Sometimes you miss the release. The name now belongs to a new owner, perhaps a person who wants to resell it, perhaps a business that will use it. You can still try to get it.

Start with the WHOIS lookup to see what contact details are shown. Many owners use privacy, so contact may go through a form. Be polite and make a clear offer. If the name matches a brand, check our guide “Check trademarks before registering a domain in Pakistan” first so you do not buy a problem.

If the owner agrees to sell, use escrow so money and domain change hands safely. Our marketplace is an escrow marketplace for existing domains, and our guide “How to buy an expired domain” explains the steps for buying a lapsed name. If the price is too high, look at the name idea tool or our guide “Why Short Domain Names Cost More” for a close alternative instead of overpaying.

How .pk differs from .com

Everything above applies to .com under ICANN rules. A .pk name sits with the Pakistan registry, PKNIC, which has its own expiry timeline and fees. Do not assume the 30-day and 5-day figures apply to it.

PKNIC charges Rs 2,100 a year for Pakistan-based registrants from 1 Aug 2026, billed two years at a time, and the registrant name is fixed at registration. Our own .pk renewal is Rs 4,499 for two years.

If your .pk or .com.pk has lapsed, read our guide “What happens when a .pk domain expires?” for the stages and your options. For any expired name, message us on WhatsApp +92 339 5166645 with the name and we will tell you what stage it appears to be in. We cannot promise recovery, because only the registrar or registry can restore a name.

Common questions