Domains · 3 min read
Domain Expiry, Renewal, and Recovery
Every domain registration has an end date. If the domain isn't renewed by then, it expires, and your funnels, websites, and email on that domain stop working. Expiry doesn't mean the domain is gone right away. You have a window to get it back before it's released for anyone to buy.
The timings below apply to most domains. Some endings follow their own rules.
Renew a domain
Renewing adds one or more years to your registration. You can renew any time before the domain expires, or during the grace period after it expires, at the standard renewal price.
- Auto-renew tries to renew the domain before its expiry date. Keep it on for any domain you rely on.
- Manual renewal: go to Settings > Domains & URL Redirects, click Manage next to the domain, and open its Advanced Settings to renew.
You get a reminder email 67 days before a domain expires, whether auto-renew is on or off.
.ai domains must be renewed for at least 2 years at a time, and the renewal price reflects the 2-year term.Grace period (up to 40 days after expiry)
When a domain expires, it enters a grace period, which lasts up to 40 days for most domains. During the grace period:
- Your domain may stop loading your funnels, websites, and email.
- You still own the domain.
- You can renew it at the standard renewal price, with no extra fee.
Recovery during the redemption period (about 30 days)
If the grace period ends without a renewal, the domain moves into the redemption period, which usually lasts about 30 days. The domain can't be renewed normally anymore, but you can still recover it.
Recovery costs two fees:
- The standard renewal fee.
- A one-time redemption fee set by the domain registry, not by FunnelStreams. Every major registrar charges one, and it usually can't be waived.
Both fees are shown before you confirm. To recover a domain, contact FunnelStreams support as soon as you can. Recovery isn't instant, and the window is limited.
After the domain is back, check that your funnels, websites, email, and DNS records are working again.
Release
If the domain isn't recovered during the redemption period, it's queued for deletion and permanently deleted within about five days. After that, anyone can register it, and it can't be recovered.
Avoid losing a domain
- Keep auto-renew on for important domains.
- Make sure your billing details are current so the renewal charge goes through.
- Act on renewal reminders when they arrive.
- Consider registering important domains for several years.
FAQs
Why does recovery cost more than renewing? Once a domain is in redemption, getting it back takes extra steps with the registry, which charges a redemption fee on top of the renewal.
Can FunnelStreams waive the redemption fee? Usually not. The registry sets it, not FunnelStreams.
Does paying guarantee I get the domain back? Recovery is usually possible during the redemption period, but it's time-sensitive. Contact support as early as you can.