Domains
Expired domain? Here's how to get it back
Website down and email bouncing? If your domain has expired, the clock is running. Call us now and we’ll tell you exactly where things stand.
The short answer
If your domain has expired, act now. A .au domain has a 30-day grace period after expiry, when only the current registrant can renew it. After that it’s purged and anyone can register it. Global domains like .com have their own grace and redemption periods, with fees that rise the longer you wait.
The domain expiry timeline
| Stage | .com.au and .au | .com and most global domains |
|---|---|---|
| Before expiry | Renew any time in the last 90 days | Renew any time |
| Days 1 to 30 after expiry | Grace period. Website and email are down. Only you can renew | Grace period, usually up to 30 to 45 days. Normal renewal often still possible |
| After the grace period | Purged and released to the public | Redemption period of about 30 days, with a restore fee |
| After that | Anyone can register it | Deleted, then released to the public |
Exact periods vary by provider and extension, so check with whoever holds your domain. The sooner you act, the cheaper and simpler it is.
What we can do at each expiry stage
Step 1
In the grace period
We help you renew with your current provider, or transfer the domain to us and renew.
Step 2
In redemption
For global domains, we can request a restore. It costs more, but the domain comes back.
Step 3
After release
We watch the name and try to register it the moment it becomes available.
Step 4
If someone took it
We'll explain your options, including buying it back or a dispute through auDRP.
If someone else registered your domain
Once a domain is released, it’s first come, first served. Sometimes it’s a competitor, but more often it’s a reseller hoping to sell it back to you.
If the new owner is using it in bad faith, for example to trade on your name, the .au Dispute Resolution Policy (auDRP) may let you recover it. auDA saw a 45% rise in auDRP disputes in early 2026, so it’s a well-used path. For anything else, a quiet, careful approach to buy it back is usually cheaper than a fight.
Make sure your domain never expires again
Auto-renew
Turn it on, and keep the card on file current.
A lasting email
Send reminders to an address that won't disappear.
Longer terms
Register for longer periods where the extension allows it.
Let us watch it
We manage renewals and remind you early. See domain renewals.
Talk to us about your expired domain
Tell us the domain and we’ll tell you where it is in the timeline, and what to do next.
Emergencies, 24/7: 0426 833 422
Expired domain FAQs
What happens when my .com.au expires?
Your website and email stop working. You have 30 days to renew. After that, the domain is purged and released for anyone to register.
Can I get my expired domain back?
Usually yes, if you act during the grace period. After a .au domain is released, you’ll need to register it again if it’s still free, or negotiate with the new owner.
Why has my email stopped working?
If your domain has expired, both website and email stop. Renewing restores them, though it can take a few hours to fully come back.
Someone bought my expired domain. What can I do?
You may be able to buy it back, or use auDRP if they registered it in bad faith. Talk to us before you contact them.
How do I stop my domain expiring again?
Turn on auto-renew, keep your card and email current, and use a provider who reminds you early.
Expired domain guides
Practical guides from our blog on the same topic.
