Web2 Domain Renewal Overview
Web2 domains have fixed expiration dates and must be renewed to remain active. You can renew manually from the domain page, or enable Auto Renew so the system attempts renewal before the deadline. Renewal timing, pricing, and grace windows can vary by TLD (for example .com, .net, and ccTLDs), so always follow the dates and messages shown in your dashboard.
Quick Start
- Enable Auto Renew on each important domain and keep a valid payment method on file.
- Use manual renewal for precise control, extending by 1 to 10 years where the registry allows it.
- If a domain has already expired, act quickly. Most TLDs follow a lifecycle of Grace, then Redemption, then Pending Delete.
How Auto Renew Works
What it does
Auto Renew attempts to bill and extend your domain before expiration. If the first attempt fails, systems may retry, but you should not rely on retries alone.
Set it up
Timing
- Renewal attempts are scheduled ahead of the deadline to allow time to fix issues.
- If a card is declined, update payment details and retry.
- If renewal fails and the domain enters Grace, you can still renew. See lifecycle below.
Best for
- Mission critical domains powering websites and email.
- Teams that want simple, low-risk operations.
Manual Renewal
When to use it
For control of term length, aligning expirations across portfolios, or extending multiple years at once.
Steps
Notes
- Registries enforce a 10-year maximum. Near-cap domains may not allow the full term.
- Premium names may have higher renewal pricing. Checkout shows the applicable price.
Lifecycle After Expiry
Most TLDs follow a similar sequence, but timing varies. Always trust dashboard dates.
- Day 0: Expiration
- Day 1 to 45: Grace Period, standard renewal possible, services may be paused
- Day 46 to 75: Redemption, renewal still possible, redemption fee applies
- Day 76 to 80: Pending Delete, no recovery possible
- Day 81+: Available, domain deleted and open to public
Grace Period (Standard Pricing May Still Apply)
- Short window after expiry where you can renew at normal price.
- Services may be disrupted; many registrars pause DNS.
- Renew from the dashboard, re-enable auto-renew, and verify DNS once renewal posts.
Redemption (Additional Fee Applies)
- Entered if not renewed during Grace.
- Recovery possible by paying renewal plus redemption fee.
- Services usually offline during Redemption.
- Start a Restore request, pay fees, allow processing time.
Pending Delete (No Recovery Possible)
- Final state before deletion.
- No renewals, restores, or transfers allowed.
- After deletion, domain may be registered by anyone.
Important: Some ccTLDs have shorter or different windows; a few skip Redemption. Always follow dashboard dates for your domain.
What Happens to Your Services
- Website: If DNS is paused, the site may stop resolving. Renewal restores DNS, but propagation can take minutes to hours.
- Email: MX depends on active DNS. Paused DNS can cause email delivery failures.
- Search and SEO: Short outages can trigger crawl errors; extended downtime can impact rankings. Renew early.
Pricing Notes
- Premium names: Higher renewal fees are possible; checkout reflects the actual price.
- Taxes and currency: VAT and currency handling are shown at checkout and on invoices.
- 10-year cap: Registries enforce a maximum term. If at cap, no additional years can be added.
Best Practices to Avoid Downtime
- Enable Auto Renew and verify it 30 to 15 days before expiry.
- Keep payment methods current.
- Maintain accurate WHOIS contacts so renewal notices reach you.
- Consider multi-year renewals for brand-critical names.
- Document DNS configuration for quick verification after renewal.
- If transferring near expiry, renew first, then transfer.
Troubleshooting
- Renewal charge failed: Update payment method, retry, check card limits and billing details.
- Domain shows clientHold or serverHold: Holds often clear automatically; if not, contact support.
- Website still down after renewal: Allow DNS caches to expire, check nameservers and A or AAAA records.
- Only 1-year option available: Registry may enforce limits due to cap or TLD rules.
- Missed Grace, redemption fee required: Fee is mandatory; restore immediately to avoid deletion.
- Expired domain transfer attempt: Transfers are not allowed in Redemption or Pending Delete. Renew first.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Can I renew after the exact expiration date?
It depends on the TLD. Many domains can still be renewed for a limited time after expiration (often during a Grace period), but the timing and rules vary. The safest option is to renew before the expiration date or enable Auto Renew.
2) Do I lose remaining time if I renew early?
No. Renewal adds years on top of the current expiration date, subject to the 10-year cap.
3) I just renewed the domain, but I still don’t see the updated expiration date. What should I do?
In some cases, it can take up to 48 hours for the updated expiration date to appear. If the issue persists, contact support@freename.com.
4) Will invoices show VAT?
Yes. Checkout shows tax and currency, and invoices include the breakdown.
5) Can I bulk renew multiple domains?
Yes, you can use multi-select or bulk actions in your portfolio at https://freename.com/dashboard/user/portfolio/?t=WEB2_SLD
6) If I enable Auto Renew, can I still renew manually?
Yes. Manual renewal extends the term further. Auto Renew will still attempt renewal at the next cycle.
7) My website or email is still not working after renewal. What should I check?
Confirm nameservers and DNS records are correct and allow time for DNS propagation and caching. If it still does not resolve, contact support@freename.com with your domain and details.
8) I missed Grace and now see a redemption fee. Can I avoid it?
No. If the domain is in Redemption, the redemption fee is required to restore it. Act quickly to avoid Pending Delete.
9) How can I see Freename Web2 pricing?
You can view Web2 registration, renewal, and transfer pricing here: https://freename.com/domains/domain-names-price-list
Glossary
- Auto Renew: Setting to renew a domain automatically before expiry.
- Grace Period: Window after expiry where renewal is possible.
- Redemption: Recovery window after Grace requiring a redemption fee plus renewal.
- Pending Delete: Final stage before deletion; no recovery possible.
- clientHold: Status that can pause DNS services until resolved.
- 10-year cap: Registry limit on maximum registration term.