Renew a domain name
Automatic or manual renewal, expiry dates and expired domains: what you need to know to never lose your domain.
·3 min read
At Upkyo, your domains renew automatically before they expire, using the card saved on your account. To renew manually, open Domains, then your domain, click Renew, choose the duration and pay the invoice. An expired domain can still be recovered for a few weeks depending on the extension, after which it may be lost for good.
You do not buy a domain name forever: you rent it for a period, then renew it. If it is not renewed, your website and email addresses stop working, and the name can eventually be released for someone else to register. This guide explains how renewal works at Upkyo and what to do if a domain has expired.
How does automatic renewal work?
Your domains renew automatically before they expire, using the card saved on your account. The expiry date and the renewal price are shown on the domain's page.
For automatic renewal to succeed, you need:
- a valid card saved on your account, see Save or change your payment card;
- an up-to-date email address, to receive invoices and alerts.
If the automatic payment fails (expired card, limit reached), the invoice stays unpaid. Pay it as soon as possible from your client area, see Pay an invoice.
Renew manually step by step
- Open Domains, then your domain.
- Check the expiry date and the renewal price shown.
- Click Renew.
- Choose the duration.
- Pay the invoice.
- Check that the new expiry date appears on the domain's page.
Renewing manually is useful to extend a domain by several years at once, or to pay a renewal ahead of schedule.
What happens when a domain expires?
On the expiry date, if the domain has not been renewed, it stops working: the website becomes unreachable and email is no longer received.
An expired domain can still be recovered for a few weeks, depending on the extension. After that, it may be lost: renew it as soon as you see the alert on your dashboard.
The length of this grace period, and the possible cost of a late restore, depend on the extension's registry (.com, .fr…). The longer you wait, the harder recovery becomes. After the last period, the domain is released and anyone can register it.
Why is a lost domain a real risk?
- Your website disappears and your search rankings suffer.
- Your email stops arriving: customers, suppliers, password reset messages.
- Someone else can buy the name and receive email meant for you, or show different content in place of your website.
This is why automatic renewal is strongly recommended for every domain you use.
Good practices
- Keep a valid card on your account, and update it before it expires.
- Use an account email address that does not depend on the domain being renewed. If the domain expires, you will still receive the alerts.
- Renew important domains for several years.
- Check your dashboard: expiry alerts appear there.
- If you no longer want a domain, let it expire on purpose or ask support how to stop it, rather than ignoring the reminders.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know when my domain expires?
Open Domains, then your domain: the expiry date and renewal price are shown on its page. Alerts on your dashboard also warn you as the date approaches.
My domain has expired, can I still get it back?
Often yes, for a few weeks depending on the extension. Renew it right away from the domain's page, or contact support by ticket if the Renew button is no longer available.
Can I renew my domain for several years?
Yes. Click Renew and choose the duration you want. The new period is added to the current expiry date.
Why did automatic renewal not work?
Most often, the saved card had expired or was declined. Update it, then pay the pending invoice.
Is the renewal price the same as the purchase price?
Not always: some extensions have a different first-year price. The exact renewal price is shown on the domain's page. Prices are shown excluding tax, see Prices excluding tax and VAT.