What Happens When a Service Expires?

Service expiration is a multi-stage process designed to give you every opportunity to keep your website online. Understanding this lifecycle helps you prioritize which invoices to pay first and avoid permanent data loss.

The Service Expiration Lifecycle

When a renewal date passes without payment, your service progresses through the following phases:

Phase 1: Suspension (The “Offline” Warning)

• Timing: 1–5 days after the due date (depending on the plan).
• The Result: Your website stops loading and displays an “Account Suspended” page. Professional email addresses also stop sending and receiving messages.
• The Fix: Pay the outstanding invoice. Your service will automatically reactivate within minutes.

Phase 2: The Domain “Danger Zone”

• Timing: Day 1 to Day 30 after expiration.
• The Result: Your domain is no longer active. During the Grace Period, you may renew it at the standard price. If it enters the Redemption Period, the global registry applies a high restoration fee.
• The Risk: Expired domains may attract third-party bids. Delayed action can result in permanent loss of your brand name.

Phase 3: Termination (Permanent Data Loss)

• Timing: Usually 30 days after the due date (VPS services may terminate faster—typically 3–7 days).
• The Result: The service is removed from the server to free up resources.
• The Loss: All files, databases, and email accounts are permanently deleted. Once terminated, the service cannot be restored unless you have your own offline backups.

Summary of Expiration Impact