Want to stop using a domain name? You can let it end on its expiry date, or cancel it right away. First read the tips below. Cancelling at the wrong moment can cost you your domain name.
Before you cancel: three tips
- Moving your domain name to another provider? Don't cancel it. A cancelled domain name gets the status "deleted" at the registry. That makes a transfer hard, or even impossible. Request the transfer key instead. Once the transfer is done, the domain name leaves your account by itself.
- Only want another web host or email provider? Keep your domain name. Your web hosting and email come with your plan, not with your domain name. Cancel the plan, or unlink the domain name from it. Either way, the domain name loses the web hosting, email, website builder and SSL of that plan. You keep managing the domain name, its nameservers and its DNS with us.
- Think of your website and email. Once the domain name is gone, its website no longer loads and email to its addresses no longer arrives.
Option 1: let your domain name end on its expiry date
This is the safest choice. Your domain name keeps working until the end of the period you paid for. After that, it isn't renewed.
Step 1: Open your domain name in your dashboard. Next to Renewal, click Change.
Step 2: Turn off the switch for automatic renewal and save your change.
Changed your mind? Turn it back on any time before the expiry date. Read more about how the renewal of a domain name works.
Option 2: cancel your domain name right away
Only do this if you're sure. The domain name stops working at once and is cancelled at the registry. After a while, anyone can register it. Until then, getting it back is sometimes possible, but it costs more.
Step 1: Open your domain name, click Manage and choose Cancel domain.
Step 2: Enter the password of your account and click Terminate domain.
Want to stop a plan or another product instead? Read how to cancel a product.
