pendingDelete status

The domain is being deleted. After the redemption period it can't be restored, and gTLD domains are released about 5 days later.

pendingDelete at a glance
EPP status codependingDelete
RDAP statuspending delete (per RFC 8056)
Set byRegistry
CategoryLifecycle and pending status
Defined inRFC 5731, RFC 3915
ICANN referenceicann.org/epp#pendingDelete

What pendingDelete means

pendingDelete means the domain is scheduled to be deleted from the registry. In RDAP it appears as pending delete. What it means in practice depends on the statuses shown next to it.

Shown together with redemptionPeriod or pendingRestore, it means the registrar has deleted the domain but it can still be restored during the redemption grace period. Many registries display pendingDelete throughout the whole deletion process.

Shown on its own, after the redemption period has ended, it is final: the domain can no longer be restored or renewed. For gTLDs it typically stays in this state for 5 days, after which the registry purges it and it becomes available for anyone to register.

Official definition: ICANN, EPP Status Codes: What Do They Mean, and Why Should I Know? (pendingDelete)

Why a domain has this status

  • The registration expired and was not renewed, so the registrar deleted it.
  • The owner or the registrar deleted the domain deliberately.
  • The redemption period ended without the domain being restored.

What you should do

  • If it is your domain and redemptionPeriod is also shown, contact your registrar immediately to restore it. A restore fee usually applies on top of the renewal price.
  • If pendingDelete is shown alone, the domain can't be recovered. You will have to wait until it is released and register it again like anyone else.
  • If you want to register the domain when it is released, note when it entered this state and check again in about 5 days, or use a backorder service. Exact release times vary by registry.

Check a domain's status

Look up any domain to see its current status codes, registrar, expiration date and name servers from the registry's RDAP or WHOIS service.

  • redemptionPeriod: The domain was deleted and no longer resolves, but its owner can restore it for a fee during the redemption period (30 days for gTLDs).
  • pendingRestore: The registrar has asked the registry to restore the domain from its redemption period, and the registry is waiting for the restore report.
  • autoRenewPeriod: The domain has expired and the registry renewed it automatically; for gTLDs the registrar has up to 45 days to keep or delete it.
  • clientDeleteProhibited: The registrar has locked the domain against deletion, protecting it from being deleted by mistake or by an attacker.
  • serverDeleteProhibited: The registry has locked the domain against deletion, which is typical of a registry lock and of domains in the redemption period.

Frequently asked questions

Can I restore a domain in pendingDelete?

Only while it is still in its redemption period, which is shown by the redemptionPeriod status. Once only pendingDelete remains, the domain cannot be restored and will be released for registration.

When will a pendingDelete domain become available?

For gTLDs, a domain typically stays in pendingDelete for 5 days after its 30-day redemption period ends, then it is deleted and can be registered again. Country-code registries follow their own timelines.

Further reading