What does the status of a domain name mean?

Posted: March 24th, 2018

 

There are several domain name status codes that you might see when using Domain Backorders and Monitoring. Most of these are variations of a few basic statuses:

 

ACTIVE: The normal state for a domain name. Active domain names can be used for websites, email, or to register nameservers.

 

REGISTRAR HOLD:  The domain name was placed on hold by the registrar and cannot be used or renewed.

 

REGISTRY HOLD:  The domain name was placed on hold by the registry and cannot be used.

 

REGISTRAR LOCK:  The registrar, often at the request of the domain name registrant, locked the domain name so that its settings cannot be modified.

 

REGISTRY LOCK:  The registry locked the domain name so that its settings cannot be modified.

 

REDEMPTION PERIOD: The domain name expired, and the registry is waiting for 30 days as a precautionary measure before releasing it.

 

PENDING RESTORE:  A domain name that had expired is being restored to ACTIVE status.

 

PENDING DELETE:  The domain expired and is no longer available for redemption. The registry is about to erase it. A domain name remains in this status for five days before it is deleted.

 

CLIENT DELETE PROHIBITED:  The registrar locked the domain name so that it cannot be deleted.

 

SERVER DELETE PROHIBITED:  The registry locked the domain name so that it cannot be deleted.

 

CLIENT HOLD: The registrar placed the domain name on hold, and it cannot be used.

 

SERVER HOLD: The registry placed the domain name on hold, and it cannot be used.

 

CLIENT RENEW PROHIBITED: The registrar locked the domain name so that it cannot be renewed.

 

SERVER RENEW PROHIBITED: The registry has locked the domain name so that it cannot be renewed.

 

CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED: The registrar locked the domain name so that it cannot be transferred to another registrar.

 

SERVER TRANSFER PROHIBITED:  The registry locked the domain name so that it cannot be transferred to another registrar.

 

CLIENT UPDATE PROHIBITED:  The registrar locked the domain name to prevent its settings from being changed.

 

SERVER UPDATE PROHIBITED:  The registry locked the domain name to prevent its settings from being changed.

 

INACTIVE: The domain name cannot be used because the nameservers haven't been entered or there is a problem with the nameservers.

 

OK: The domain name is active and can be used for websites, email, or to register nameservers.

 

PENDING DELETE: The registration for the domain name is about to be deleted by the registry, as when the domain name expires.

 

PENDING TRANSFER:  The domain name is in the process of being transferred from one registrar to another. It may not be modified during this period.

 

PENDING VERIFICATION:  The registry is creating the domain name record.

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