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Domain registration issues

Domain registration troubleshooting ​

When DomainDash flags a domain registration issue, it usually means one of two things: your domain has expired (or is about to), or the WHOIS lookup failed. A third case is a registrar or registry placing the domain on hold. DomainDash doesn't read holds, so you'll see the site go Down and find the hold with a WHOIS lookup of your own. We've covered it here too. Some of these need urgent attention; others can wait.

Use the sections below to find the right guide for what you're seeing.

Expiry issues ​

Problems where your domain is expired or approaching its renewal date.

  • Domain expired — your registration has lapsed and your site has gone dark. The Domain registration card shows Expired, and the site page header shows Domain expired unless the site is already Down. Renew today.
  • Domain expiring soon — your domain has 30 days or less left. The Domain registration card shows Expiring, then Expiring soon from 7 days. Renew now at the standard rate.

WHOIS issues ​

Problems where DomainDash can't read your domain's registration record.

  • WHOIS lookup failed — DomainDash couldn't query the WHOIS or RDAP server for your domain. Usually a transient issue at the registry.

Registrar issues ​

Problems where your registrar has taken action on your domain.

  • Domain suspended or on hold — if a WHOIS lookup you run turns up a clientHold, serverHold, or pendingDelete status code, your registrar or registry has put the domain on hold. DomainDash doesn't read holds, so in the app you'll see the site go Down. The guide covers reading the status codes and getting back online.

Not sure what you're looking at? ​

Open the site in DomainDash and look at the Domain registration card. What it shows (Expired, Expiring, Expiring soon, or a failed WHOIS lookup) maps to one of the pages above. If the site is Down and the card shows none of these, run a WHOIS lookup yourself to check for a registrar hold.

Expiry incidents don't send an immediate alert. They appear in the app and in the daily digest, so if you haven't heard about one, check that incident emails are switched on in your team's notification settings.

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Last updated: 13 October 2026