⛔ Cannot Be Recovered
If your domain is in pendingDelete status, there is no way to restore it. The redemption window has closed. Your only option is to try to re-register it when it drops—but you'll be competing with drop-catching services.
What Is PendingDelete?
PendingDelete is the final 5-day period before a domain is released back to the public pool. During this time:
- ❌ The domain cannot be renewed
- ❌ The domain cannot be redeemed
- ❌ The domain cannot be transferred
- ❌ DNS does not resolve
- ✓ The only thing happening is the countdown to deletion
This status is set by the registry (not your registrar), and there are no exceptions.
The Complete Domain Expiration Timeline
| Phase | Duration | Status | Can Recover? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Period | 0-30 days | autoRenewPeriod | Yes | Normal renewal (~$11-17) |
| Redemption | 30 days | redemptionPeriod | Yes (expensive) | $80-$200+ |
| Pending Delete | 5 days | pendingDelete | NO | N/A |
| The Drop | Instant | available | Re-register | Market price/auction |
Two Types of People Watching PendingDelete Domains
😰 Previous Owners
If this is your domain, you're hoping to catch it when it drops. The bad news: you'll be competing with automated systems that can register domains in milliseconds.
Your best bet: Use a backorder service like DropCatch, SnapNames, or NameJet. They'll attempt to grab it the moment it becomes available.
🎯 Domain Investors
If you're watching this domain because it has value (good keywords, backlinks, brandable name), pendingDelete means it's about to become available.
Strategy: Place backorders at multiple services to maximize your chances. If the domain has significant value, expect an auction.
When Exactly Does the Domain Drop?
For .com and .net domains (Verisign registry), deleted domains are released daily at approximately:
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
~11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific | ~7:00 PM - 8:00 PM UTC
The exact time varies slightly. Professional drop-catching services monitor registry feeds in real-time and attempt registrations within milliseconds of the drop.
Other TLDs (.org, ccTLDs, new gTLDs) have different drop schedules. Check the specific registry's policies.
How Drop-Catching Services Work
1. You Place a Backorder
You pay a fee ($10-$100+ depending on the service) to "reserve" your attempt at catching the domain.
2. They Monitor the Drop
The service watches for the exact moment the domain becomes available using registry data feeds.
3. Automated Capture Attempt
They use multiple connections and optimized infrastructure to submit registration requests within milliseconds.
4. Auction (If Multiple Bidders)
If multiple people backordered and the service catches it, they run an auction. If you're the only bidder, you pay the backorder fee.
Popular Backorder Services
- DropCatch.com — High catch rate, owned by Namecheap/Spaceship parent company
- SnapNames — Long-established, public auctions
- NameJet — Professional-grade, often catches premium drops
- GoDaddy Auctions — Large user base, integrated with GoDaddy's expired inventory
Lesson Learned: Enable Auto-Renewal
If you're here because you lost a domain to pendingDelete, let this be a lesson. For every domain you care about:
- ✓ Enable auto-renewal
- ✓ Keep payment method updated
- ✓ Add renewal reminders to your calendar
- ✓ Whitelist registrar emails
- ✓ Consider multi-year registration for critical domains