ENS names goes through several stages from being available to being registered and expiring. A life cycle of sorts. This article tries to explain its life cycle in simple terms. As such, the diagrams are simplified.
Normal availability
If the Temporary auction ends without a buyer the ENS name will become available normally again without a temporary fee attached.
Registered
This is when a name is in a registered state and belongs to a wallet address, it will remain in this state until it reaches expiry.
As long as the registration is maintained, the domain remains entirely owned by the registrant. No one can forcibly take the name.
An ENS name cannot be burned, destroyed or released before its expiration date. The expiration date also cannot be made shorter.
Expired
This is when your ENS name expires. After an ENS name has expired, it will still point to your records until it's released.
An ENS name cannot be sold, transferred, or changed after this point. To regain control of it you must extend the registration period.
Grace period
After an ENS name expires it enters into what's called a Grace period. This is a 90-day window provided as a courtesy where the owner can renew it and keep it at the regular renewal cost.
During this period, no other party can register the domain, ensuring the owner's priority to renew. Any wallet can also extend the registration, but doing so is to the owners benefit.
If you let the grace period run out you will lose the name.
Keep in mind that the renewal period must be from when the name expired, otherwise the grace period will just be moved up.
For example, if a name expired 60 days ago, and you only extend the registration for 30 days, then the name will still be expired, and the end of the grace period will just be extended for 30 days.
Temporary Premium Auction
After the grace period ends the ENS name will enter into a Temporary Premium Auction. This is a 21-day period where the ENS name is available for anyone to register with a temporary premium attached.
For more information about the Temporary Premium Auction and the Temporary Premium Fee, see
FAQs
Can ENS domains be enforcedly taken from their owners?
Can ENS domains be enforcedly taken from their owners?
No, domains cannot be forcibly taken as long as the registration remains intact.
What happens if I miss renewing my domain?
What happens if I miss renewing my domain?
After expiration, you enter a grace period where you can still renew. Failing that, the domain becomes available for re-registration by anyone.