How to Enable Automatic Domain Renewal
By Sam Nguyen
Imagine waking up to discover that your domain has expired, leaving your customers with an empty, inaccessible website. To avoid this nightmare scenario, Shopify offers a simple yet powerful solution: automatic domain renewal.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to set it up so your store never misses a beat and remains open for business around the clock.
Step-by-step Guide To Enable Automatic Renewal For Shopify-managed Domains
If your domain is managed by Shopify, the automatic renewal option provides a hassle-free way to keep your domain active.
Right after buying your domain, you can enable domain automatic renewal right away. If you haven’t done so, follow these steps:
Step 1. Log in to Your Shopify Account
Step 2. Navigate to ‘Domain’ under the ‘Settings’ menu to access the domain management page.
Step 3 - Select the domain you want to auto-renew from the list of your purchased domains. This will open the settings for that specific domain.
Step 4 - Scroll down to find the Auto-renew section and check the box next to Auto-renew this domain every year. This will automatically save your settings, ensuring your domain is renewed annually without any further action needed.
Shopify charges the domain renewal fee automatically on the date specified in your admin. To avoid any lapses, this charge is made 14 days before the actual registration period ends, giving you peace of mind that your domain remains active.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If you run into problems during the domain renewal process, don’t worry. Here are some common issues and how to resolve them:
Auto-Renew Option Unavailable:
- Possible causes: Your domain is close to expiring or there’s a problem with your payment method.
- Solutions: Double-check your payment details and ensure they’re up-to-date. If the problem persists, contact Shopify support for help
Payment Declined:
- Possible causes: Incorrect payment information or insufficient funds.
- Solutions: Verify your payment details and ensure your account has enough money. If the issue continues, reach out to your bank or credit card company.
Renewal Not Processed:
- Possible cause: Processing delays.
- Solution: Allow up to 48 hours for the renewal to complete. If it’s still not done after that, contact Shopify support.
Expired Domain:
- Possible cause: You missed the renewal deadline.
- Solution: There’s usually a grace period of about 30 days to renew an expired domain. Act fast to prevent losing it!
Technical Glitches:
- Possible causes: Browser issues or temporary problems with Shopify.
- Solutions: Try clearing your browser cache, switching to a different browser, or using the Shopify app on your mobile device. If these don’t work, contact Shopify support.
Remember, if you encounter any unexpected issues, Shopify’s support team is always ready to assist you.
Renew an expired domain
If your Shopify domain expires before you enable automatic domain renewal, you have a few options to renew it:
1. Grace Period (Up to 40 Days): After your domain expires, you typically have a 40-day grace period to renew it. During this time, you must contact Shopify Support to renew the domain, as you can’t do it directly from your Shopify admin.
Note: Some domains might have a shorter grace period, so it’s important to check the specifics of your domain.
2. Redemption Period (Additional 30 Days): If you don’t renew your domain within the grace period, it enters a redemption period, which can last up to 30 more days.
During this time, you can still renew the domain by contacting Shopify Support but be aware that there are additional costs associated with renewing during this period.
3. Post-Redemption Period: If the domain is not renewed by the end of the redemption period, it will be deleted from the registry. At this point, the domain might become available for purchase again, either through Shopify or a third-party provider.
Warning: There is no guarantee that the domain will be available for you to buy again.
To avoid the risk of losing your domain, it’s recommended to activate automatic renewal or regularly monitor your domain’s expiration dates to ensure timely renewals.
FAQs
How much is domain renewal on Shopify?
The cost to renew a domain on Shopify typically ranges from $10 to $50 per year, depending on the domain extension (TLD) you choose. These renewal prices are consistent with the original registration fee you paid when purchasing the domain through Shopify.
For example, renewing a .com domain generally costs around $15 per year, while other extensions like .info or .tech can be more expensive, reaching up to $25 or $37 annually.
What happens if my automatic renewal fails?
If your automatic domain renewal on Shopify fails, your domain enters a 40-day grace period, during which you can manually renew it by contacting Shopify Support. If you don’t renew it within this period, the domain enters a redemption period, which lasts up to 30 days and may incur additional fees.
Failing to renew during the redemption period will result in the domain being deleted from the registry, potentially making it available for others to purchase.
Can I automatically renew any domain on Shopify?
No, automatic renewal is only available for domains purchased directly through Shopify (Shopify-managed domains). Third-party domains need to be renewed through their respective providers.
Can I disable automatic renewal if I decide to switch domain providers?
Yes. To do this, go to your Shopify admin, navigate to the “Domains” section under “Online Store,” > Select the domain you want to manage > Then deselect the automatic renewal option.
This will prevent Shopify from automatically renewing your domain when it expires, allowing you to transfer it to another provider.
What payment methods can I use for automatic renewal?
For automatic domain renewal on Shopify, you can use the same payment methods that are available for your Shopify subscription. These typically include credit cards, debit card,s or other popular payment gateways like PayPal and ApplePay.
Bottom Line
Enabling automatic domain renewal for your Shopify-managed domain is an easy and useful step you should take to safeguard your domain ownership. Follow our instructions to keep your store running smoothly and let Shopify handle the renewals for you.
Related Posts:
- How to Buy a Domain from Shopify
- How to Set Your Primary Domain on Shopify
- How to Change Shopify Store URL
