What happens after I backorder a domain?

A domain backorder is a service that attempts to acquire a currently registered domain when it becomes available. Placing a backorder doesn't guarantee that you'll acquire the domain. The current registrant might renew the domain, or we might be unsuccessful in our attempt to capture it for you. The full backorder process varies depending on where the domain is currently registered.

Domains expiring at GoDaddy

1. Backorder a domain and set it up.
2. Monitor the domain to be notified of changes to the registrar, status, expiration date or nameservers.
3. Domain goes to auction. The registry will release the domain when it reaches the available date (calculated using the current expiration date, renewal grace period and redemption period, if applicable). At this time, the domain enters a 10 day public auction that you must actively participate in.
   
   • If you placed the first backorder, we submit an opening bid of $10 on your behalf, and we email you about the auction. If someone outbids you, you can place a higher bid, apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.
   • If you didn’t place the first backorder, you can begin placing bids in the auction.
4. The auction ends, but the current registrant can still renew the domain name during the next few weeks.
   
   • If you win the auction, but the current registrant renews the domain name, the domain won't be moved to your account.
   • If you win and the registrant does not renew the domain name, we'll move the domain into your account within 45 days with a one year registration.
   • If you didn't win, you can apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.

Domains expiring at a different registrar

1. Backorder a domain and set it up.
2. Monitor the domain to be notified of changes to the registrar, status, expiration date or nameservers.
3. GoDaddy attempts to capture the domain after the registry releases it on the available date. We'll continue attempting until we, or another registrar, captures the domain. If we capture the domain:
   
   • And you're the only customer with a backorder on the domain name, we award the domain name to you without an auction.
   • And there are multiple backorder holders, we invite everyone to a private auction where only backorder holders can participate.
     
     • If you placed the first backorder, we submit an opening bid of $10 for you, and we email you about the auction. If someone outbids you, you can place a higher bid, apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.
   • And you didn’t place the first backorder, you can begin placing bids in the auction.

   If we don't successfully capture the domain, we'll let you know the backorder was unsuccessful. You can apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.

4. If the domain went through auction, the auction ends.
   
   • If you won the auction, we'll move the domain into your account within 45 days with a one year registration.
   • If you didn't win, you can apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.

Related steps

• Put your new domain to work with email and a website.
• Backorder not successful? Apply the credit to a different domain at any time.

More info

• Make sure you turn on auto renew to continue your domain registration uninterrupted.
• Use two-step verification to protect your entire GoDaddy account.