When Do .io Domains Drop? Expiration & Deletion Timeline
A .io domain takes about 125 days to drop after it expires, moving through Internet Computer Bureau's expiration and deletion stages before the name is released.
.io Expiration Timeline
- 1
Expiry
Registration ends
- 2
Grace Period (90d)
Internet Computer Bureau allows renewal without a redemption fee
- 3
Redemption (30d)
Recovery is still possible, usually for a redemption fee
- 4
Pending Delete (5d)
Locked, cannot be renewed or recovered
- 5
Drop
Deleted from the registry, open for new registration
Total time from expiry to drop: 125 days.
About the Internet Computer Bureau lifecycle
The Internet Computer Bureau (ICB) has run .io since the 1990s on behalf of the British Indian Ocean Territory, and unlike most registries it can extend the registry-level grace period up to 90 days at its own discretion, nearly triple the standard gTLD grace window, before a domain even enters redemption.
Track a .io domain's drop date
Check a specific .io domain's current status and estimated drop date, or set up a free alert so you know the moment it moves toward pending delete.
Frequently asked questions
How long after a .io domain expires before it drops?
A .io domain generally drops about 125 days after its expiration date: 90 days of grace, then 30 days of redemption, then 5 days of pending delete before deletion. Internet Computer Bureau can vary the exact timing within its published windows.
Can I re-register a .io domain the day it expires?
No. Expiration only starts the clock. The previous owner (or anyone who pays the redemption fee) can still recover a .io domain while it is in its recovery window. It is not open for new registration until it is deleted from the Internet Computer Bureau registry, roughly 125 days after expiration in the typical case.
What does the .io grace period mean?
During the 90-day grace period, the domain still resolves to the old owner's nameservers in most cases, and the registrar can restore it with a simple renewal, no redemption fee required. Once grace ends, recovery gets more expensive or closes entirely, and the domain becomes visible as "expired" to drop-catching tools.
Is .io different from other TLDs' drop timelines?
Internet Computer Bureau grants up to a 90-day registry-level grace period, far longer than the gTLD norm, before redemption even starts.