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EPP STATUS CODESUPDATED 2026-05-06

clientDeleteProhibited: registrar has locked the domain against deletion

clientDeleteProhibited is a registrar-applied EPP status that blocks the domain from being deleted. It is part of the standard "registrar lock" feature most registrars enable by default. The registrant can disable it from the registrar dashboard before initiating any deletion.

clientDeleteProhibitedTakenIndefinite (registrant-controlled)low buyer signal
TakenGraceExpiredRedemptionPending deleteAvailable

Tells you nothing about availability. Standard for active domains.

Quick facts

EPP codeclientDeleteProhibited
Categorylock
Typical durationIndefinite (registrant-controlled)
Buyer signal strengthlow

What this status means

This status prevents the registrar from accepting a delete request for the domain — even an accidental one from the registrant. It is one of the three components of the standard "registrar lock" along with clientTransferProhibited and clientUpdateProhibited.

Most healthy domains have this set. Removing it is a deliberate action the registrant takes only if they truly want to delete the domain (e.g., to release it back to the registry pool early rather than waiting for expiry).

For buyers this status is irrelevant — it just confirms the domain is actively held.

Timeline

  1. 01

    Applied

    Registrar sets at registration or on lock-enable in dashboard.

  2. 02

    Active

    Domain cannot be deleted while set.

  3. 03

    Removed

    Registrant disables in dashboard before initiating deletion.

What to do if you are watching a domain in this status

  • Ignore. This is a security lock, not an availability signal.

Real-world examples

  • A standard active registration with full registrar lock will show all three: clientTransferProhibited, clientUpdateProhibited, clientDeleteProhibited.

Frequently asked questions

Can a domain in clientDeleteProhibited still expire?

Yes. The lock prevents explicit deletion requests, but normal expiry-based deletion proceeds through autoRenewPeriod and redemptionPeriod regardless.

How does the registrant remove this status?

Disable "registrar lock" in the registrar dashboard. The status is removed within minutes.

Why would a registrant want to delete a domain explicitly?

Rare. Usually to release a typo or no-longer-needed registration before expiry. The vast majority of deletions happen automatically through expiry.

Does this status affect renewals?

No. Renewals are unaffected.

How is this different from serverDeleteProhibited?

clientDeleteProhibited is registrar-applied and registrant-removable. serverDeleteProhibited is registry-applied and indicates legal or compliance action.

Related statuses

References

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