pendingRestore: domain is being restored from redemption
pendingRestore is a transitional EPP status indicating that a domain in redemptionPeriod is being restored. The registrar has accepted the restoration request and the registrant has 7 days to provide a restoration report. After that the domain returns to "ok" status. If the report is not filed, the domain returns to redemptionPeriod.
A domain in pendingRestore has been recovered. It will not drop. Stop watching.
Quick facts
What this status means
When a registrant pays the redemption fee to recover a domain in redemptionPeriod, the registrar issues a restoration request to the registry. The registry sets pendingRestore for up to 7 days.
During this window the registrar must file a "restoration report" — a document confirming the restoration is legitimate. Once filed, the domain transitions back to "ok" and DNS resumes normal operation.
If the report is not filed within 7 days, the registry rolls the domain back to redemptionPeriod. This is uncommon — most registrars handle the report automatically.
For buyers, pendingRestore is a stop signal. The domain has been recovered and will not drop on the redemption-period schedule.
Timeline
- 01
Day 0 — restoration requested
Registrar submits restoration command. Registry sets pendingRestore.
- 02
Day 1–7 — report window
Registrar files restoration report. Most do this automatically within hours.
- 03
Day 7 — resolution
If report filed, domain returns to "ok". If not, domain returns to redemptionPeriod and the recovery is reversed.
What to do if you are watching a domain in this status
- Remove from watchlist. The domain is back in active registration.
- If the underlying domain was one you really wanted, you may want to set up a long-term watch for the next renewal cycle (typically 1 year out).
Real-world examples
- A small business owner notices their domain has expired and pays the recovery fee. The registrar processes the restoration; the domain shows pendingRestore for a few hours, then returns to "ok".
Frequently asked questions
Will a domain in pendingRestore drop?
No. pendingRestore means the domain has been recovered. It will return to "ok" status, not to deletion.
How long does pendingRestore last?
Up to 7 days, but most registrars complete the restoration report within hours.
What if the registrar does not file the restoration report?
After 7 days the registry returns the domain to redemptionPeriod. This is rare — usually a registrar bug or process failure.
Does the website resolve during pendingRestore?
Typically no, not until the status returns to "ok". DNS resumption is part of the restoration completion.
How is this different from autoRenewPeriod?
autoRenewPeriod is post-expiry but pre-deletion (registrar can still refund). pendingRestore is post-redemption recovery (registrant has paid the redemption fee). Different points in the lifecycle.
Related statuses
- redemptionPeriodredemptionPeriod is the 30-day phase that follows the auto-renew grace period for most gTL…
- pendingDeletependingDelete is the final EPP status before a generic top-level domain (.com, .net, .io) …
- okThe "ok" EPP status indicates a domain in normal operating state — registered, present in …
References
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