Deleting a domain name registration - Amazon Route 53
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Deleting a domain name registration

For most top-level domains (TLDs), you can delete the registration if you no longer want it. If the registry allows you to delete the registration, perform the procedure in this topic.

Note the following:

The registration fee is not refundable

If you delete a domain name registration before the registration is scheduled to expire, Amazon does not refund the registration fee.

TLDs that allow you to delete a domain registration

To determine whether you can delete the registration for your domain, see Domains that you can register with Amazon Route 53. If the section for your TLD doesn't include a "Deletion of domain registration" subsection, you can delete the domain. Before you delete the domain, make sure you have disabled the domain lock. For more information about disabling the domain lock, see DisableDomainTransferLock.

What if you can't delete a domain registration?

If the registry for your domain doesn't allow you to delete a domain name registration, you must wait for the domain to expire. To ensure that the domain isn't automatically renewed, disable automatic renewal for the domain. When the Expires on date passes, Route 53 automatically deletes the registration for the domain. For information about how to change the automatic renewal setting, see Enabling or disabling automatic renewal for a domain.

Delay before a domain is deleted and available to register again

Almost all registries prevent anyone from immediately registering a domain that has just expired. The typical delay is one to three months, depending on the TLD. For more information, see the "Deadlines for renewing and restoring domains" section for your TLD in Domains that you can register with Amazon Route 53.

Important

Don't delete a domain and expect to reregister it if you just want to transfer the domain between Amazon accounts or transfer the domain to another registrar. See the applicable documentation instead:

To delete a domain name registration

  1. Sign in to the Amazon Web Services Management Console and open the Route 53 console at https://console.amazonaws.cn/route53/.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Registered domains.

  3. Choose the name of your domain.

    If you want to delete a .co.uk, .me.uk, .org.uk, or .uk domain, see To delete .co.uk, .me.uk, .org.uk, and .uk domain name registrations.

  4. If the registry for your TLD allows deleting a domain name registration, choose Delete domain.

    Some domains may require that we send an email an email to the registrant for the domain to verify that the registrant wants to delete the domain. If you receive an email, it will from one of the following email addresses:

    • noreply@registrar.amazon.com – for TLDs registered by Amazon Registrar.

    • noreply@domainnameverification.net – for TLDs registered by our registrar associate, Gandi.

    To determine who the registrar is for your TLD, see Domains that you can register with Amazon Route 53.

  5. If you receive the verification email, choose the link in the email, and either approve or reject the request to delete the domain.

    Important

    The registrant contact must immediately follow the instructions in the email, or we must cancel the deletion request as soon as after one day, as required by ICANN.

    You'll receive another email when your domain has been deleted. To determine the current status of your request, see Viewing the status of a domain registration.

  6. Delete the records in the hosted zone for the deleted domain, and then delete the hosted zone. After you delete the hosted zone, Route 53 stops billing you the monthly charge for a hosted zone. For more information, see the following documentation:

  7. If you encounter issues while deleting a domain name registration, you can contact Amazon Support for free. For more information, see Contacting Amazon Support about domain registration issues.

To delete .co.uk, .me.uk, .org.uk, and .uk domain name registrations

If you want to delete a .co.uk, .me.uk, .org.uk, or .uk domain, you create an account with Nominet, the registry for .uk domains. For more information, see "Cancelling your domain name" on the Nominet website, https://www.nominet.uk/domain-support/.

Important

If you delete (cancel) a .uk domain name, it's deleted by the end of the day and becomes available for anyone to register. If you just want to transfer the domain, do not delete it.

Here's an overview of the process:

  1. On the Nominet website, follow the instructions for logging in for the first time. See https://secure.nominet.org.uk/auth/login.html. Nominet sends you an email with instructions for creating a password.

  2. Follow the instructions in the email that you receive from Nominet.

  3. Log in to the Nominet website, and follow the instructions for canceling (deleting) a domain name.