When a domain name expires, you will be unable to make any modifications to the domain name. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Transferring the domain to a new registrar or owner
• Obtaining your domains EPP code, unlocking the domain, or modifying ID protection
• Changing your domains nameservers or contact details (Admin, Billing, Technical)

Once a domain name expires, it will go into a renewal grace period for 16-30 days (depends on the TLD) after the expiration date. During this period the domain name can be renewed/restored for the regular renewal rate for the given TLD. After the renewal grace period the domain name enters a redemption period.

A domain name will remain in the redemption period for 30 days (this varies slightly by TLD). While in the redemption period, a domain name can be restored from the registrars database for a one time fee of $65.00 USD (this fee also renews the domain for one year).

Should the domain name not be redeemed, it will eventually enter a pending deletion period which lasts for 5 days. At this point the domain cannot be restored and will be deleted from the registrars database at the end of 5 days. Once the domain is deleted it will once again be available for registration through any supporting registrar.

For instructions on transferring a .UK domain name to Hawk Host, please refer to this KB article: Transferring .UK domain to Hawk Host

Transferring a .UK domain name away from Hawk Host to a new registrar will require changing your domain names IPS Tag. Your new domain registrar (company you are transferring the domain to) will need to provide you with their IPS Tag to complete this process. To change a .UK domain names IPS tag through your client area:

1. Login to your client area at https://my.hawkhost.com/clientarea.php
   
   
2. Once logged in select "Domains" then "My Domains" from the main menu navigation:
   
   
   
   
3. From the "My Domains" (https://my.hawkhost.com/clientarea.php?action=domains) page click the green "Active" button to the right of the domain name you are transferring / modifying the IPS Tag:
   
   
   
   
4. After clicking the green "Active" button you will be redirected to your domain name's management page. Under the left side "Manage" menu navigation click the "Release Domain" link:
   
   
   
   
5. Enter your new domain name registrars IPS Tag in the "New Registrar Tag" field and then click "Release Domain" to complete the process:
   
   
6. The domain should be released to your new registrar within 24 hours. Your new registrar will be able to provide you further details on the status of the transfer/release once the IPS Tag is updated.

Domains can be registered through us for $10.95/year, and ID/whois protection can be added for an additional $3 per year. You can either register the domain while ordering your hosting, or separately through the following URL: https://my.hawkhost.com/domainchecker.php

You can also transfer your domain registration to us from another registrar. The cost for doing so is $10.95 as well (adds a year onto the domain registration).

When you register a domain through Hawk Host, you have the ability to change the nameservers, WHOIS information, and many other options through your client area. By default, the information input when signing up will be used to fill out the WHOIS information. If you choose to have privacy protection on your domain(s), none if this information will show publicly. If you wish to modify the WHOIS information:

1. 1. Login to your client area ( https://my.hawkhost.com/clientarea.php )
      
      
   2. Click "Domains" from the menu navigation, and from the dropdown select "My Domains":
      
      
      
      
   3. Locate or search for the domain that needs updated WHOIS information.
      
      
   4. Click the green "Active" button/link to the right of the domain you're modifying:
      
      
      
      
   5. After clicking the green "Active" button you'll be taken to your domains management page. From the left side "Manage" menu select the "Contact Information" link:
      
      
      
      
   6. On the following page you can manage/modify your existing whois contact or add a new domain whois contact.

Any domains registered with Hawk Host provide you the ability to register your own custom nameservers. To register your custom nameservers:

1. Login to your client area ( https://my.hawkhost.com/clientarea.php )
   
   
2. Click 'Domains' from the menu navigation, and from the dropdown select 'My Domains'
   
   
3. Locate the domain that needs private nameservers
   
   
4. Select 'Manage Domain'
   
   
5. Select 'Management Tools' and then from the dropdown select 'Register Nameservers'
   
   
6. In the top form, enter your desired nameserver (for example, ns1.yourdomain.com) and the IP address it should point to. Click 'Save Changes'
   
   
7. Repeat this process until all of your nameservers are added

If your domain name is registered with a third party registrar please consult their documentation on how to change the domains nameservers. If your domain name is registered through Hawk Host then you can change your nameservers right through your client area:

1. Login to your client area at https://my.hawkhost.com/clientarea.php
   
   
2. Once you have logged in click the "Domains" dropdown from the main menu navigation and then select "My Domains":
   
   
   
   
3. From your "My Domains" page use the search to find your domain. Click the green "Active" button to the right of your domain name:
   
   
   
   
4. After clicking the green "Active" button you will be redirected to your domains management page. On that page there is a left-side menu titled "Manage". Underneath that is an option titled "Nameservers". Click on the "Nameservers" link from the menu:
   
   
   
   
5. Select the option titled "Use custom nameservers (enter below)". Enter your desired nameservers in the relevant fields. Once you have entered your new custom nameservers click "Change Nameservers" to complete your changes:
   
   
   
   
6. The nameserver changes will be accepted by the registry immediately. DNS cache/propagation after a nameserver change can take up to 24 hours to complete. You can confirm the nameservers have been updated by performing a whois lookup on your domain.

whois/ID protection will hide your private/personal contact details so they are not publicly exposed when performing whois lookups on your domain name. Enabling whois/ID protection will activate this protection so whois lookups will not publicly show your domains underlying whois contact information and it will be hidden. The fee to enable this protection is $3.00 per year per domain name. The $3.00 fee is non-refundable.

To enable whois/ID protection:

1. Login to your client area at https://my.hawkhost.com/clientarea.php
   
   
2. Once you've logged in click "Domains" then "My Domains" from your main navigation menu:
   
   
   
   
   
3. From the "My Domains" page select the green "Active" button to the right of the domain name you're modifying:
   
   
   
   
4. From your domains details page click the "Addons" button on the left hand side navigation menu:
   
   
   
   
   
5. The following page will show you a button to enable whois/ID protection. Enabling whois/ID protection will activate privacy protection so whois lookups will not publicly show your domains underlying whois contact information. The fee to enable this protection is $3.00 per year per domain name. The $3.00 fee is non-refundable. If you wish to proceed with purchasing whois/ID protection click the green "Buy now for $3.00 USD" button:
   
   
   
   
   
6. You will be prompted to confirm your decision. If you wish to proceed with enabling whois/ID protection click the large "Buy Now for $3.00 USD/year" button:
   
   
   
   
   
7. An invoice will be generated and you will be redirected to complete payment. Once payment is completed the whois/ID protection will be enabled on your domain. This can be confirmed by visiting the "Addons" menu (step 4) again or by performing a whois lookup on your domain name.

When transferring a .UK domain name from an old registrar to Hawk Host you will need to update the IPS Tag on your .UK domain. The IPS Tag to use when transferring a domain to Hawk Host is: NETEARTHONE

To complete a .UK domain transfer to us you will first place the transfer order through our website. Once you have placed and paid for the transfer order you would then login to your domain's current registrar control panel and change the IPS Tag to NETEARTHONE to complete the transfer process.

You can transfer a domain name to us at any time, whether it's while you're placing a hosting order or after your account is setup. All domain name transfers are handled through our site at https://my.hawkhost.com/domainchecker.php which also includes a list of common TLDs we support. If you have a specific TLD/domain and you don't see it listed there, please contact our billing department to see if we can assist in your transfer.

Before initiating a transfer from your old registrar, you'll want to make sure the following conditions are met:

• There is no registrar lock/pending formalities on the domain(s) you're transferring
• ID/whois protection is disabled, and your domain names administrative contact email is both current and accessible
• You obtain the domain name(s) EPP/authorization code from the current registrar
• The domain name is at least 60 days old and eligible for transfer

Once initiated, you domain names administrative contact will receive an email with an approval URL inside. Once the transfer is approved your old registrar will need to release the domain to us within 5 days. Should the transfer fail or be stalled for any reason, you'll receive an email notification from our support department within 24 hours of the failure with further information.

Please note that while a domain name transfer is in progress you will be unable to make any modifications (nameserver changes, contact details, etc) until the transfer completes.

If you're looking to transfer your domain to another registrar, you will need to provide them the EPP code (or secret code) for your domain name. To obtain your EPP code:

1. Login to your client area ( https://my.hawkhost.com/clientarea.php )
   
   
2. Click 'Domains' from the menu navigation, and from the dropdown select 'My Domains'
   
   
3. Locate the domain(s) you need the EPP Code for
   
   
4. Select 'Manage Domain'
   
   
5. Select 'Management Tools' and then from the dropdown, select 'Get EPP Code'
   
   
6. Your domains EPP code will be listed on that page

Before transferring a domain name, you should also make sure that privacy/whois protection is disabled and you remove the registrar lock if it was enabled.