I let my .dev domain expire on November 21, 2025, because our payment info was linked to an old employee, and we didn't receive any notifications about the expiry. The domain was working fine until Christmas, but now none of our test systems are active. It was originally bought through Google Domains and later transferred to TPP Wholesale. Now, the domain is showing a "pendingDelete" status and is in a "redemptionPeriod," with the registrar listed as Key-Systems LLC, which I've never heard of. I can see the domain on my registrar, but they say it's not registered through them. I've already submitted a support ticket, but I'm unsure how long that will take. I suspect the domain may have been registered by someone else after it expired. What could have happened?
4 Answers
It sounds like you're in the "Redemption Period" phase, which is typical after a domain expires. Your .dev domain might have been in a grace period after it expired, allowing functionality until very recently. The status "redemptionPeriod" means it hasn't been deleted yet, but "pendingDelete" suggests it's close. Restoring it can be costly—typically between $100 and $250, depending on your registrar. If it’s not absolutely crucial for your operations, you might want to wait until it's available again, since it could be up to 60 days before it becomes free for registration again.
Key Systems are a reputable ICANN-accredited registrar and act as the backend for TPP Wholesale. Once a domain enters the redemption period, you’ll need to work with TPP to attempt a restoration. Expect some fees involved, but it might be worth it to get your domain back.
Good luck dealing with Google on this! It's often tough to get assistance. We actually had to drop a domain we used for emails due to lack of support from Google. Just a heads-up, we found switching to a different domain a lot easier.
Just a thought, but how about setting up an internal DNS entry for your .dev domain that directs to your platform’s IPs? Just keep in mind that if someone else registers the domain, renewing SSL could get complicated if you're using services like Let's Encrypt.
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