Auto-Renewal and Registrar Lock: What They Do and When to Change Them

Your domain name has two separate settings that control how it renews and how easily it can be moved to another registrar: auto-renewal and registrar (transfer) lock. They're unrelated to each other, but customers often mix them up. Here's what each one actually does and when you should change it.

What Auto-Renewal Does

Auto-renewal determines whether GrabbyHost automatically charges your saved payment method and renews the domain before it expires. It's turned on by default for every domain so you don't accidentally lose it.

• Auto-renewal ON – your domain renews itself a few days before expiry, using the invoice and payment method on your account. No action needed from you.
• Auto-renewal OFF – you'll need to manually pay the renewal invoice before the expiry date, or the domain will expire and eventually be released.

How to Check or Change Auto-Renewal

1. Log in to the client area and go to Domains > My Domains.
2. Tick the checkbox next to the domain (or domains) you want to update.
3. Click the More… dropdown above the list and choose Auto Renewal Status.
4. Select Enable or Disable and confirm.

You can also open the individual domain's management page and toggle Auto Renewal from there.

What Registrar/Transfer Lock Does

Registrar lock (sometimes called transfer lock or theft protection) prevents your domain from being transferred to a different registrar without your consent. It's a security feature and, like auto-renewal, is enabled by default on all domains as protection against unauthorized transfers.

With the lock enabled:

• The domain cannot be moved to another registrar.
• Certain contact or nameserver changes may be restricted depending on the TLD.

This setting has no effect on renewals – a locked domain still renews normally, whether auto-renewal is on or off.

When You Need to Disable the Lock

You only need to touch registrar lock if you're moving a domain away from GrabbyHost to another registrar. Before that registrar can accept the transfer, the lock has to be off and you'll need the domain's EPP/authorization code.

1. Go to Domains > My Domains in the client area and open the domain you're transferring out.
2. Find the Registrar Lock toggle and switch it to Unlocked.
3. Request the EPP/authorization code from the same page (or open a support ticket if it isn't shown for your TLD).
4. Give the new registrar the authorization code to start the transfer.

If you're only renewing, updating nameservers, or moving your website's files – not the domain's registration itself – you don't need to unlock anything.

Good to Know

• Domains younger than 60 days, or that have just completed a transfer, are subject to an ICANN-mandated lock and can't be transferred again regardless of your registrar lock setting.
• Turning auto-renewal off does not unlock the domain, and unlocking the domain does not disable auto-renewal – they're independent settings.
• If you unlock a domain for a transfer that doesn't go through, remember to re-enable the lock afterward to keep it protected.

Related Articles

• How to Renew Your Domain & Enable WHOIS Privacy
• How to Transfer a Domain to GrabbyHost
• Understanding Domain Statuses and What They Mean