---
title: "ENS lifecycle and status meanings"
description: "Active, expiring, grace, temporary premium, and released."
canonical: "https://ens.tools/docs/ens-lifecycle"
section: "Reference"
stability: "stable"
version: "Living reference"
verifiedAt: "2026-07-29"
owner: "ENS.Tools Product and Security"
---

# ENS lifecycle and status meanings

Active, expiring, grace, temporary premium, and released.

## Overview

A .eth name moves through predictable lifecycle stages. The exact timestamp is more useful than a colour or label when renewal or registration timing matters.

## What this covers

- Active — controlled by the registrant and renewable.
- Expiring — active with less than 90 days remaining in the ENS.Tools urgency view.
- Grace period — 90 days after expiry; the previous registrant can renew and a new owner cannot register it.
- Temporary premium — 21 days after grace with a declining registration premium.
- Released — 111 days after expiry, available at normal registration pricing if no other condition blocks it.

## Before you run this workflow

### Networks

- Ethereum mainnet unless otherwise stated

### Prerequisites

- Use live chain data and transaction quotes for time-sensitive decisions

### Wallet permissions

- Reference pages request no wallet permissions

### Expected result

- Definitions preserve unknown, failed, stale, and confirmed as distinct states

### Errors and recovery

- Use the linked workflow guide
- Check live status and explorer evidence before repeating an action

## How to use it

1. **Read the absolute expiry.** Avoid relying only on relative text such as “soon.”
2. **Distinguish grace from premium.** Grace protects the previous registrant; temporary premium is a new-registration auction period.
3. **Refresh near boundaries.** Provider caches, block time, and transaction confirmation can matter near a transition.

## Related guides

- [Expiry Explorer](https://ens.tools/docs/expiry-explorer)
- [Renewals and gas planning](https://ens.tools/docs/renewals-and-gas)
- [Troubleshooting](https://ens.tools/docs/troubleshooting)