If you're looking to delete a domain name, you've come to the right place.

Some registrars allow you to delete your domain at any time for free, while others make you pay a small fee - and some will not let you cancel your domain until it expires.

Remember this process is not related to a pending delete domain, that is a specific stage in a domains expiry process.

However, the best way to determine your registrar's deletion procedures is to follow the steps below.

While every registrar follows a slightly different deletion process, this guide will cover the general method of deleting a registered domain.

How to Delete a Domain Name Registration

1. Log in to Your Registrar

The first step to delete a domain is to log in to your user account on your registrar's website.

Your registrar is the company through which you are renting the domain, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap.  Remember if you need to delete a domain at GoDaddy there are some extra steps to follow.

If you do not remember your sign-in credentials, you can reach out to the registrar's customer service team.

2. Click the Domain Name You Wish to Delete

Next, visit your domain portfolio and click on the domain you would like to unregister.

Most registrars list all of your registered domains on a single page. You may need to go to a "My Products" or "My Portfolio" page to view this list.

3. Find the "Delete" Option

Your next step is to search for a "Delete," "Cancel," or "Remove" button on your portfolio page.

You may need to search around the page or click on "Manage" or "Settings" to find this button.

Once you find the "Delete Domain" option, click on the domain you wish to cancel and then click this button.

4. Submit Your Request

Most registrars will ask you to confirm your deletion request by selecting a check box or reading through deletion terms.

Once you confirm your request, you will no longer have access to your deleted domain names, and you can sign out of your account.

Keep in mind that some registrars allow you to delete domain names from your account without actually deleting their registration.

You should be sure to read your registrar's specific terms before proceeding with your deletion request.

Other Ways to Delete Domain Names

If the above steps do not work, you can try these tips to unregister a domain instead:

Let it expire: Some registrars do not allow you to delete your domain name manually. Instead, you will need to wait until the domain expires naturally.

If this is the case for your registration company, it may be worth a shot to contact customer support and ask to waive this requirement.

Follow your registrar's instructions: Registrars typically post articles with information about how to register a domain, remove a domain, change your account settings, and complete other basic actions.

Click on your registrar's "Help" or "Feedback" page to view this information.

Contact customer support: If you cannot determine how to unregister a domain name yourself, contacting your registrar's user support team or submitting feedback may be helpful.

What Happens When You Delete Domains?

Deleting a domain terminates your registration of that domain name.

As a result, you will lose access to the website and email associated with the deleted domain, along with your registrar's built-in website services (such as free hosting and website-building features).

You may not be able to recover a deleted domain.

Before you delete a registered domain, you should double-check all of the resulting actions and ensure that you want to remove any association with the domain name.