We're no longer offering our BT Domains service. This means that when your domain name is next due for renewal, you'll need to renew it with another provider.
What this means for you
Whilst we no longer offer this service, this will not impact the use of your domain name.
Your domain name will remain active with Network Solutions – the registrar behind BT domains – at least until its expiry date. Go to our questions section below to learn how to check your domain registrar details.
Network Solutions will email you soon, letting you know how you can create an account with them to manage your domain name settings (DNS) and how they can be contacted if you need their support.
Your contract with BT for your BT Domains service will terminate on Thursday 8 January 2026, and your domain will only remain active until its expiry date, unless you take action.
Keeping your domain name
You’ll receive emails from Network Solutions on how to set up an account with them, and how to continue managing your domain name through to its expiry date.
You will need to ensure your domain name continues to be registered past its current expiry date to maintain ownership and avoid disruption. You can continue managing your domain name with Network Solutions or use any other ICANN-accredited domain registrar.
We suggest you take action as soon as is possible to avoid disruption.
What you need to do
If you want to continue your registration via Network Solutions:
Wait to hear from Network Solutions which will be around 8 January 2026, or do this directly on Network Solutions' website after 8 January 2026. This can be done any time before the domain expiry date to ensure the domain does not expire.
Alternatively, if you want to continue your registration via another ICANN-approved domain registrar:
Contact your chosen domain registrar to initiate the domain transfer process through them. Go to our domain name section below for more information.
If you don't take any action:
Your domain service will no longer work after its expiry and may become available for purchase by someone else.
Your questions, answered
Your domain name
What will happen to my domain name between now and its expiry date?
Your domain name registration, including any communications relating to renewals, will continue to be managed by your domain name registrar until your domain name’s expiry date.
The Who.is tool can help you find out the domain name registrar and the domain’s expiry date.
Who is my domain name registered with, and when will it expire?
You can use the Who.is tool to find out. When you search for your domain name, it will tell you:
- The registrar (for example, Network Solutions LLC, Register.com, Register.com Inc t/a British Telecom, BT Names).
- Important dates such as when your domain was created, updated and when it expires.
Network Solutions LLC, Register.com, Register.com Inc t/a British Telecom and BT Names are all names used by Network Solutions.
Note: it’s not possible to transfer an expired domain name to a different registrar.
How can I find out when my domain name is due to expire?
You can search for your domain using the Who.is tool.
This will tell you the expiration date and confirm who the domain registrar is. For example:
What happens if I do not renew my domain name before the expiry date?
If you do not renew your domain name before the expiry date:
- You risk losing ownership of the domain name.
- Your website and email services may stop working.
There’s usually a period from the expiry date when the registrar can renew the domain name for you. But if you wait too long, there’s a risk that the domain name will become available for others to purchase – if someone else purchases it, you will lose the domain name.
Note: after the domain’s expiry date, it’s not possible to transfer a domain name to an alternative registrar without first renewing the domain name with the existing registrar. This would mean paying for the domain name twice.
Therefore, renewing or transferring your domain name well in advance of its expiry date is recommended.
Will my website or email stop working if my domain name expires?
Your website and email will only continue to function as long as your domain remains active. To avoid disruption, make sure you renew your domain name before its expiry date.
If your domain name expires, any website or email addresses using it will be impacted.
My domain name is registered with Network Solutions – how will they let me know it’s due to expire?
You'll receive an email from Network Solutions, usually from any of the following email addresses:
- info@eml.networksolutions.com
- support@account.networksolutions.com
- support@networksolutions.com
- noreply@networksolutions.com
You are likely to receive this email from around 30 days before the expiry date. You might want to consider marking these email addresses as a safe senders to ensure the email doesn’t end up in your spam folder.
If you’re renewing with Network Solutions
- Network Solutions will email you on or after 8 January 2026 with additional information, which will include specific username and login details.
- Follow the instructions and log in to Network Solutions using the details provided.
- Update your contact information and input your payment information under My Profile.
- You might also choose to visit the renewal centre and switch on Auto Renew to ensure your domain never expires.
This can be done at any time before the domain expiry date to ensure the domain does not expire, though we recommend doing it well in advance. If you have any problems with renewal, please contact Network Solutions directly.
Can I move the domain name to an alternative registrar?
Yes. You can request to transfer your domain to any ICANN-accredited domain registrar of your choice.
If you’re transferring to another ICANN-accredited domain registrar
- Before your domain is due to expire, arrange to transfer the domain to your chosen ICANN-accredited domain registrar.
- The chosen registrar will be able to guide you on transferring the domain name.
This can be done at any time before the domain expiry date to ensure the domain does not expire, though we recommend doing it well in advance. If you have any problems with the transfer, please contact the chosen registrar directly.
Domain name ownership
Who owns my domain name?
You, the customer, are the legal owner of your domain name. Ownership has never transferred to BT or to the relevant registrar. This is the case for the entire lifecycle of any domain.
Has ownership of my domain name ever been transferred to BT or the registrar?
No. At no point has ownership moved away from you. Our role was to provide the service that connected you with the registrar, not to take ownership.
Why is a third-party registrar involved in the management of my domain name?
Domain names are managed globally through accredited registrars. This is standard practice in the domain industry. Registrars act as intermediaries to register and maintain your domain name in official databases, but they do not own your domain name. BT is not itself an accredited registrar, but has used accredited registrars to manage domain registrations.
Where can I find more information about domain name ownership?
You can go to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) website to learn more about domain names.
ICANN is an organisation which governs the use of domain names worldwide.
Your data
What will happen to my data from the expiry date?
You will no longer be able to access these systems or the data held on them from the expiry date unless you have moved your service to a new provider. Please ensure you remove or copy any information from the applicable systems before the expiry date.
BT and its suppliers may be required to hold certain data about you beyond this point to comply with applicable legal obligations. Once these periods have lapsed, your data will be securely deleted.
Need more help?
Please contact Network Solutions for more information about your domain registration.