Applies to: Domains

Domains Help

What is Domain Protection?

Protecting your GoDaddy domain is essential for keeping you online. You already protect your website with an SSL, so why not protect your domain, too? Domain Protection offers increased security against online threats by sending alerts when changes are made to your domain and preventing accidental expiration.

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How is Domain Protection different from Domain Privacy?

Domain Privacy is automatically added to all eligible domains registered with GoDaddy and replaces domain contact info with substitute details, powered by Domains By Proxy®. Domain Protection is exclusively focused on defending your domain against bad actors and online risks by preventing unauthorized domain actions. Domain Privacy protects your identity, while Domain Protection protects your domain and entire online presence.

What Domain Protection options are available?

Full and Ultimate Domain Protection is available for most domain extensions, and Domain Ownership Protection is an option for specific extensions. Auto-renew is automatically turned on for domains with Domain Protection, if applicable.

  • Full Domain Protection
    • Receive alerts when changes are made to your domain
    • Prevent accidental transfers and unauthorized domain actions
    • Access to Activity Log for monitoring domain changes
  • Ultimate Domain Protection
    • All the features of Full Domain Protection
    • 90 days to renew your domain if it accidentally expires due to failed billing
    • No extra fees to recover your domain if it expires unexpectedly
  • Domain Ownership Protection
    • Only available for specific domain extensions
    • All the features of Ultimate Domain Protection

You may see some domains with other Domain Protection names, like Full Domain Privacy & Protection or Ultimate Domain Protection & Security. These are our legacy protection offerings, and they'll show until the associated domain is canceled, expires or the Domain Protection is downgraded.

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Are there any restrictions or limitations?

Yes, some domain extensions are not eligible for certain Domain Protection features, due to registry restrictions. These features may include, but are not limited to, transfer protection and renewal protection. Restrictions vary depending on the specific extension.

Some Domain Ownership Protection features are unavailable for the following domain extensions, due to registry restrictions.

  • .am
  • .amsterdam
  • .au, .com.au, .net.au, .org.au
  • .be
  • .bz, .com.bz, .net.bz
  • .ca
  • .cl
  • .cn, .com.cn, .net.cn, .org.cn
  • .de
  • .es, .com.es, .nom.es, .org.es
  • .eu
  • .fm
  • .fr
  • .gg
  • .gs
  • .in, .co.in, .net.in, .org.in, .firm.in, .gen.in, .ind.in
  • .it
  • .jp, .co.jp
  • .jobs
  • .kr, .co.kr, .ne.kr, .re.kr
  • .law
  • .melbourne
  • .nrw
  • .nyc
  • .co.nz, .org.nz, .net.nz
  • .ph, .com.ph, .org.ph, .net.ph
  • .sg
  • .sydney
  • .tk
  • .tw, .com.tw, .idv.tw
  • .us
  • .vote
  • .voto
  • .ws

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Can I change my Domain Protection plan?

Yes, Full and Ultimate Domain Protection plans can be changed at any time. You can upgrade from Full to Ultimate Domain Protection to gain additional security features, or downgrade from Ultimate to Full Domain Protection to remove features. Eligible domains will always have Domain Privacy available, regardless of your Domain Protection plan.

Domain Ownership Protection cannot be upgraded or downgraded, it can only be added or removed.

Note: Domains that are part of a bundle cannot change their Domain Protection plan.

When will I receive change alerts?

You'll receive a notification alert when a high-impact action is taken on domains with Domain Protection. These actions may negatively impact your domain or connected services, such as transfers, DNS edits and Domain Privacy changes. Domain Protection requires approval for these actions by entering a one-time password or a 2-step verification code, depending on your account settings.

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What is the Activity Log?

The Activity Log tracks high-impact actions taken on your domains with Domain Protection. You can see what changes were made, when they were made, and their current status. View specific entries by filtering the Activity Log with options like Date, Activity and User.

Related steps

More info

  • If you've decided to invoke Nominet's WHOIS opt-out policy, your contact information visibility will be determined by that policy, regardless of what protection level you have through GoDaddy.
  • Review your domain contact info to make sure your details are accurate and up-to-date.

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