Closing a GoDaddy account requires cancelling all active services first, then submitting a closure request through your account settings
GoDaddy does not let you delete your account while you still have active domains, hosting, email, or other paid services attached to it. You must cancel or transfer each service individually before the account itself can close. The process takes a few steps and can take up to 30 days after your final cancellation to fully process.
If you have a domain registered with GoDaddy, you can transfer it to another registrar, let it expire, or keep it parked while you close the rest of your account. Hosting and email services must be cancelled outright. Once everything is gone, you can request account deletion from your account settings.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot close your GoDaddy account while domains, hosting, email, or other services are still active on it.
- Domains can be transferred to another registrar, allowed to expire, or kept parked; hosting and email must be cancelled.
- Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing cycle, not immediately.
- After all services are removed, you submit a closure request through Account Settings, and the account deletion completes within 30 days.
- If you have auto-renewal turned on, disable it before cancelling to avoid being charged for another term.
Cancel or transfer each service before closing the account
Log into your GoDaddy account and go to your Products page. This shows everything you own: domains, hosting plans, email accounts, SSL certificates, and any other services. You must deal with each one before you can close the account.
For domains, you have three options. Transfer the domain to another registrar (you will need an authorization code from GoDaddy), let it expire by not renewing it when the term ends, or keep it parked with GoDaddy while you close the rest of your account. If you transfer, the domain leaves your GoDaddy account immediately. If you let it expire, it stays in your account until the expiration date passes, then disappears. If you park it, the domain remains registered to you but you pay no hosting or email fees.
For hosting, email, and other services, click the menu next to each one and select Cancel. GoDaddy will ask you why you are leaving and may offer a discount to keep you. You can decline. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle—you do not get an immediate refund, but you will not be charged again.
Before you cancel anything, turn off auto-renewal. Go to Settings, then Billing, and toggle off Auto Renewal for each product. This prevents GoDaddy from charging you for another term after you cancel.
What happens during the cancellation period
Once you cancel a service, it remains active until your current billing period ends. If you paid for hosting through the end of March, you can still use that hosting until March 31. After that date, the service shuts down and your account loses that product.
If you cancel a domain and let it expire, the domain stays registered to you until the expiration date. After that, it becomes available for anyone to register. You cannot recover an expired domain after someone else buys it, so if you think you might want it back, transfer it to another registrar instead of letting it expire.
During this waiting period, you can still log into your account and use any active services. You can also change your mind and reactivate a cancelled service if you do so before the cancellation takes effect—contact GoDaddy support to ask about reactivation options.
Submit your account closure request
Once all services are cancelled or transferred, log back into your GoDaddy account. Go to Account Settings (usually found under your profile menu or in the main settings area). Look for an option called Close Account, Delete Account, or Permanently Delete Account—the exact wording varies.
Click that option and GoDaddy will ask you to confirm. You may see a final offer to keep your account open or a survey asking why you are leaving. You can skip these. Confirm the deletion request.
GoDaddy sends a confirmation email to the address on file. Open that email and click the confirmation link. This step is required—the account does not close without it. If you do not see the email within a few minutes, check your spam folder.
Timeline and what to expect after closure
After you confirm the deletion link, GoDaddy begins the closure process. This can take up to 30 days. During this time, your account is marked for deletion but may still appear in your email or browser history. You will not be able to log in after the first few days.
You will not receive a refund for any unused portion of a service—cancellations take effect at the end of the billing cycle, and you have already paid through that date. If you cancelled mid-cycle and want a refund, contact GoDaddy support before you submit the closure request; they sometimes grant partial refunds for early cancellation, though this is not may provide.
After 30 days, your account is fully deleted. Any domains you transferred to another registrar are no longer visible in your GoDaddy account. Any domains you let expire are gone. Your email address is no longer associated with GoDaddy.
Transferring a domain to another registrar
If you want to keep a domain but move it away from GoDaddy, you need an authorization code (also called an auth code or transfer code). Log into your GoDaddy account, find the domain, and look for a Transfer Domain or Get Authorization Code option. GoDaddy emails the code to you immediately.
Go to your new registrar's website and start a domain transfer. You will need the authorization code and the domain name. The transfer usually takes 5 to 7 days. During this time, the domain is still registered to you at GoDaddy but the transfer is in progress. Once it completes, the domain moves to your new registrar and disappears from your GoDaddy account.
Do not cancel the domain at GoDaddy while a transfer is in progress—this can interrupt the transfer. Wait for the transfer to complete, then close your GoDaddy account.
If you cannot find the closure option
Some GoDaddy accounts do not show a Delete Account button in the settings menu. This usually means you still have an active service attached. Go back to your Products page and make sure every domain, hosting plan, email account, and other service is either cancelled or transferred. Check for services you may have forgotten about, like SSL certificates, website builders, or security add-ons.
If you have cancelled everything and still cannot find the closure option, contact GoDaddy support. You can reach them through the Help section of your account or by phone. Have your account email and a list of what you cancelled ready. Support can manually close your account if the system option is not working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I cancel before my billing cycle ends?
Refunds are not automatic. Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period, and you have already paid through that date. Contact GoDaddy support before you close your account and ask about a refund for early cancellation. They may grant one, but it is not may provide and depends on how much time is left in your cycle.
What happens to my email if I close my GoDaddy account?
Your email account shuts down when you cancel the email service or when your account closes. You will lose access to all messages in that mailbox. If you need to keep your emails, download them or forward them to another email address before you cancel. GoDaddy does not restore deleted email after the account closes.
Can I reopen my account after I close it?
Once your account is fully deleted, you cannot reopen it. You can create a new GoDaddy account with the same email address, but it will be a separate account with no connection to your old one. If you think you might want your account back, contact support before you submit the closure request.
Do I lose my domain if I close my GoDaddy account?
Not if you transfer it first. If you let a domain expire without transferring it, you lose it and anyone can buy it. If you transfer it to another registrar before closing your account, you keep the domain and it moves to your new registrar. If you park it, the domain stays registered to you but you close the rest of your account.
How long does it take to close my account after I submit the request?
Account closure takes up to 30 days after you confirm the deletion link in the confirmation email. You will not be able to log in after a few days, but the account remains marked for deletion during this period. After 30 days, the account is fully gone.