# Domain suspended: ServerHold and ClientHold explained

> Why a domain shows ServerHold or ClientHold status, what stops working, and how to get it back online.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/domain-suspended-serverhold-and-clienthold/

If your website and email suddenly stop working and your domain's WHOIS record shows **clientHold** or **serverHold**, your domain has been suspended. The domain is still yours, but it has been taken off the internet until the cause is fixed.

## What the two statuses mean

| Status | Set by | Common reasons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **clientHold** | The registrar (Ruachost) | Contact details not verified, domain expired, unpaid invoice, abuse report |
| **serverHold** | The registry (e.g. Verisign or NiRA) | Expired `.ng` domain in its suspension period, registry policy or legal order, abuse report |

To check your domain's status, see [Checking a domain's WHOIS and nameservers](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/checking-a-domains-whois-and-nameservers/).

## How to fix it

**1. Has the domain expired?** Check its expiry date in **Domains → My Domains** and renew it. See [Renewing an expired domain](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/renewing-an-expired-domain/). This is the most common cause, especially for `.ng` domains between 31 and 60 days after expiry.

**2. Did you miss a verification email?** After you register a domain or change the registrant's details, you have 15 days to click the link in a verification email. Look for it in your inbox and spam folder, or resend it. See [Domain is suspended for ICANN domain verification](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/domain-is-suspended-for-icann-domain-verification/).

**3. Is there an unpaid invoice?** Check **Billing → My Invoices** in the client area and pay anything overdue.

**4. None of the above?** [Open a support ticket](https://dashboard.ruachost.com/submitticket.php) with the domain name. If the hold was placed because of an abuse report or by the registry, we'll tell you what's needed to lift it.

Once the cause is fixed, the hold is usually removed within a few hours. Your website and email come back as DNS updates, which can take up to 24 hours.

## Related articles

- [Updating your domain contact details](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/updating-your-domain-contact-details/)
- [.ng domain name life cycle](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/ng-domain-name-life-cycle/)