How do I delete a custom domain that was associated with a deleted web app?

Question

How do I delete a custom domain that was associated with a deleted web app?

Jeff Jackson 0

I had a web app with a custom domain configured and I had to delete and recreate it in another region. I overlooked removing the custom domain that was associated with the web app and now I want to assign it to the new web app and it says it still exists. I can't find any way to delete that custom domain so I can readd it.

Raja Pothuraju 46,915 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-07T06:19:56.7+00:00
Hello @Jeff Jackson,

It sounds like you're having trouble removing a custom domain that’s still associated with your deleted web app. No worries, here’s a way to sort this out:

To successfully delete a custom domain from your Azure subscription, make sure to follow these steps:

Remove Dependencies: Before you can delete the custom domain, ensure that no users, groups, or applications are still linked to it. If anything is dependent on the domain, that could prevent deletion.

Use a Global Admin Account: Make sure you use a Global Admin account that doesn’t have any dependencies on the domain when trying to delete it. If you're signed in with an account associated with the domain, switch to the default domain (like ******@contoso.onmicrosoft.com) or another Global Admin account that uses a different email.

ForceDelete Option: If you’re still unable to remove the custom domain, you can look into using the ForceDelete option through the Azure portal or using Microsoft Graph API. Just keep in mind that this option has some prerequisites and may restrict the number of references to the domain to fewer than 1,000.

Wait for Propagation: If you’ve removed the domain and it’s still showing as associated, it might just take some time for changes to propagate. Sometimes waiting 30-60 minutes can help clear up caching issues.

If you continue running into issues, you might want to check if your deletion is blocked due to any resources or configurations that are still tied to the domain.

Hope this helps! If not, feel free to ask further questions or share more details about any error messages you might be receiving.

References:

Manage your initial default .onmicrosoft.com domain name

Deleting users from Microsoft Entra ID

ForceDelete option documentation

Unable to delete Microsoft Entra custom domain

Note: This content was drafted with the help of an AI system. Please verify the information before relying on it for decision-making.
Shree Hima Bindu Maganti 6,880 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-08T04:14:22.45+00:00

Hi @Jeff Jackson
When you delete an Azure App Service web app that used a custom domain, Azure does not immediately release the associated hostname. The web app and its hostname bindings remain in a soft-deleted state before being permanently removed. Deleted apps and their custom domain bindings are purged about 30 days after deletion. During this period, the custom domain is still considered “in use,” so it cannot be assigned to a new app. Since this process is handled internally and isn’t shown in the Azure Portal, there is no option in the portal or CLI to remove a custom domain after the app is deleted. As a result, you generally need to wait for the retention period before the binding is released.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/app-service-undelete
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/azure/app-service/connection-issues-with-ssl-or-tls/troubleshoot-custom-domain-issues-azure-app-service?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Let me know if you have any further assistances needed.

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Shree Hima Bindu Maganti 6,880 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-08T04:14:22.45+00:00

Hi @Jeff Jackson
When you delete an Azure App Service web app that used a custom domain, Azure does not immediately release the associated hostname. The web app and its hostname bindings remain in a soft-deleted state before being permanently removed. Deleted apps and their custom domain bindings are purged about 30 days after deletion. During this period, the custom domain is still considered “in use,” so it cannot be assigned to a new app. Since this process is handled internally and isn’t shown in the Azure Portal, there is no option in the portal or CLI to remove a custom domain after the app is deleted. As a result, you generally need to wait for the retention period before the binding is released.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/app-service-undelete
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/azure/app-service/connection-issues-with-ssl-or-tls/troubleshoot-custom-domain-issues-azure-app-service?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Let me know if you have any further assistances needed.

Answer 1

Jeff Jackson 0

I was able to find a resolution to my issue. It's a bit of a workaround but gave me the end result that I was looking for. First I recreated the delete resource in the original region, making sure to use the same name as previous. When I did that, the custom domain automatically showed as attached. From there I was able to delete the binding, domain, and installed certificate, which then opened up my ability to add the custom domain to the new region's Web App.

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Answer 2

Hi @Jeff Jackson
I'm glad that you were able to resolve your issue and thank you for posting your solution so that others experiencing the same thing can easily reference this! Since the Microsoft Q&A community has a policy that "The question author cannot accept their own answer. They can only accept answers by others ", I'll repost your solution in case you'd like to accept the answer.

Issue: How do I delete a custom domain that was associated with a deleted web app?**
Solution:**I was able to find a resolution to my issue. It's a bit of a workaround but gave me the end result that I was looking for. First I recreated the delete resource in the original region, making sure to use the same name as previous. When I did that, the custom domain automatically showed as attached. From there I was able to delete the binding, domain, and installed certificate, which then opened up my ability to add the custom domain to the new region's Web App.
If this answers your query, do click Accept Answer and Yes for was this answer helpful. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

Answer 3

To delete a custom domain that was associated with a deleted web app in Azure, you need to ensure that the domain is not still linked to any resources. If the domain is reported as still existing, it may be lingering due to the previous app's configuration not being fully removed. Here are the steps you can take:

Check for Existing Associations: Verify if the custom domain is still associated with any other apps in your Azure subscriptions. If you find it linked to another app, you need to remove it from there first.
Open an Azure Support Ticket: If you cannot find the domain associated with any app (for example, if it was linked to a deleted app), you will need to open an Azure support ticket. In your request, provide proof of domain ownership, such as a screenshot of your domain registrar settings. This will allow Microsoft Support to manually release the domain for you.

Once the domain is released, you should be able to add it to your new web app without issues.

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How do I delete a custom domain that was associated with a deleted web app?

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