Steps for Manual Renewal of Azure App Service Domain Before Expiry

Question

Hello,

We currently have an App Service Domain registered through Azure that is set to expire in approximately 3 weeks. We intentionally have Auto-renewal disabled and would like to maintain this configuration for manual management.

Our domain is secured using a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate which is bound to our Azure App Service. We now intend to renew the domain for one additional year and would appreciate clarification on the following:

1. Exact Steps for Manual Renewal: What are the specific steps for manual renewal before the expiration date?
2. Downtime Risks: Will there be any service interruption or downtime for the associated App Service during the renewal process?
3. SSL Certificate Impact: Since we are using Let's Encrypt for SSL, will the domain renewal affect our existing certificate bindings? Are there any additional steps needed to ensure the certificate remains valid?
4. Additional Considerations:

• Are there any specific billing or subscription requirements we should verify before attempting manual renewal?
• If we miss the manual renewal window, what is the grace period before the domain is released or enters a redemption phase?
• Will our existing DNS records (A, TXT, CNAME) remain intact after the manual renewal?

Thank you for your assistance.

Answer 1

Hello @Vishal Bhalabar

Thank you for reaching out Microsoft Q&A. The below are the steps for Manual renewal of App service Domain.

Search for and select App Service Domains in the Azure portal.

Choose the domain you want to renew.

From the left navigation, select Domain renewal and look for a Renew domain button. If it's active, you can proceed with the renewal directly from there.

Make sure your billing information is up-to-date as you'll be charged for the renewal.

Coming to other part of your query,

Downtime risk - There shouldn't be any.

SSL certificate impact - In general none however please ensure your SSL certificate is set to auto-renew or manually renew it.

Additional Considerations:

• Are there any specific billing or subscription requirements we should verify before attempting manual renewal? No just that you'll be billed for the cost of the domain.
• If we miss the manual renewal window, what is the grace period before the domain is released or enters a redemption phase? There is no official documentation on grace period. We strongly recommend renewing before expiry.
• Will our existing DNS records (A, TXT, CNAME) remain intact after the manual renewal? Yes.

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Answer 2

1. Exact Steps for Manual Renewal: To manually renew your Azure App Service domain, follow these steps:
   • In the Azure portal, search for and select App Service Domains.
   • Select the domain you wish to renew.
   • From the left navigation, select Renew domain. Note that this option will only be active if you are within the 90 days before the domain's expiration date.
2. Downtime Risks: There should be no service interruption or downtime for your associated App Service during the renewal process, as the renewal of the domain does not affect the service directly.
3. SSL Certificate Impact: Renewing the domain will not directly affect your existing Let's Encrypt SSL certificate bindings. However, ensure that your SSL certificate is set to auto-renew or manually renew it before it expires to maintain valid bindings.
4. Additional Considerations:
   • Billing or Subscription Requirements: Ensure that your Azure subscription is active and has sufficient funds to cover the domain renewal fee.
   • Grace Period: If you miss the manual renewal window, typically, there is a grace period of about 30 days after expiration before the domain enters a redemption phase, but this can vary.
   • DNS Records: Your existing DNS records (A, TXT, CNAME) should remain intact after the manual renewal process.

Make sure to monitor your renewal process and verify that you receive a confirmation email after the renewal is successful.