Note: The ENS App and ENS Explorer are both currently on Sepolia testnet. Behaviour and available features may change before mainnet.
Extending adds time to a name's registration so it doesn't expire. If a name can be extended in Explorer, an Extend button appears at the top right of its page.
Steps
Note: onchain changes cost gas — the network fee Ethereum charges to process a transaction. It is paid in ETH from your connected wallet and goes to the network, not to ENS. Your wallet shows the exact fee before you approve.
Open the name's page and click Extend (top right).
Choose how much time to add, or use Pick by date. The presets show the price per year and the discount for longer terms — $8.00/yr for one year, falling to $4.50/yr at the longest term. The modal shows the extension length, the new expiry date and the total before you commit.
Click Next, then choose a payment method — USDC or DAI. Explorer shows your available balance for each. Click Confirm.
Explorer lists the two transactions it needs: Approve USDC (or DAI) for v2 renewal, then Extend the name. Click Start, then Open wallet, and approve. Once the first confirms, the second prompt follows on its own; approve that too.
When both have confirmed, the Expires date on the name's page moves forward by the term you chose.
Common questions
Why does extending take two transactions?
You pay in a stablecoin, not ETH. The first transaction gives ENS permission to take the amount from your USDC or DAI balance; the second does the extension itself. You pay a small amount of gas for each, on top of the price of the extension.
Why don't I see an Extend button?
Explorer extends ENSv2 names. ENSv1 names don't show an Extend button; extend those on the original testnet app at sepolia.app.ens.domains instead. Also check you have a wallet connected.
Does extending a name make it mine?
No. Extending only adds time to the registration; it doesn't transfer the name or give you any control over it. The owner stays the same.
What happens if a name expires?
There's a 28-day grace period after expiry during which anyone can still extend it for its owner. The name does not resolve during grace, so lookups and payments to it fail. After that, the name becomes available for anyone to register. When it opens up again it isn't immediately at the normal price: for the first 21 days it carries a one-off fee that starts high and falls to zero. See Price Cooldown.
Where do I see the expiry date?
On the name's page — the Expires line on the overview, and under the Ownership tab.
Can I let another wallet renew my name?
Anyone can extend a name without owning it; extending never transfers control. There's also a grantable Renew role ("Can renew name registrations") on the name's Roles tab, for giving a wallet standing permission; see Who can manage my name? Roles in ENS Explorer.