The .sol Upgrade Explained
Author : Radhika Garg | Published On : 03 Nov 2026
The .sol upgrade is the Solana Name Service's move to a new domain registry. Every existing .sol domain has become a .sns domain with its records intact, and eligible holders receive a matching new .sol domain for free. The new .sol names are targeted to activate gradually between Q4 2026 and Q1 2027.
If you own a Solana name, you now hold, or will soon hold, two domains: yourname.sns and yourname.sol. One works today; the other is waiting to be switched on.
This guide explains what changed, why SNS (the name service originally built by Bonfida) made the move, the full timeline, and exactly what you should and should not do right now.
What Changed in the .sol Upgrade?
Your original domain was renamed from .sol to .sns, and a brand-new .sol domain is being built on a different Solana program called the Solana Record Service (SRS). They are two separate domains that share your name.
| Feature | yourname.sns | yourname.sol (new) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your original domain, renamed | A new, separate domain |
| Built on | SPL Name Service | Solana Record Service (SRS) |
| Records, subdomains and primary domain setting | Kept exactly as they were | Not supported at launch |
| Sending and receiving funds today | Yes | Not until activated |
| How you got it | Already in your wallet | Airdropped free to eligible holders |
The .sol Upgrade Timeline
The migration is happening in phases, from the registration pause to the delivery and activation of new .sol domains. Here are the key milestones.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 17 August 2026 | .sol registrations paused; ownership snapshot taken shortly after. |
| 21 August 2026 | Registrations reopened for .sns names only. |
| Early to mid-September | Existing domains began displaying as .sns. During a short alias period, both names resolved to the same wallet. |
| Early October Slot 452,825,395 |
.sol resolution paused in official SNS developer kits; .sns became the working name. |
| 7 October 2026 | Solscan, the Solana explorer, switched to showing SNS domains as .sns. |
| Late October 2026 | New .sol domains scheduled for delivery to eligible wallets in batches over several days. |
| Q4 2026 – Q1 2027 | New .sol domains targeted to begin activating across wallets, apps and explorers. |
Note: SNS describes these dates as targets that may change. Check its official channels for the latest migration updates.
Why Did SNS Upgrade .sol?
The old .sol registry ran on SPL Name Service, a shared public program that many other Solana applications rely on. This meant SNS could not change the program to suit .sol alone. Instead, it built the new .sol domain system on the Solana Record Service (SRS), a program designed specifically for domain names.
The bigger goal is to reach beyond crypto. Today, a .sol name works inside wallets and apps, but typing it into a browser does nothing. SNS has endorsed the Solana Foundation's application to ICANN for .sol as a top-level domain, which could one day let .sol work as an ordinary web address.
That ICANN process follows its own timeline, takes years rather than months, and its outcome is not guaranteed. Browser support should not be treated as an existing feature or a certainty.
What the Upgrade Means for Builders
Apps that display or resolve SNS names need two changes, according to the SNS migration guide:
- Upgrade the SDK. Move from JavaScript SDK v3 to v4, JS Kit SDK v0.10 to v1, or Rust SDK v1 to v2.
- Update displayed names. Replace hard-coded .sol suffixes with .sns anywhere the frontend displays existing domains.
Support for resolving the new SRS-based .sol names will arrive in a later SDK update.
What .sol Holders Should Do Now
For most holders, the answer is almost nothing: the new .sol domain is delivered automatically to eligible holders, with no claim, signature or fee. These six steps can help you stay safe during the migration.
- Use yourname.sns for payments.
.sol resolution is paused, so do not send or receive funds using a .sol name until SNS announces that it is active again.
- Check your status on the migration page.
Visit migration.sns.id to see what your wallet is due to receive. The status changes to Delivered once the domain arrives. Access the page through SNS's official channels rather than links sent by strangers.
- Ignore anyone asking you to claim, verify, connect or pay.
SNS says there is no claim process. It will never ask for your seed phrase or message you first. Treat requests to pay a fee or connect your wallet to claim the domain as potential scams.
- Know where your airdrop goes.
The destination follows the 17 August snapshot. Listed domains send the airdrop to the listing wallet, sub-registrar domains to the sub-registrar owner, and exchange-held domains to the exchange. Moving a domain now does not change the destination.
- Confirm addresses on large payments.
Apps are updating at different speeds, so the same name may behave differently across wallets and services. Verify the destination address before making a significant transfer.
- Remember the registration cutoff.
Names registered after the 17 August pause are .sns-only and do not qualify for a matching new .sol domain.
SNS may withhold a new .sol domain if required by law, if a domain was credibly linked to a scam or hack, or if a technical failure prevents delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
.sns is the new name for your original SNS domain, with its records, subdomains and settings preserved. The new .sol is a separate domain built on the Solana Record Service and airdropped to eligible holders.
Do I need to claim my new .sol domain?No. SNS delivers the domain automatically to eligible wallets, with no sign-up, transaction to sign or fee. Anyone asking you to claim the domain or pay for it may be attempting a scam.
When will I receive the new .sol domain?SNS scheduled delivery to begin in late October 2026, in batches over several days. Your status page at migration.sns.id shows Delivered, along with the transaction, once the domain has arrived.
Why can't I see my new .sol domain in my wallet?New .sol names are expected to remain hidden in wallets and apps until SNS activates them, with activation targeted between Q4 2026 and Q1 2027. Delivered does not yet mean usable.
Can I still use my .sol name to receive crypto?Not right now. .sol resolution is paused, so use yourname.sns to send and receive funds until SNS officially announces that .sol works again.
Will .sol domains work as normal websites?Possibly, in the long term. SNS backs the Solana Foundation's application to ICANN for .sol as a top-level domain, but the process takes years and approval is not guaranteed.
Can I still register a .sol domain?New registrations reopened on 21 August 2026 for .sns names only. Those new registrations do not qualify for the matching new .sol airdrop.
Is the SNS airdrop the same as a token airdrop?No. The airdrop is a matching .sol domain name, not a token. The official SNS upgrade materials referenced in this guide do not announce a token airdrop.
The Bottom Line
The .sol upgrade gives every eligible holder two names for the price of one: a working .sns today and a new .sol that is expected to activate over the coming months. Use .sns for payments, check migration.sns.id through official links only, and ignore anyone who asks you to claim or pay.
The longer-term goal is bigger. With SRS and a possible ICANN top-level domain, .sol is positioning itself as an identity that could work both onchain and on the open web. For More information Visit SNS .
