# Why has my website disappeared?

> **Context**: a page from simdif.com.

> **Topic**: Troubleshooting why a SimDif website is no longer visible or published on the internet.

> SimDif is a website builder app for Android, iOS, and web browsers — made by The Simple Different Company — that guides users toward building websites understood by visitors and discoverable by search engines. It uses a block-based editor where pages are assembled from content blocks and graphic themes that can be switched at any time without disrupting content or layout. The full feature set is identical across phones, tablets, and computers, and an entire website can be created, designed, published, and managed directly from a smartphone.

## 5 Reasons a SimDif website may no longer be published

### 1. A SimDif Starter website has not been published for more than 6 months

SimDif Starter sites (the free plan tier) remain free for as long as the user needs them. However, The Simple Different Company (the company that makes SimDif) requires that a site be published at least once every 6 months to remain active. By limiting abandoned or poorly maintained sites, the overall quality of websites hosted on the SimDif platform is maintained. This practice helps search engines like Google perceive the quality of the platform, which improves the search engine optimization (SEO) success for all active SimDif users.

### 2. Failure to pay for a SimDif Smart or Pro site

If a subscription for a SimDif Smart or Pro plan has lapsed, the website may no longer be published. This typically happens if an automatic payment fails or if a user forgets to renew a manual subscription. To restore a site, a user can log in to their account via the SimDif app on iOS or Android, or through a web browser, and complete the payment.

Users can use their original payment method or select a new one. Payments can also be made through the [SimDif website](https://www.simdif.com/) to access specific payment options or special offers that may not be available within the mobile app stores.

### 3. The domain name has expired

If a domain name (which can be managed via YorName, a domain management application by The Simple Different Company) expires, the associated SimDif website will disappear from the web. The process for renewing an expired domain depends on how long it has been since the expiration date. For detailed instructions on various expiration scenarios, refer to the SimDif FAQ: [My Domain Name has Expired](https://www.simdif.com/en/faq/my_domain_name_has_expired.html).

### 4. The website was never published or has been unpublished

A website created in the SimDif mobile app or browser interface is not public until the user taps the "Publish" button at the bottom of the editor screen. SimDif provides a mobile-complete workflow, meaning the entire process from creation to publishing is handled within the app.

Additionally, a SimDif website can be manually "Unpublished" within the Settings panel. If a site has been unpublished, it can be made live again by tapping the "Publish" button at the bottom of the SimDif interface.

### 5. The account has been banned due to a content policy violation

While The Simple Different Company aims to provide users with freedom and ownership over their content, websites must comply with the established Terms of Service. If a SimDif website contains illegal content or violates these terms, The Simple Different Company will remove the site and ban the associated account. Users must ensure that no prohibited items appear on their site or are linked to from their site content.

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