WHOIS Look Up
Related tools
What this is
Domain registration data (served via RDAP, the modern WHOIS) records who a domain is registered with, its creation and expiry dates, status locks, and delegated nameservers — the administrative layer beneath DNS.
How to read your result
The two things always worth reading: the expiry date, and the nameservers (which must match the DNS provider you believe you use). Status flags like clientTransferProhibited are normal protective locks.
Common problems and how to fix them
Domain close to expiry (or expired)
How it shows up: Approaching expiry: renewal notices. After expiry: the site and mail go down; after the grace period the domain can be auctioned to strangers.
How to fix it: Renew now, enable auto-renew with a payment method that will not silently expire, and keep the registrant email address current — it receives the warnings.
Nameservers in WHOIS are not your DNS provider
How it shows up: DNS changes never apply (you edit the wrong provider), or worse — the domain silently serves someone else's zone.
How to fix it: Update the nameservers at the registrar to your intended DNS provider. If you did not make the change yourself, treat it as a possible account compromise: rotate registrar credentials and review account access.
Registrant contact out of date
How it shows up: Expiry and transfer-approval emails go to a dead mailbox; a lapsed domain becomes unrecoverable in time.
How to fix it: Update contacts at the registrar. ICANN verification emails must be acted on — ignoring them can suspend the domain.
Related reading
- Reading a Domain's Registration Record: A Practical Guide to WHOIS and RDAPWhat a WHOIS/RDAP lookup actually tells you: registrar, lifecycle dates, nameservers, and EPP status codes — plus why modern records omit the owner's contact details.
- Who Owns This IP? Reading ASNs, Registries, and Network AllocationsA plain guide to IP ownership: how ASNs and Regional Internet Registries work, what an IP ownership lookup actually tells you, and where to take it next.
- What a Domain Health Check Actually Tells YouOne scan covers registration, DNS, HTTPS redirects and security headers. Learn what a domain health check surfaces and why each result matters.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a WHOIS lookup?
- A WHOIS lookup retrieves the public registration record for a domain, showing details like the registrar, creation and expiry dates, nameservers, and domain status. This tool queries WHOIS and RDAP sources server-side and displays the results without storing anything you enter.
- How do I use this tool?
- Enter a domain name (for example example.com) and run the lookup; the tool fetches the registration record and shows the registrar, key dates, nameservers, and status codes. Enter just the registrable domain rather than a full URL or a hostname like www or mail.
- Why does WHOIS information matter?
- It helps you confirm who a domain is registered with, when it expires so you can renew in time, and whether the nameservers match your DNS provider. It is also useful for spotting expiring domains, verifying ownership transfers, and investigating suspicious or fraudulent sites.
- How do I read the status and dates in the result?
- The dates show when the domain was created, last updated, and when it expires, while status codes like clientTransferProhibited indicate registrar locks that protect against unauthorized transfers. If the expiry date is near, renew the domain with your registrar to avoid it lapsing.
- Why are the registrant's name and email often hidden?
- Privacy rules such as GDPR and registrar privacy services redact personal contact details, so most WHOIS records now show generic or masked information instead of the owner's name and email. Availability and field detail also vary by TLD, since each registry publishes different data.