WHOIS Lookup: How to Find Out Who Owns a Domain

A WHOIS lookup is a free way to see the public registration details of any domain name — when it was registered, when it expires, and (unless privacy is enabled) who owns it. Here is how to do a WHOIS lookup and what each field means.

What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is the public directory of domain registrations. Every registered domain has a WHOIS record maintained by its registry and registrar. It is commonly used to check availability, verify ownership, or contact a domain holder.

How to do a WHOIS lookup

Enter the domain into a WHOIS or RDAP lookup tool, such as ICANN's lookup at lookup.icann.org. To see whether a name is free instead, run a domain search — if it is available, you can register it.

What the WHOIS record shows

• Registrar: the company the domain was registered through.
• Creation & expiry dates: when it was registered and when it must be renewed.
• Name servers: where the domain points (which DNS is in control).
• Status: e.g. locked, pending transfer, or in redemption.
• Registrant contact: name, email, address — unless WHOIS privacy hides them.

Why is some WHOIS data hidden?

Many owners enable WHOIS privacy, which replaces their personal details with a proxy to stop spam and protect their identity. This is normal and legitimate — the owner still fully controls the domain.

Common uses of WHOIS

• Checking if a domain is taken (and when it expires, in case it drops).
• Verifying you own a domain before a transfer.
• Reaching out to buy a domain that is already registered.