How can I find out who owns a domain name?
Information about domain owners is stored in databases known as WHOIS databases. WHOIS is public and allows you to discover who owns a domain, along with other technical data associated with a domain name. You can check these details using the WHOIS lookup tool at the top of this page.
However, for most generic extensions (.com, .net, .org, etc.) and some country-specific domains (particularly European ones: such as .es, .pt, .de, etc.), this data is hidden to comply with data protection regulations. In these cases, only the registrar (the company managing the domain registration) has access to this information. Nevertheless, it's often possible to contact the domain owner by sending a message to the owner's email address that appears in the WHOIS under "Registrant Email," "Owner Email," or similar fields.
Other national extensions, such as .ar, .cl, or .pa, display some of the domain owner's information but don't include their email address. When this occurs, the WHOIS information usually provides an alternative contact method, such as a contact form.
How can I find out who owns a domain name?
Domain public information can be viewed through any public WHOIS service, including the WHOIS search tool on this page. Other WHOIS services we recommend include:
For some domain extensions, WHOIS data may not be available through these services. In such cases, you must check the official WHOIS database managed by the corresponding registry. Here are some of the most important:
- WHOIS for .ar domains
- WHOIS for .cl domains
- WHOIS for .uy domains
- WHOIS for .br domains
- WHOIS for .ec domains
- WHOIS for .pe domains
- WHOIS for .pa domains
- WHOIS for .ve domains
After obtaining domain information, the owner's details typically appear under "Registrant" or "Owner" sections. To help you find this information, our lookup tool provides a summary with the domain's key details, including details about who owns the domain. However, keep in mind that many registrars hide domain owner information to comply with data protection laws.
How can I contact the owner of a domain name?
WHOIS services offer ways to contact the domain owner, either through a masked email address (a proxy address that forwards to the owner's actual email) or through a contact form. Therefore, to reach a domain owner, simply perform a search in the appropriate WHOIS service, then write to the email address listed in the owner's details or look for the option to contact the owner through a contact form.
Finding out who owns a domain name using WHOIS. Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't domain owner information displayed?
Due to current data protection laws (such as GDRP in Europe), many entities and companies managing public domain name databases have chosen to mask all information that could be considered private. Instead, expressions like "Redacted for Privacy" or similar typically appear.
Some domains also allow the use of privacy services, which replace the owner’s details entirely with those of the service provider for an even higher level of data protection.
Prior to 2018, when Europe’s data protection regulations took effect, WHOIS information was publicly accessible. After these regulations were implemented, ICANN (the organization overseeing international domain policies) decided to hide all WHOIS details. However, you can still contact a domain owner by using the email listed in the WHOIS record, which is typically a proxy or masked address that forwards to the actual owner.
Furthermore, ICANN only has authority to regulate international extensions (also known as gTLDs), and there are still many national extensions (e.g., .ar, .cl, .uy, etc.) that display domain owner information in their respective WHOIS databases.
What does "redacted for privacy" mean?
"Redacted for Privacy" means that certain data associated with a domain name has been removed to protect the domain owner's personal privacy.
Can I hide my information in the WHOIS?
Some domains (like .com, .net, or .org) usually hide the owner’s details by default and also allow “privacy services,” which replace the domain owner’s information with an alias.
Other extensions, such as .cl, .ar, or .es, explicitly prohibit privacy services. In those cases, you cannot hide your information because domain regulations require correct owner data to be publicly available through the WHOIS database.
Can I change the information that appears for my domain in the WHOIS?
Yes. As long as the owner contact information is accurate and up-to-date, all domains allow you to edit the contact information associated with a domain name.
How to use WHOIS
Simply enter a domain name in the search bar at the top of this page. If the domain is available, you’ll have the option to register it. If it’s already taken, you’ll see the associated WHOIS data.
WHOIS provides key domain details, such as ownership and technical information. Here are some common fields you may encounter:
- Registrant Name (also "name," "owner," etc.): The individual or entity under whom the domain is registered.
- Registrant OrganizationThe company or organization that owns the domain. This field only appears if the domain is registered to an organization.
- Expiration Date (also “Expiry Date” or “Expire”): When the domain registration expires.
- Creation Date (also “Registration Date” or “Registered”): The date the domain was first registered.
- Updated Date: The last time any changes were made to the domain (e.g., the most recent renewal).
- Registrar: The company where the domain is currently registered and managed.
- Nameserver (also “DNS” or “nserver”): Information about the nameservers the domains points to.
What's WHOIS?
WHOIS is a public directory containing all information about the owners and contacts associated with a domain name. This directory functions as a "property registry" for domain names and allows you to determine who owns a domain. The databases that make up WHOIS contain information such as the name, address, email address, and phone number of the owners of all registered domain names.
How can I use WHOIS to check when a domain expires?
Look for the “Expiration Date” field (sometimes labeled “Expiry Date”) in the WHOIS record. It shows the date through which the domain is currently registered. If it isn’t renewed by then, the domain will become inactive and enter a deletion process, eventually becoming available for registration again.
How can I find out when a domain becomes available again?
WHOIS doesn't provide specific information about when a domain might become available again—it only shows the expiration date. This date can change at any time, as the owner can renew the domain and extend the registration period if desired. The "Updated Date" field reflects the last date the domain was updated and can be a good indicator of whether the domain might be renewed again.
For domains that have passed their expiration date, the "Status" field can also provide useful information about when it might become available again. Specifically, the statuses Redemption Period and Pending delete indicate that the domain is in the process of being released, indicating that it might become available soon again.