WHOIS Lookup
See who owns a domain, when it expires, where it's hosted, its DNS and SSL — instantly.
Who registered the domain (where not redacted), which registrar sponsors it and how to reach them.
Registration, update and expiry dates, domain age, EPP status codes, transfer lock and DNSSEC.
Web server IP and hosting provider, name servers, DNS records, mail setup and the live SSL certificate.
Good to know
A few answers to the questions we hear most about domain ownership records, privacy and expiry.
WHOIS is the public directory of domain registrations. Every time a domain is registered, the registry records who sponsors it (the registrar), when it was created and when it expires, which name servers it uses and, subject to privacy rules, who the registrant is. A WHOIS lookup queries that record — today mostly through RDAP, the modern JSON successor to the classic WHOIS protocol — and our report adds live DNS, hosting and SSL details on top.
Since GDPR and ICANN’s Temporary Specification (2018), registrars must hide personal contact data by default, and many domains also use a WHOIS privacy service that replaces the owner’s name, email and address with proxy details. That is why the registrant section often reads “Redacted for privacy”. Registrar, dates, status codes and name servers are never redacted, so a lookup is still the best way to learn about a domain.
Run a lookup and check the “Expires On” row in the Domain Information card. The registry expiry date is authoritative for generic TLDs like .com; the coloured pill next to it counts down the days. Keep in mind that after expiry most domains enter a grace period and then a redemption period, so a name usually becomes available to the public 30–75 days after the date shown — if the owner doesn’t renew.
It is an EPP status code set by the registrar (client) that blocks the domain from being transferred to another registrar — usually because the owner has enabled the registrar lock. Its sibling “server transfer prohibited” is set at the registry level. Neither means the domain is in trouble; they are standard protection against domain hijacking. To transfer a domain you own, disable the lock in your registrar’s control panel first.
Not directly — a registered domain belongs to its current owner until it expires or they choose to sell. You can contact the owner (via the registrant email if shown, or the registrar’s abuse/contact channel) and negotiate a purchase, then transfer the domain to OrangeHost once you agree. We do not offer backorders, but you can note the expiry date and check back once the redemption period passes; if the name drops, our domain search will show it as available.