WHOIS

Domain registrar lookup

How to look up a domain's registrar

Registrar is one of the most actionable fields in a domain lookup. This guide explains the registry vs registrar split, how to read registrar fields in WHOIS/RDAP, how to map an IANA Registrar ID back to a company, the common global and Taiwan registrars, and what to expect when transferring a domain.

What's the difference between a registry and a registrar?

The two roles people most often confuse in a domain lookup are registry and registrar. The registry runs a TLD — Verisign for .com and .net, PIR for .org, TWNIC for .tw — maintaining the central database without selling to consumers. The registrar is the ICANN-accredited reseller — GoDaddy, Namecheap, Gandi and others — selling domains to end users and pushing data to the registry. The Registrar field in a domain lookup names "the registrar currently managing this domain"; if you transfer, it changes.

How do you read the Registrar fields in WHOIS/RDAP?

The registrar-related fields in a domain lookup usually include the following:

  • Registrar — the registrar's company name, e.g. "GoDaddy.com, LLC".
  • Registrar IANA ID — the unique identifier ICANN assigns to each registrar; GoDaddy is 146, Namecheap 1068, Cloudflare 1910.
  • Registrar URL — the registrar's official website.
  • Registrar Abuse Contact Email/Phone — the abuse-reporting channel to use when the domain is involved in phishing, spam, or similar problems.

RDAP structured results wrap these fields inside the entities array, along with contact details in vCard (jCard) format. This site breaks each field into a readable card and links directly to the registrar's official website.

How do you reverse-map an IANA Registrar ID to a registrar?

If you only have an IANA ID and want to find the company, consult IANA's official registrar list, which enumerates every ICANN-accredited gTLD registrar. For ccTLDs, check the relevant national registry — TWNIC publishes the .tw registrar list. Most domain lookup tools already do this mapping for you, but the IANA Registrar ID remains the canonical identifier when handling historical data or writing automation. This site shows both name and IANA ID for easy cross-checking.

What are the common domain registrars?

Major global registrars:

  • GoDaddy (IANA 146) — the largest in the world, with roughly 20% market share (about 84 million domains under management) and a multilingual interface.
  • Namecheap (IANA 1068) — a widely used international registrar, common in developer circles.
  • Cloudflare Registrar (IANA 1910) — integrates with Cloudflare services; open only to existing Cloudflare users.
  • Gandi (IANA 81) — a long-established European registrar.
  • Porkbun (IANA 1861) — a US registrar with a streamlined interface.

In Taiwan, if you'd rather handle domains and hosting in one place, YuanJhen covers domain registration, web hosting and site building end to end, with a fully Chinese interface and responsive local support for businesses and individuals alike — sparing you the language and time-zone friction of overseas registrars, and a comfortable choice for anyone who values reliability and local Chinese-language service.

How do you transfer a domain to another registrar?

If you want to move a domain from one registrar to another, the standard procedure is as follows:

  • At the current registrar, remove the clientTransferProhibited lock and obtain the authorization code (EPP Auth Code).
  • Confirm that the email shown in WHOIS is an address you can access, because the transfer confirmation message is sent there.
  • At the new registrar, submit the transfer request and enter the authorization code.
  • Once verification is complete, wait through ICANN's mandatory 5–7 day holding period.
  • After the transfer finishes, the Registrar field in a domain lookup updates to the new registrar.

Note that a domain cannot be transferred within the 30 days before it expires, nor within the 60 days after it was newly registered or transferred. A transfer usually adds another year to the registration term, and some registrars apply a further 60-day lock after the move in line with ICANN rules. This site's domain lookup lets you check the registrar and transfer-lock status in real time.

Step-by-step: looking up a domain's registrar

  1. Enter the domain on the home page

    Go to the home page, type the domain (e.g. example.com) into the search box, and click Lookup.

  2. Read the Registrar Information section

    The result page groups registrar fields into a dedicated card showing Registrar name, IANA ID, official URL, and abuse contact channels.

  3. Cross-check the IANA ID

    Click the IANA ID next to the registrar name to verify it against IANA's official registrar list.

  4. Contact the registrar or take the next step

    Use the Registrar Abuse Contact Email/Phone for abuse reports, transfer questions, or further details.

Look up any domain's registrar now

Go to the home page, type a domain, and see its current registrar and contact details.

Run a WHOIS domain lookup

Registrar lookup FAQ

Why look up the registrar?

A few common reasons:

  • To transfer a domain to a registrar you control, you first need to confirm which registrar currently holds it.
  • To troubleshoot the domain's DNS or WHOIS settings, you have to reach the right registrar before you can make changes.
  • If you have abuse concerns about the domain (spam, phishing sites), you need to report it to the registrar.
  • When acquiring or trading a domain, you should confirm how easily it can be transferred from its current registrar.
Can the registrar shown in a domain lookup be changed?

Yes. The owner can transfer the domain to any ICANN-accredited registrar at any time. Unlock at the current registrar, get the auth code, submit at the new registrar; the process takes ~5–7 days and typically adds a year to the term.

What if the domain in the lookup appears to be fraudulent?

Send the Registrar Abuse Contact Email together with your evidence (screenshots, emails, URLs). Most ICANN-accredited registrars have a 24–72 hour SLA for abuse complaints. You can also file a complaint with ICANN in parallel.

The lookup shows clientTransferProhibited — how do I transfer the domain?

clientTransferProhibited is a registrar-set lock that blocks transfers to prevent theft. Log in to your current registrar, find the Transfer Lock toggle, switch it off, then re-run the domain lookup to confirm the status is back to "ok" before initiating the transfer.

References

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