To check whether a domain name is taken, enter the complete name in ICANN Lookup. The result shows current registration data, but an empty or incomplete result is not a guarantee that the name is available to register. Confirm availability and terms with a registrar.
How to check a domain name
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Open ICANN Lookup and enter the complete domain name, including its ending, such as
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Review the registration data returned. It may identify the sponsoring registrar and other details, but it may not reveal the registrant’s personal identity.
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If no current registration record appears, search for the name through a registrar before treating it as available. Availability rules and conditions can vary by domain ending and by name.
What the lookup result tells you
ICANN says Lookup retrieves current registration data directly from registry operators and/or registrars in real time. It is a snapshot, not a promise that you can register the name, that its current registrant will sell it, or that an expiration date means it will become available on that date.
A domain registrant is the individual or entity that registers the name. Registrants contract with a registrar and manage domain settings through that registrar; ICANN Lookup is a lookup service, not the registrar for the domain.
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Why you may not see who owns a domain
Public registration data does not necessarily include the registrant’s personal contact details. If the domain is registered and you want to contact its registrant, use any public contact route or the sponsoring registrar’s process. A lookup alone does not establish that the registrant is willing to sell.
For nonpublic gTLD registration data, ICANN recommends checking Lookup first. Its Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) is intended for people with a legitimate interest and participating registrars; otherwise, contact the sponsoring registrar to learn its disclosure process. A request does not guarantee disclosure.
RDAP and WHOIS: which should you use?
Start with ICANN Lookup, which queries the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP). As of 28 January 2025, RDAP is the definitive source for generic top-level domain (gTLD) registration information, replacing sunsetted WHOIS services for that purpose. ICANN says a domain query may fall back to the corresponding gTLD registry operator’s WHOIS service when requested information is unavailable through RDAP.
RDAP is a protocol for accessing registration data and was developed as an eventual replacement for WHOIS. ICANN identifies support for internationalization, secure access, and differentiated access among its advantages.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the name is registered or was lost
If a domain was deleted, canceled, or terminated under a registration agreement or domain-use policy, consult the registrar’s website and registration agreement for the applicable process. A person may also try to reach an agreement with the current registrant, but neither route guarantees recovery or a sale.
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Choosing a next step
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The name appears available: Confirm it with a registrar and review the current registration terms before proceeding.
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The name is registered: Check whether the displayed record identifies a registrar, then use an available contact route or that registrar’s process.
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You need nonpublic registration information: Check ICANN’s guidance on RDRS and the sponsoring registrar’s process; access is not assured.
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