1. Use a WHOIS Lookup Tool
Several websites provide WHOIS lookup services for free. Popular options include:
2. Enter the Domain Name
Once you are on a WHOIS lookup tool, type the domain name you are interested in into the search bar (e.g., example.com) and press "Search" or "Lookup".
3. Review the Registry Details
After the search is complete, you will typically see a report with the following key details:
- Registrar: The company that manages the domain registration.
- Registrant: The name and contact information of the domain owner (if not privacy-protected).
- Registrar Contact Information: Contact details for the registrar (including email and phone number).
- Creation Date: When the domain was first registered.
- Expiration Date: When the domain registration will expire.
- Nameservers: The DNS servers associated with the domain (e.g.,
ns1.example.com). - Status: The domain's current status (e.g., active, expired, locked).
- Whois Server: The server used to query the registry for domain information.
4. Look for Privacy Protection
Some domains use privacy protection services (often labeled as "domain privacy" or "WHOIS privacy"), which obfuscates the domain owner's personal contact information. In such cases, you may only see the name of the privacy service provider, instead of the owner's details.
5. Additional Tools for DNS Information
If you're looking for DNS-specific information (such as A records, MX records, etc.), you can use tools like:
6. ICANN Lookup for TLD Information
For more detailed domain registration information, especially for top-level domains (TLDs) like .com, .org, or .net, you can use the ICANN Lookup tool to verify the details with the official registry.
7. Check for Domain Ownership or Transfer Restrictions
If you want to check if a domain is locked or restricted from transfer, you can also look at the status codes in the WHOIS record. For example, if a domain has the clientTransferProhibited status, it means the domain cannot be transferred to another registrar without the domain owner's approval.
