How to Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name (RDAP and WHOIS)
Quick answer
To find out who owns a domain, run a registration data lookup at lookup.icann.org, which uses RDAP, the protocol that has replaced WHOIS for generic domains. Most owners' personal details are redacted, but the record shows the registrar, which usually offers a form or relay email to contact the registrant.
The fastest way to find out who owns a domain is a registration data lookup. Use ICANN’s free lookup tool, type in the domain, and read the result. Expect the owner’s name and contact details to be hidden in many cases. The record will still tell you the registrar, the key dates and, often, a way to contact the owner.
RDAP has replaced WHOIS
For decades, domain ownership records were published through a protocol called WHOIS. For generic top-level domains (gTLDs) such as .com, .net and .org, ICANN has now replaced it with the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP). In early 2025, ICANN ended the requirement for gTLD registries and registrars to run the old WHOIS service.
RDAP returns the same kind of information, but in a structured format, over secure web connections, with better support for privacy controls and international characters. Many sites still call themselves “WHOIS lookups” even though they query RDAP. Some country-code domains (such as .uk or .de) run their own lookup services with their own rules.
Step-by-step: look up a domain’s owner
- Go to an official lookup. ICANN’s lookup tool works for gTLDs. For a country-code domain, use that country’s registry website, which you can find through IANA’s root zone database.
- Enter the domain without “https://” or “www”.
- Read the registrant section. If it shows a name or organisation, that is the listed owner. If it says “REDACTED” or names a privacy service, the details are hidden.
- Note the registrar. This is the company that manages the domain and holds the real contact details.
- Check the dates and status. Creation, update and expiry dates tell you how long the domain has been held and when it is due for renewal.
- Use the contact method shown. Many records include a relay email address or a link to a registrar web form that forwards your message to the owner.
What a lookup record shows
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Registrar | The company the domain is registered through |
| Registrant name / organisation | The owner, if not redacted |
| Registrant contact | Often a relay email or web form link instead of a real address |
| Creation date | When the domain was first registered |
| Expiry date | When the current registration period ends |
| Domain status | Codes such as clientTransferProhibited (locked) or redemptionPeriod |
| Nameservers | Which DNS provider the domain uses (see what nameservers are) |
Why the owner is usually hidden
Since the EU’s GDPR came into force in 2018, ICANN’s rules have allowed, and in practice led to, personal data of registrants being redacted from public lookups. Many owners also use a privacy or proxy service, which replaces their details with the service’s. Businesses sometimes leave their organisation name visible, so company-owned domains are more likely to show a real owner. Learn more in our guide to domain privacy.
Other ways to identify the owner
If the lookup is fully redacted, a few other clues can help:
- Visit the website. Check the About, Contact, legal notice or privacy policy pages.
- Look for a “for sale” page. Parked domains often link to a marketplace listing with a contact form.
- Check the SSL certificate. Organisation-validated certificates name the company that requested them.
- Search trademark and company records for the brand on the site.
- Look at historical records. Some third-party services keep older registration data from before redaction. Treat it as possibly out of date.
When you need the real identity
If you have a legitimate legal reason, such as trademark infringement, phishing or fraud, you can submit a disclosure request to the registrar. Registrars decide on these requests under their own policies and applicable law. For trademark disputes, ICANN’s Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) lets you file a complaint without first knowing who the owner is. For abuse such as phishing or malware, use the registrar’s abuse contact shown in the lookup.
If you want to buy the domain
Most people look up an owner because they want the name. Send a short, polite message through the relay or form, or use a broker if the domain is valuable. Our guide on buying a domain that is already taken walks through offers and escrow, and how to value a domain helps you set a budget first.
Frequently asked questions
Is WHOIS still used?
For generic domains such as .com, ICANN has replaced WHOIS with RDAP, and registries and registrars are no longer required to run the old WHOIS service. Many tools still say "WHOIS" but query RDAP behind the scenes. Some country-code domains still use their own WHOIS services.
Why does the lookup say "REDACTED FOR PRIVACY"?
Privacy laws such as the GDPR led ICANN and registrars to hide personal data of individual registrants by default. The owner may also use a privacy or proxy service. Either way, the registrar holds the real details.
Can I make a registrar reveal the owner?
Registrars do not usually disclose personal data on request. They may disclose it to people with a legitimate legal reason, such as a trademark owner or law enforcement, under their own processes and applicable law.
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