WHOIS lookup

Type a domain to see when it was registered, when it expires, which registrar holds it, its nameservers and any locks. Facts come straight from the registry.

What a WHOIS lookup tells you

  • Whether the name is registered. If it is free, you can register it straight away on our search page.
  • Its age. An older domain is not automatically better, but a name registered last week and offered as "premium" deserves questions.
  • The expiry date. A name close to expiry may come free if its owner forgets to renew. Add it to the watchlist.
  • Locks and holds. Status codes such as a transfer lock or a hold explain why a domain cannot move or has stopped working.
  • Nameservers. They show which company runs the domain's DNS, which is where you change its website and email settings.

What we do not show

Many registries now hide owners' names, emails and phone numbers, and some still publish them. We leave those details out either way. If you need to contact an owner about buying a domain, the safer route is through a marketplace with escrow, where neither side has to trust the other.

For .pk and .com.pk names the data comes from PKNIC's own WHOIS service. PKNIC publishes the registration and expiry dates and the nameservers, but not a registrar, because PKNIC is both the registry and the place you register.

Want the full background? Read how to check if a domain is available and what PKNIC is.

Common questions

Is this WHOIS lookup free?

Yes. There is no sign-up and no charge. We limit very heavy automated use so the registries keep answering everyone.

Why is there no owner name in the results?

We never show owners' personal details, and most registries now hide them anyway. Use the registration dates and status to judge a domain, and contact owners through a marketplace with escrow.

The expiry date has passed but the domain still shows as registered. Why?

Registries give owners a grace period after expiry. For .pk, PKNIC can deactivate an unpaid domain and then holds it for two weeks before it may be released. Generic names such as .com usually pass through further grace and redemption periods.

Can I see who owned a domain before?

No. WHOIS shows the current record only. History services exist but are paid, and their data is often incomplete.