How Do I Check Who Owns My Domain Name?

Key facts

The legal owner of a domain is the registrant, not the person who pays or the web designer.
Nominet runs the .uk registry and offers WHOIS lookups for .uk and .co.uk domains.
ICANN Lookup at lookup.icann.org shows registration data for .com, .net, .org and other generic domains.
Since GDPR, personal registrant details are usually redacted from public WHOIS results.
Nominet runs a Dispute Resolution Service for .uk domain disputes.
dijitul Complete Hosting includes one domain registration or renewal per year on common extensions.

Owner, registrar and host are different things

Registrant: the person or organisation that legally holds the domain. This should be your business.
Registrar: the company the domain is registered through, which you pay to renew it.
DNS provider: where the records that point the domain live.
Web host: where the website files sit.

These can be four different companies. Problems start when the registrant is a former web designer or staff member rather than the business.

So when you ask "who owns my domain?", you are really asking who the registrant is.

How to check, step by step

Run a WHOIS lookup. For .uk, .co.uk and .org.uk use the WHOIS search on nominet.uk. For .com, .net and .org use lookup.icann.org.
Note the registrar and the dates. WHOIS shows the registrar, registration date and expiry date even when the owner's name is hidden.
Log in to the registrar account. The contact or ownership page shows the full registrant name and address.
Check old invoices and emails. Search your inbox for the domain name and words like "renewal" to find who has been paying.
For .uk domains, check with Nominet. A registrant can ask Nominet for the data held about their own domain.

Why the owner's name is often hidden

Since GDPR, most registries and registrars redact personal registrant details from public WHOIS. For a .uk domain registered by an individual, you will often see only the registrar. Company details may be shown. Some registrars also add a privacy service on .com domains. Hidden details do not mean you do not own it; it means you need to log in, or ask the registrar, to see the full record.

If the domain is in someone else's name

Ask nicely first. Most former developers will change the registrant to your business or move it to your own registrar account when asked.
Gather proof that the domain is used by your business: invoices, trading history, trade marks.
Contact the registrar. They have processes for changes of registrant, but they need the current registrant's consent or evidence.
Use the dispute process as a last resort. For .uk domains, Nominet runs a Dispute Resolution Service. Take advice before starting one.
Watch the expiry date. If renewal lapses while you are sorting it out, see What happens when a domain name expires?

If your developer has vanished entirely, read My web developer has disappeared.

How dijitul helps

dijitul has helped UK businesses sort out domains since 2006. We can check who holds your domain, help you request the change of registrant, then transfer it into an account in your business name. Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT) includes one domain registration or renewal each year on common extensions such as .uk, .co.uk, .com and .org, plus managed hosting, daily backups and free SSL. See UK domain registration or order online.

How to keep control from now on

Register domains in your business name, using a company email address you control, not a personal one.
Keep the registrar login in your business password manager, not with one person.
Turn on auto-renew and keep a valid card on file.
Put the expiry date in your calendar as a backup.
Keep the registrant contact details up to date. For .uk domains, Nominet can suspend a domain whose registrant details cannot be validated.
Ask any supplier who registers a domain for you to confirm in writing that it is in your name.

Frequently asked questions

How can I find out who owns a domain name in the UK?

For .uk, .co.uk and .org.uk domains, use the WHOIS search on the Nominet website. For .com, .net and .org, use ICANN Lookup at lookup.icann.org. Personal details are often hidden for privacy, but you will see the registrar, which can pass on messages or confirm details to the owner.

Who legally owns my domain name?

The registrant named on the domain record is the legal holder, not whoever pays the bill or built the website. If your web designer registered the domain in their own name, they are the registrant. Check your registrar account to see the registrant name, and ask for it to be changed to your business if it is wrong.

Why doesn't WHOIS show my name?

Since GDPR, registries and registrars redact personal details from public WHOIS results to protect privacy. For many .uk domains registered by individuals, only the registrar is shown. Log in to your registrar account to see the full registrant details, or ask your registrar to confirm them.

My web designer registered my domain. How do I get it back?

Ask them to change the registrant to your business and move the domain to your own registrar account, which is an IPS tag change for .uk domains or a transfer code for .com. Keep evidence that you use the domain. If they refuse or cannot be reached, contact the registrar, and for .uk domains Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service is the last resort.

What is the difference between a registrar and a registry?

A registry runs a whole extension, for example Nominet runs .uk. A registrar is the company you buy and renew a domain through, which talks to the registry on your behalf. You normally deal with the registrar, not the registry, when changing nameservers, renewing or transferring.

Can dijitul help me get my domain back?

Yes. dijitul can check who holds your domain, help you request a change of registrant from a former developer or supplier, and move it into an account in your business name. Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT includes one domain registration or renewal each year on common extensions.

Developer disappearedIf your web developer has disappeared, secure the domain name first, then the hosting, then the website files …Transferring a .co.ukTo transfer a .co.uk domain, ask your current registrar to change the IPS tag to the tag of your new registrar…When a domain expiresWhen a domain name expires, your website and email usually stop working within days. There is normally a grace…Domain Namesdijitul includes one domain name registration or renewal every year with dijitul Complete Hosting, £1 a day + ….uk Domainsdijitul registers and renews .uk, .co.uk, .org.uk and other UK domain names, and one registration or renewal a…

Set it up and forget about it

Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.

Order for £1 a day Ask a question

How do I check who owns my domain name?