Understand domain name status and registration details - Domain Names

Use a WHOIS lookup to find information about a domain name, such as its registrar, status, and expiration date.

WHOIS lookup tool: Domain Name Information Query (WHOIS).

The Alibaba Cloud WHOIS lookup tool supports only the domain name extensions that Alibaba Cloud offers for registration.

Understanding WHOIS lookup results

Field

Description

Registrant Email Address

Registrant E-mail

In compliance with the ICANN Temporary Policy and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the personal information of the domain name registrant is no longer displayed in public WHOIS lookup results from Alibaba Cloud.

If a domain is involved in abuse, such as phishing or fraud, please contact the Registrar Abuse Contact Email (registrar abuse reporting email) displayed in the detailed WHOIS information.

Sponsoring Registrar

Sponsoring Registrar

The provider that offers registration services for the domain name. To manage the domain name, log on to the console of this registrar.

Registration Date

Registration Date (UTC)

The date the domain name was registered.

Expiration Date

Expiration Date (UTC)

The date the domain name expires. To prevent service interruptions or the loss of your domain name, renew it before this date.

Domain Status

Domain Status

A domain name can have multiple statuses at the same time. For more information, see Domain name status codes.

DNS Server

Name Server

The current resolution servers for the domain name. They act as a navigation system that points the domain name to a website server. If your website is inaccessible, check if the Domain Name System (DNS) server addresses here are correct. To modify them, see Modify DNS servers.

You can view the original WHOIS information under or Detailed WHOIS Information. For descriptions of the fields, see the ICANN Lookup FAQ.

Domain name status codes

The following table describes the meaning of each domain name status code and the recommended action.

A status code that begins with client is set by the domain name registrar. A registrar is a service provider, such as Alibaba Cloud, from which you purchase and manage domain names.
A status code that begins with server is set by the domain name registry. A registry is the management organization for top-level domains, such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Status Code (Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Status Code)	Meaning	Procedures
`ok`	The domain name is in a normal state. It can be used and has no security locks set. Note The `ok` status code is the basic status of a domain name. When other status codes are applied to the domain name, the `ok` status code is usually hidden. This does not mean the domain name is unusable.	To prevent domain name theft, you can enable the transfer prohibition lock and update lock in the console.
`addPeriod`	This status code indicates the new registration grace period. It is displayed for five days after a domain name is registered.	No action required. This status does not affect the normal use of the domain name. It is automatically removed after five days.
`clientHold`	The registrar has placed the domain name on hold. The domain name cannot be resolved and is inaccessible.	This status code may be caused by incomplete identity verification, prohibited content associated with the domain name, or a dispute. You must contact the registrar to remove this status code.
`serverHold`	The registry has placed the domain name on hold. The domain name cannot be resolved and is inaccessible.	After a .cn domain name is successfully registered, this status code is assigned if the domain name does not pass real-name verification. You must complete the real-name verification within the domain name's validity period. This status code is removed after the verification is complete.
`clientRenewProhibited`	The registrar or registry has prohibited the renewal of the domain name. This usually occurs when the domain name is under legal arbitration or involved in a dispute.	A domain name in this state cannot be renewed. Contact your registrar to find out why.
`serverRenewProhibited`
`clientTransferProhibited`	The registrar or registry has prohibited the transfer of the domain name. The domain name cannot be transferred to another registrar.	Normal security status. To transfer the domain name to another registrar, you must disable the transfer prohibition lock in the domain name console.
`serverTransferProhibited`		The registry may prohibit the transfer of newly registered domain names or domain names that were transferred within the last 60 days. This prohibition is automatically lifted after 60 days. Domain names involved in arbitration or legal cases are prohibited from being transferred by the registry. The prohibition is lifted after the case is resolved.
`clientUpdateProhibited`	The registrar or registry has prohibited updates to the domain name. Information such as the domain name registrant, administrative contact, technical contact, billing contact, and DNS servers cannot be modified. However, you can still set or modify DNS records.	Normal security status. To modify domain name information, you must disable the update lock in the domain name console.
`serverUpdateProhibited`		To modify domain name information, contact your registrar to find out why.
`clientDeleteProhibited`	The registrar or registry has prohibited the deletion of the domain name. The domain name cannot be deleted.	To delete the domain name, contact your registrar to find out why.
`serverDeleteProhibited`
`inactive`	Inactive. This status usually indicates that a valid DNS server was not entered during registration.	Action required. You must log on to the domain name console and set the correct DNS server addresses for the domain name. Otherwise, the domain name cannot be resolved.
`pendingVerification`	This status code indicates that the registration information is pending verification. The identity of the domain name owner has not been verified after the domain name was registered.	You must submit identity verification materials within 5 days of successful registration. Otherwise, the domain name is assigned the `serverHold` status code and its resolution is paused.
`pendingTransfer`	The registry has set this status code because the domain name is being transferred to another registrar.	Monitor status. Wait for the transfer to complete. If you did not initiate the transfer, contact your original registrar immediately to check for a potential security threat.
`autoRenewPeriod`	This status code indicates the renewal grace period. The domain name has expired and entered a renewal grace period of approximately 30 days.	We recommend that you renew the domain name as soon as possible. If you do not renew the domain name during this grace period, it enters the redemption period. You must pay a higher fee to redeem a domain name during the redemption period.
`redemptionPeriod`	The registry has set this status code to indicate the redemption period. The domain name has expired and is in the high-cost redemption period.	We recommend that you contact your registrar to redeem the domain name for a higher fee as soon as possible. This is your last chance to retain your domain name.
`pendingDelete`	For non-CNNIC domain names (such as .com, .net, and .org): This status code indicates that the domain name has passed the redemption period and is pending deletion. The domain name cannot be recovered when it is in this state.	After the domain name is deleted, it becomes available for public registration. You can then attempt to register it again.
`pendingDelete`	For CNNIC domain names (such as .cn and .com.cn): This status code indicates that the domain name is in the high-cost redemption period.	We recommend that you contact your registrar to redeem the domain name for a higher fee as soon as possible. This is your last chance to retain your domain name.

What to do next

After you review your domain name's information, you can perform the following actions to ensure its security and normal operation:

Manage domain name security: Check whether the domain name has the clientDeleteProhibited and clientTransferProhibited status codes. If it does not, you can enable the transfer prohibition lock and the update lock in the Domain Names console to prevent domain name theft.
Manage domain name renewal: Check the expiration date and renew your domain name before it expires.
Configure domain name resolution: If a domain name is not yet resolved, you can go to the console to add a website resolution to point the domain name to a web server or mail server.

FAQ

Q: Why can't I find my domain name information?
A: The Alibaba Cloud WHOIS lookup tool supports queries only for domain name extensions that Alibaba Cloud offers for registration. For extensions that are not on the Domain Pricing list, you can use the official ICANN lookup portal or other WHOIS lookup tools to perform a query.
Q: Why is the expiration date in the WHOIS lookup result different from what I see elsewhere?
A: This is usually caused by time zone differences or data cache delays on different platforms. The expiration date shown in your domain name registrar's official console is the most accurate.
Q: My domain status is clientTransferProhibited. Is this abnormal?
A: This is a normal security status. It functions as a lock to prevent malicious transfers of your domain name. We strongly recommend that you keep this status enabled. You only need to manually unlock the domain name if you want to transfer it to another service provider.