Frequently Asked Questions
What is a WHOIS lookup?
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A WHOIS lookup queries registration databases (via RDAP) to find information about a domain name — when it was registered, when it expires, which registrar manages it, and whether it has a transfer lock enabled. This tool uses the modern RDAP protocol for faster, more reliable results.
What happens when a domain expires?
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When a domain expires, it enters a grace period (usually 30 days) where the owner can still renew at the normal price. After that, it enters a redemption period with much higher fees. Eventually, it's released for public registration — meaning anyone could register it, hijack your brand, intercept your email, and steal your traffic. Learn more in our
domain expiry monitoring guide.
What is a registrar lock?
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A registrar lock (clientTransferProhibited) prevents unauthorized transfers of your domain to another registrar. Without it, an attacker who compromises your registrar account could transfer your domain away. Most registrars enable it by default, but it's worth verifying.
How do I prevent domain expiry?
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Enable auto-renewal at your registrar and keep your payment method up to date. For critical domains, register for multiple years in advance. And use domain monitoring to get alerts 90, 30, and 7 days before expiry — auto-renewal can fail silently if your card expires.