WHOIS Lookup for .rw Domains and More
Check any .rw, co.rw, org.rw, .com, or other domain's registration status, dates, and nameservers. Free, with no account needed, limited to 20 lookups per minute.
What Is WHOIS?
WHOIS is the public record of who has registered a domain, when, and where it currently points. Historically it ran over its own dedicated protocol; today, most registries, .rw included, expose the same information through RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), a modern, standardized replacement that returns structured data instead of a plain text block. This tool queries each domain's official RDAP server directly and presents the result in a readable format.
WHOIS for .rw Domains
Looking up a .rw domain's WHOIS record works the same way as any other TLD: the lookup goes straight to RICTA's official RDAP server, the same registry that administers every .rw, co.rw, org.rw, net.rw, ac.rw, and coop.rw registration. See What Is RICTA for the full picture of what the registry does. One difference worth knowing: RICTA redacts registrant contact details, name, email, and address, from every public .rw WHOIS and RDAP lookup by default, so ownership details aren't visible here regardless of which registrar a domain was registered through. What you will see is whether the domain is registered, its status, its registration and expiry dates, and its nameservers.
Understanding Domain Status Codes
A WHOIS result's status field uses standardized codes that can look alarming if you've never seen them before. Here's what the common ones actually mean:
| Status | What It Means |
|---|---|
| active | The domain is registered and resolving normally. |
| client transfer prohibited | The current registrar has locked the domain against transfer, a standard anti-hijacking protection, not a sign of a problem. |
| client delete prohibited | A lock preventing accidental or malicious deletion of the domain. |
| client update prohibited | A lock preventing changes to the domain's registration details without deliberately unlocking it first. |
| pending delete | The domain has lapsed and is in the final stage before being released back to the registry for anyone to register. |
| redemption period | The domain has expired and entered a recovery window where the previous registrant may still be able to reclaim it. |
Found a domain that's available?
Register a Domain→WHOIS Lookup FAQs
What is a WHOIS lookup?+
A WHOIS lookup shows a domain's public registration details: whether it's registered, its status, registration and expiry dates, and its nameservers. This tool uses RDAP, the modern replacement for the older WHOIS protocol, behind the scenes.
How do I check if a .rw domain is available or already registered?+
Type the domain into the search box above. If it's available, you'll see a direct link to register it; if it's taken, you'll see its registration status, dates, and nameservers instead.
How do I find out who owns a .rw domain?+
You can't, at least not from public WHOIS data. RICTA redacts registrant contact details from every .rw WHOIS and RDAP lookup by default for privacy, so ownership details aren't publicly visible for any .rw domain, regardless of which registrar it was registered through.
Why don't I see the registrant's name, email, or address?+
Registries redact registrant contact details from public lookups by default for privacy. See our explainer on What Is RICTA for how this works specifically for .rw domains.
What does "client transfer prohibited" mean?+
It's a standard registry lock that prevents the domain from being transferred to another registrar without first being unlocked. It's routine and doesn't indicate a problem with the domain.
Is this WHOIS lookup free?+
Yes, it's free to use, limited to 20 lookups per minute to keep the tool available for everyone.
Can I look up any domain, or just .rw?+
Most common TLDs are supported, including .rw and its second-level domains, .com, .net, .org, and many others, since the lookup uses each TLD's official RDAP server.
What does it mean if a domain shows as available?+
It means no one currently holds that domain, and you can register it immediately.