your domain • step by step
How to Get Your Domain Back From a Web Designer or Company
To get your domain back, look it up on ICANN Lookup to see who the registrant is, then ask the web company in writing either to transfer the registrant to you or to give you the domain's transfer (auth) code so you can move it to a registrar account in your name. Most companies will help when asked clearly and in writing, but do it before you cancel, because once services end the domain may lapse or be cancelled with them.
01 • step one
How do I find out who owns my domain?
Search your domain on ICANN Lookup. It shows the registrar, which is the company the domain is registered with, plus the expiry date. The registrant, meaning the legal owner, may be hidden by privacy. If so, ask your web company or the registrar in writing who the registrant is.
| What you find | What it means |
|---|---|
| You are the registrant and can log in | You own it. Keep the login safe and turn on auto-renew. |
| You are the registrant, but the company holds the login | It is yours. Ask for the login, or for an auth code to move it. |
| The company is the registrant | The company controls it. You need it to transfer the domain to you. |
02 • step two
How do I ask a web company to give me my domain?
Be specific and polite, and put it in writing. A short email works better than a phone call, because you have a record.
Email you can copy
Subject: Domain transfer request for yourbusiness.com. Hello, I would like the domain yourbusiness.com transferred to my name. Please either (a) change the registrant to [your name / business], or (b) unlock the domain and send me the transfer authorization code so I can move it to my own registrar account. Please confirm the expiry date and when I can expect this. Thank you, [Name].
Some companies spell out their process. Hibu's terms say it will assist with transferring a domain it provided into your name. Thryv's Help Center says its website team can transfer a domain back if you part ways. Scorpion's FAQ says your domains are yours.
03 • step three
How does a domain transfer work?
- 01
Open your own registrar account
In your name, with your own email and password.
- 02
Get it unlocked
The current registrar or web company removes the transfer lock.
- 03
Get the auth code
Also called the EPP or authorization code.
- 04
Start the transfer
At your new registrar, enter the domain and the code.
- 05
Approve and confirm
Approve any emails, then check you are listed as registrant.
Domain transfers follow ICANN's Transfer Policy. Two rules catch people out. A newly registered or recently transferred domain usually cannot move for 60 days. And changing the registrant can trigger a 60-day transfer lock at many registrars, so ask your registrar whether to change the registrant or transfer first.
04 • if it stalls
What if the web company will not release my domain?
- 1Ask again in writing, quoting your contract and the date of your first request.
- 2Check your contract for anything about the domain, such as a release on termination or a transfer process.
- 3If you are the registrant and the registrar will not give you the auth code, contact the registrar directly. ICANN's materials on registrants' benefits and responsibilities explain your rights.
- 4If the company is the registrant and refuses, get legal advice. This page cannot tell you what your contract allows.
- 5In the meantime, keep the domain from expiring. Note the expiry date from ICANN Lookup.
If you truly cannot get it back, a new domain is not the end of the world. Keep your Google Business Profile and tell your customers. It is slower, but businesses recover from it.
05 • after you have it
What do I do once my domain is in my name?
- Turn on auto-renew and two-factor login at the registrar.
- Write down the expiry date and the registrar's name somewhere safe.
- Check your email still works. Email depends on the domain's DNS settings.
- Point the domain to your new website.
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questions
Frequently asked questions
01. Who owns my domain if my web designer registered it?
+
Whoever is listed as the registrant. If the designer registered it in their own name, they control it until it is transferred to you.
02. What is a domain auth code?
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A password-like code, also called an EPP or authorization code, that lets a domain move from one registrar to another.
03. How long does a domain transfer take?
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Usually several days once you start it with the auth code. Waiting for the web company to respond is often the slow part.
04. Can I transfer a domain that was just registered?
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Usually not for 60 days after registration, under ICANN's rules.
05. Will my email stop working during a domain transfer?
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It should not, if the DNS records stay the same. Screenshot them before the move and check them after.
Sources
Checked on 15 October 2026. Company pages change, so read the current version before you act.
- 1.ICANN Lookup: check who a domain is registered to
- 2.ICANN: Transfer Policy
- 3.ICANN: Registrants' Benefits and Responsibilities
- 4.Hibu Inc. Digital Products and Services Terms and Conditions (General Terms and Service Terms)
- 5.Thryv Help Center: Thryv Frequently Asked Questions
- 6.Scorpion: Frequently Asked Questions
Read next
This is general information, not legal advice. Your own contract decides what applies to you.
PrimeBuild is not affiliated with Weebly, Square, Hibu, Thryv or Scorpion. Company names are used only to describe their published terms and notices.