In case you missed it, domain ownership rules are changing. Starting August 21, 2025, new policies from ICANN (the organization that oversees domain name registrations) will impact how ownership data is handled for your domain.
This isn’t a tech issue—it’s an admin one. If you’re a small business or nonprofit that owns a domain name, it’s time to check your settings.
What’s Changing and Why It Matters
ICANN’s new Registration Data Policy will replace the old WHOIS rules. The main goal is to create more consistency and transparency about who owns domains while giving registrars flexibility to comply with local privacy laws.
If your contact details (email, phone, admin info) are missing or outdated, you might not receive important notices about renewals, expirations, or issues. Worse, you could lose access to your domain.
What You Need To Do
Most registrars (like GoDaddy or Bluehost) should have already emailed you about this. If you didn’t see that message—or aren’t sure it was legit—now’s the time to log into your account and double-check your domain settings.
Here’s what to look for:
- Your name or business name is listed as the registrant
- The admin email is current and accessible
- The phone number is accurate
- Your domain is locked for security
How to Check Your Domain Info
Pick your registrar below and follow the steps to review your domain’s contact settings:
GoDaddy
How to update your domain contact info:
https://www.godaddy.com/help/change-domain-contact-information-418
Bluehost
Instructions for managing domains (including contact info):
https://www.bluehost.com/help/results?s=update%20domain%20contact%20information
Cloudflare
Manage domain registration info (you must be using Cloudflare Registrar):
https://developers.cloudflare.com/registrar/account-options/domain-management/#edit-whois-records
Namecheap
How to edit domain contact details:
https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/491/37/can-i-change-contact-information-for-my-domain-with-domain-privacy-enabled/
Not Sure Who Your Registrar Is?
You can look up your domain at https://lookup.icann.org and scroll down to the Registrar Info section.
Why This Matters for My Clients
Many of my clients rely on me for web design and care plans, but domain ownership is separate. You (or your organization) are the legal owner of your domain—and you need to make sure that ownership is properly documented and accessible.
A few reminders:
- If you hired someone to set up your domain years ago, confirm that it’s in your name
- If your domain was set up under a team member’s email who has since left, get that updated
- If you can’t access your domain registrar account, recover it now—don’t wait until there’s a problem
One Last Thought
This is a good reminder to treat your domain like the digital property it is. Think of it like your business license or mailing address—it needs to be accurate, secure, and up-to-date.
If you’re still unsure after checking your settings, don’t stress. This step is best handled by the domain owner because of two-factor authentication and other security features—but if you hit a wall, I’m always here to point you in the right direction.
