Login.UK Registration Data Directory Services are Changing
On 9 February 2027, Nominet will retire the WHOIS protocol (sometimes referred to as port 43), which has historically been used by registrars and the public to check the status and registration details of .UK domain names.
In its place, the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) will become the primary method for accessing public registration data. RDAP is a modern, secure, and standards-based protocol designed to replace WHOIS and provide a more flexible and reliable way to access domain registration information.
Before withdrawing the port 43 WHOIS service, we will update the IANA records for the .UK ccTLD so they no longer advertise the availability of that service publicly. This may affect some WHOIS clients that rely on locating the WHOIS server starting from August 2026.
What you need to do
If you use WHOIS (or you are a registrar using WHOIS2) to query .UK registration data, review your tooling and plan your move to RDAP before 9 February 2027. Some WHOIS clients may also be affected from August 2026 when .UK IANA records are updated.
Why does this matter to me?
If you currently use a command-line tool such as whois to look up information about .UK domain names, you should ensure that your tooling supports the RDAP protocol before the WHOIS service is withdrawn (February 2027).
FAQs
My WHOIS client has stopped working for .UK before 9 February 2027. What can I do?
We recommend using RDAP on an ongoing basis. In the short term you can configure your WHOIS client to use the server ‘whois.nic.uk’.
Are there any web-based tools available?
Yes. Nominet provides an RDAP lookup service that can be used to query any top-level domain that supports RDAP:
You can also use other public RDAP services, such as:
Where can I find more information about RDAP?
Further information about RDAP, including its purpose and benefits, is available from ICANN:
I'm a .UK registrar and use WHOIS as part of my integration with the registry. What should I do?
Registrars that currently integrate with Nominet’s WHOIS or WHOIS2 services should begin planning and implementing their migration to RDAP.
We have published guidance covering how to replace WHOIS and WHOIS2 integrations with RDAP:
We recommend reviewing this guidance as soon as possible and updating any dependent systems ahead of the 9 February 2027 retirement date.