Every registered domain has a public record, called WHOIS, that anyone can look up. Without privacy, that record can show the owner's name, address, email and phone number. WHOIS privacy keeps those personal details out of public view, and how you get it depends on the extension: on .in it is already done for you, while on .com and most other extensions it is an optional add-on.
Step-by-step instructions, the status labels in the client area and how to remove privacy are in how to enable or disable privacy protection for your domain name.
For .in and its second-level extensions (.co.in, .net.in, .org.in and others), personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic; there is nothing to switch on. For .com, .net, .org and most other extensions, WHOIS privacy is an optional add-on at ₹300 a year per domain, excluding 18% GST, which you enable from the domain's page in the client area. A few extensions, such as .us, do not allow privacy services at all.
1. What WHOIS shows
WHOIS, now also served through a newer protocol called RDAP, is the public directory of registered domains. Registrars must hold accurate contact details for every domain. What the public sees depends on the extension and on whether privacy is active.
| Data | Always public | Can be hidden |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name, registrar, creation and expiry dates | Yes | No |
| Nameservers and status codes | Yes | No |
| Registrant name | No | Yes |
| Email address and phone number | No | Yes |
| Postal address | No | Yes |
2. Why privacy matters
People collect WHOIS data to send spam, make sales calls and craft phishing emails that look like they come from your registrar. Hiding your personal details removes an easy source of that information. Privacy does not stop someone looking up your domain, and it does not replace keeping your account secure.
3. How privacy works
Privacy replaces your personal details in the public record with redacted or proxy details. A lookup then shows that the domain is registered, but not who you are or how to reach you directly.
What privacy does not change:
- You must still give your registrar accurate details. Privacy hides them; it doesn't let you register with false ones.
- Registrars and registries can still disclose registrant data when the law or a legitimate complaint requires it.
- Records copied by third-party sites before privacy was active may still show your old details.
4. .in domains: free and automatic
For .in and its second-level extensions (.co.in, .net.in, .org.in and others), personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic; there is nothing to switch on.
The .IN registry, run by NIXI, applies this itself, so it is the same for every .in domain, before and after a transfer and on every renewal. In the public record, the registrant's name, street, city, postcode, phone and email are redacted, as are the admin, technical and billing contacts. The organisation name (if the domain is registered to a company), the state and the country stay visible. For more detail, see the .IN WHOIS privacy guide.
5. .com and other extensions: an optional add-on
On .com, .net, .org and most other extensions, Domain India offers WHOIS privacy as an add-on at ₹300 a year per domain (Domain India list price on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST). You add it after the domain is registered:
- Open the domain.Log in, open your domains and select the domain. Its page opens on the Overview tab.
- Find the Security card.The WHOIS privacy row shows the current status.
- Enable it.Click Enable privacy protection (shown when the status is "Not enabled"), then pay the invoice that opens.
- Check the result.The row should then read "Enabled". If it doesn't after payment, open a ticket at /client/support/new with the domain name and invoice number.
There is no self-service switch to turn privacy off; ask support if you need it removed.
6. Extensions with their own rules
Registries decide what their records must show:
- Some registries hide personal data themselves, as the .IN registry does, so a paid service adds nothing there.
- Some registries don't allow privacy services, because their policy requires the registrant to be publicly identifiable. The United States extension, .us, is the best-known example.
- Some treat individuals and organisations differently, hiding a private person's details but publishing a company's.
Privacy options differ by extension; ask support before you buy if you are unsure.
7. Troubleshooting
- My details still show after enabling privacy. Third-party WHOIS sites cache results. Check with our WHOIS lookup; if the domain page says "Enabled" but your details still show after a day or so, ask support.
- The row says "Not available". The extension doesn't offer privacy through us. Ask support if you are unsure why.
- I still get spam. Your details may have been copied before privacy was active. Keep your registrant email accurate so you don't miss genuine renewal and verification emails. See change your domain's WHOIS information.
8. Where Domain India fits
Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar. A .in costs ₹575 to register and ₹625 a year to renew, and personal details are hidden at no extra cost. A .com costs ₹1,150 a year, plus ₹300 a year if you add privacy. These are Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding GST.
What is WHOIS privacy?
WHOIS privacy hides the domain owner's personal details, such as name, address, email and phone number, from the public WHOIS record. The domain name, registrar, dates and nameservers stay public.
Is WHOIS privacy free for .in domains?
Yes. For .in and its second-level extensions such as .co.in, .net.in and .org.in, personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic, and there is nothing to switch on.
How much does WHOIS privacy cost for a .com domain at Domain India?
₹300 a year per domain, excluding 18% GST, at Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026. You enable it from the Security card on the domain's page in the client area.
Can I get privacy on a .us domain?
No. The .us registry's policy does not allow privacy or proxy services, so the registrant's details stay public.
Does privacy mean nobody can find out who owns my domain?
No. Your registrar and the registry still hold your real details and can disclose them when the law or a legitimate complaint requires it. Privacy only keeps them out of public lookups.
Ready to protect your details? Register a .in at domain registration, check what the public sees with the WHOIS lookup, or open your domains to add privacy to a .com. Questions go to our 24/7 live chat or a support ticket.
Search .in and .com side by side and register with a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar.
Search for your domain