Domain status codes explained

Registries describe the state of a domain with EPP status codes. They fall into three groups.

Locks set by the registrar (client*)

clientTransferProhibited, clientDeleteProhibited, clientUpdateProhibited and clientRenewProhibited are protective locks the registrar applies. Seeing them is good: they stop a stolen login or a mistaken request from moving or deleting the domain. To transfer a domain you unlock it first.

Locks set by the registry (server*)

serverTransferProhibited, serverDeleteProhibited and serverUpdateProhibited are applied by the registry, usually for a dispute, a court order or an identity check. Only the registrar can ask the registry to lift them.

Holds and pending states

• clientHold / serverHold: the domain has been removed from DNS. Site and mail are down. Common causes are unpaid renewal, a failed registrant verification or abuse. Act immediately.
• pendingTransfer: a transfer to another registrar is in progress. If you did not request it, contact your registrar now.
• pendingDelete: the domain will be deleted within days and cannot be restored.
• redemptionPeriod: the domain expired and is in redemption; the owner can still restore it for a fee.
• autoRenewPeriod and addPeriod: short windows after auto-renewal or a new registration during which the operation can be reversed.
• inactive: no nameservers are delegated.
• ok or active: nothing pending, no locks.

How whois.me.uk reports them

Holds, pendingDelete, redemptionPeriod and inactive raise a fail finding; a missing transfer lock on a non-.uk domain raises a caution, because .uk domains use IPS tags rather than transfer locks.