ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the non-profit body that coordinates the global domain name system.
ICANN is the organisation that keeps the internet's naming system working as one connected whole. It doesn't sell domains or host websites. Instead, it sets the rules that domain registries and registrars follow, and coordinates the unique identifiers that let computers find each other.
ICANN was founded in 1998 and is a non-profit based in the United States. Its policies are developed through a "multistakeholder" model, which means businesses, governments, technical experts and ordinary internet users all have a say.
What ICANN does
- Manages the top-level domains: it decides which extensions exist, including approving new gTLDs like .site and .wiki.
- Accredits registrars: companies must be ICANN-accredited, or work through one, to sell generic domains.
- Sets domain rules: transfers, renewals, expiry, contact data and disputes all follow ICANN policies for generic extensions.
- Oversees the root zone: through its IANA functions, it coordinates the list of top-level domains at the top of the DNS and helps allocate IP address blocks.
How ICANN affects your domain
You'll rarely deal with ICANN directly, but its rules shape how your domain works:
- The 60-day transfer lock: after you register or transfer a domain, you can't move it to another registrar for 60 days.
- EPP codes: registrars must give you your transfer code when you ask.
- Contact verification: registrars must check your email address after registration or changes, and can suspend a domain if you don't confirm it.
- Renewal reminders: registrars must remind you before your domain expires.
- Dispute resolution: the UDRP lets trademark owners challenge domains registered in bad faith.
- Registration data: rules on WHOIS records and who can see your details.
ICANN vs registries and registrars
It's easy to mix these up:
- ICANN makes the rules for generic domains.
- A registry runs one extension, such as .com, and keeps the master list of names.
- A registrar sells domains to you and manages them on your behalf.
Country-code extensions like .uk and .de are run by national organisations that set their own policies, so many ICANN rules don't apply to them.
Common ICANN questions from domain owners
People often contact ICANN when a registrar won't release a domain or a transfer stalls. ICANN does accept complaints about accredited registrars, but it can't move domains or change your settings itself. Start with your registrar, and only escalate if they aren't following the rules.
At AblePage, transfers away are free once the 60-day ICANN lock has passed, and domains are registered in your own name.