What this article covers (and what it doesn’t)
This article is for changing the registrant (ownership) details at HostBible—also called a registrant update or WHOIS owner update.
It does not cover moving the domain to another registrar. If that’s what you’re trying to do, you’ll need a different process.
Also important: Changing the registrant does not automatically give someone access to your HostBible account.Ownership (registrant) and account access are related, but not the same thing.
Before you start
Gather the new owner’s registrant details
Have the new registrant information ready before you edit anything:
Legal name (person or organization)
Address (street/city/region/postal code/country)
Phone number
Email address the new owner can access (this is critical for verification)
Domain Privacy reminder (link only)
If your domain uses privacy, you still must keep accurate registrant information on file.
Part 1: Update the registrant (owner) details in HostBible
Step-by-step: Registrant Update (Ownership change)
Log in to your HostBible account
Go to Domains (or your Domain Manager)
Select the domain you want to hand over
Open Registrant / Contact Information (sometimes shown as “WHOIS Contacts”)
Edit the Registrant (Owner) contact details
Enter the new owner’s real/legal information
Use an email address the new owner controls
Save/Confirm the change
Important: Complete the verification email
For many domain extensions, changing the registrant details triggers a verification/confirmation email.
Check the inbox for the registrant/admin email you entered
Click the verification link (also check spam/junk folders)
If verification isn’t completed, the domain may become restricted after a grace period (which can affect website/email)
When will the change show up?
The update is usually applied quickly in your account, but registry/WHOIS displays can take time to refresh.
If you use privacy, public WHOIS may not show the new details the same way (that’s expected)—but your underlying registrant record must still be accurate.
If you don’t see the option to edit registrant details
Some extensions (especially certain country-code domains) have additional rules or manual steps. If you can’t edit the registrant in your dashboard, contact HostBible Support and include:
Domain name
What you want to change (registrant update)
The new registrant details (as above)
Part 2: Selling or handing over a domain (recommended workflow)
When money and ownership are involved, the safest handover is two parts:
Update the registrant (legal owner)
Hand over management access safely (without sharing logins)
Recommended handover workflow
Step A — Agree on what’s included
Confirm whether you are handing over:
Domain only (registration)
DNS management
Website hosting
Email hosting
Any connected services (redirects, certificates, etc.)
Step B — New owner creates their own HostBible login (recommended)
Avoid sharing a single account login. Instead:
The new owner should have their own HostBible account
They should enable 2FA on their account
Step C — Do the Registrant Update
Follow the steps in Part 1 and ensure the new owner completes any verification email promptly.
Step D — Handover ongoing management
Depending on how your HostBible setup is organized, you have two safe options:
Option 1 (best): Move management to the new owner’s HostBible account
If you need the domain to be managed under a different HostBible account, contact Support for an account-level handover (within HostBible).
Be ready to confirm both parties (seller + buyer) and provide:Domain name
Current HostBible account email (seller)
New HostBible account email (buyer)
Written confirmation from both sides
Option 2: Keep the domain in the current account temporarily (not ideal)
This can work short-term, but it’s risky because the current account holder may still have control over DNS, renewals, and security settings. If you must do this temporarily, use the safety checklist below and set a deadline to complete the account handover.
Safety checklist (do this before and after ownership handover)
This checklist is designed to prevent the most common “handover disasters”: expired domains, lost access, and security issues.
Before the handover
Check the expiration date
Confirm when the domain expires
Decide who is responsible for renewing it during the handover window
Confirm auto-renew status
If auto-renew is ON: decide whether to keep it on until the new owner takes over billing
If auto-renew is OFF: ensure everyone understands renewal deadlines
Verify the registrant email is accessible
Use an email address the new owner controls
Plan to complete verification immediately after the update
Keep Domain Lock enabled
Domain Lock helps protect against unauthorized changes
Only disable it if HostBible Support instructs you to for a specific step
Confirm DNS won’t be changed accidentally
Record current nameservers and key DNS records (A/AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT)
If the domain is actively used for email, be extra careful with MX/TXT records
Secure the HostBible account
Ensure 2FA is enabled on the account controlling the domain
Ensure recovery methods are up to date (backup codes, recovery email)
Verify the Billing Email
Renewal reminders and invoices should go to the correct person/team
Make sure the billing email will still be monitored after the handover
After the handover
Confirm registrant details are correct
Double-check the registrant name, address, phone, and email in HostBible
Confirm verification is completed
Make sure the confirmation link was clicked and the status is verified (if applicable)
Confirm renewals are covered
Verify who controls payment and whether auto-renew is correctly configured
Re-check Domain Lock
Ensure the domain is locked again if it was temporarily unlocked
Remove old access
If the domain has been moved to a new HostBible account, the previous owner should no longer have admin access
If applicable, remove any shared users/permissions that are no longer needed
Common issues and quick fixes
“I updated the registrant but the domain still shows old info.”
Registry/WHOIS updates can take time. If privacy is enabled, public WHOIS may not display underlying changes the same way. Verify the registrant details inside HostBible first.
“The new owner didn’t get the verification email.”
Check spam/junk, confirm the email address is spelled correctly, and resend verification if available. If you’re stuck, contact Support.
“We want to hand over ownership but keep DNS/website running without downtime.”
Do the registrant update first (no DNS changes), then hand over account management. Record DNS settings before making any changes.
Need help?
If you’re selling/handing over a domain and want HostBible to help ensure the handover is safe, contact Support with:
Domain name
The type of request: Registrant update / Ownership handover
Whether you also need an account-level handover within HostBible
The new registrant details and the new owner’s HostBible account email (if applicable)