# clientHold and serverHold: What the Domain Hold Statuses Mean

> What the clientHold and serverHold domain statuses mean, who sets them, why the site stops opening and what the owner can do.

- Language: en
- Published: 2026-11-01 · Updated: 2026-11-01
- HTML: https://rikidomains.at/en/glossary/clienthold-serverhold/
- Markdown: https://rikidomains.at/en/glossary/clienthold-serverhold/index.md
- RU version: https://rikidomains.at/ru/glossary/clienthold-serverhold/

**clientHold** and **serverHold** are domain statuses in the registry under which the domain is removed from the DNS zone: the site and the mail on it stop working, although the registration formally remains.

## Who sets the status

- **clientHold** is set by the registrar. Typical reasons: unverified owner contact details, an unpaid renewal, a registrar decision on a complaint.
- **serverHold** is set by the zone registry, the organisation that runs the zone itself. That is one level above the registrar, and only the registry can lift it.

Both statuses are visible in the domain's public record (RDAP/WHOIS) in the status field alongside others such as clientTransferProhibited.

## What happens to the site

A domain on hold does not resolve: the browser cannot find the address and email is not delivered. The domain is not released and does not go to anyone else; it is simply switched off. After the status is lifted, DNS recovers within hours.

## What the owner can do

1. Read the registrar's notice: it usually explains the reason.
2. For a clientHold caused by unverified contacts, confirm the details and the status is lifted automatically.
3. For a status set after a complaint, answer the registrar on the substance or contact the support of the service the domain was bought through. At Riki Domains that is the [@riki_domains_support](https://t.me/riki_domains_support) chat: support contacts the registrar and handles the correspondence for the client.
4. For a serverHold, only through the registry, usually by the registrar's hands.

For the scam-site takedown service these statuses are exactly the result: a domain on clientHold or serverHold stops working.

> [Open the bot](https://t.me/riki_domains_bot?start=d11)

## FAQ

**Can a domain on clientHold be transferred to another registrar?**

Usually not: the status has to be lifted first. Transfers are blocked by a separate status, clientTransferProhibited, which registrars set by default.

**How do I check whether a domain has a hold status?**

Look up the domain's public record through any RDAP or WHOIS service: the statuses are listed in the Domain Status field.