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Domain security: registrar lock, auto-renew and privacy

You need to be logged into your PAC Client Area to manage your domains. Your Client Area (pacwebhosting.uk/mydomains) is where you manage domains – it is separate from Enhance Panel, where you manage hosting and email.

A few simple settings help keep your domain safe and stop it being lost or moved without your say-so. Here’s what they do and how to manage them.

Open your domain

Go to pacwebhosting.uk/mydomains (or click Domains from the Client Area menu). You will see a list of all the domains registered or transferred to your account. Click the domain you want to manage, or the Manage button next to it.

Registrar lock

Registrar lock prevents your domain being transferred away without you first unlocking it – a good protection against unauthorised transfers. Where your domain extension supports it, we recommend keeping it on unless you’re deliberately transferring the domain away. Manage it under Registrar Lock in the domain’s menu.

.uk domains work differently: they’re moved by changing the IPS tag rather than with a lock and EPP code. See how to transfer a domain away.

Auto-renew

Auto-renew is switched on for every domain by default, so your domain renews automatically and never expires by accident.

Turning off auto-renew tells us you no longer want the domain. We then won’t raise a renewal invoice or send reminders, and the domain will expire and be lost. Please leave it on unless you’re sure you no longer need the domain, or you’re transferring it away. See how to renew your domain.

Domain privacy and WHOIS

When a domain is registered, the registrant’s details are sent to the registry, and some may be published in the public WHOIS/RDAP database under that registry’s rules.

  • Most generic extensions (such as .com and .net): personal details are now hidden by default.
  • .uk domains: if you’re an individual registering a domain for yourself, you can opt out of having your details shown. Individuals who trade or sell online, and businesses such as limited companies, partnerships and sole traders, can’t opt out. See Domain Configuration Help (Registering) for which legal type to choose.
  • ID protection: where a privacy service is available for your extension, you can choose it when you order or transfer the domain.

Not sure what’s shown for your domain, or what applies to its extension? Just ask us and we’ll check.

The full wording is in clauses 2.4 and 3.2 of our Domain Registration Terms.

Need a hand with anything to do with your domain? Please contact our support team and we will be happy to help. For questions about pricing or renewals you can also open a sales ticket.

Updated on October 1, 2026
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