.app domain checker and rules
Google Registry runs .app as an ending for apps. We only call a .app available when two separate checks agree nobody has registered it. How our checks work
What can a .app name contain?
Letters, numbers and hyphens, up to 63 characters before the .app. Google Registry's .app policy adds no character rules beyond the internet's standards, except for two-letter names.
| Character | Allowed? | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Letters a to z | Yes | Anywhere; capitals don't count |
| Numbers 0 to 9 | Yes | Anywhere, including first |
| Hyphen (-) | Yes | Not first or last; not two in the 3rd and 4th places |
| Accented Latin letters | Yes | From Google's Latin list, stored as xn-- |
| Two letters, like ab.app | Yes | You agree not to imply a link to a government or country |
| Spaces, underscores, symbols | No |
Does a .app website need HTTPS?
Yes. The whole .app ending is on the HSTS preload list built into browsers, so a .app site loads only over HTTPS. Registrars must tell you this before you buy.
| Fact | What it means |
|---|---|
| Browsers | Chrome's list; Firefox, Safari and Edge use lists based on it |
| Plain HTTP | Upgraded to HTTPS; without HTTPS, the page fails to load |
| Subdomains | Every subdomain needs HTTPS too, including internal ones |
| Your part | Get a certificate; there's nothing to sign up for |
How do you register a .app?
- Check the name above, with your app store names and handles.
- Pick a registrar. Google Registry sells only through accredited registrar partners.
- Compare renewal prices, not just the first year.
- Register it, then turn on auto-renew and the transfer lock.
- Set up HTTPS before you point the name at your site.
- Answer your registrar's emails about your contact details.[1, 2, 9, 12]
What should you know before you register a .app?
Budget for the higher renewal price (compare endings), and know ICANN's transfer and contact-detail rules.
| Fact | What it means |
|---|---|
| Premium names | Some carry a higher yearly fee, shown before you buy |
| 60-day lock | Moves to another registrar can be refused for 60 days after registering, a transfer or an owner change |
| Transfer code | Your registrar must give it to you within 5 days of asking |
| Renewal reminders | About a month and a week before expiry. After expiry, your site and email stop |
| Accurate details | Update them within 7 days of a change. Ignore your registrar's questions for 15 days and it can suspend the name |
What can you do if the .app you want is taken?
Try another ending (see all endings) or a close version in the checker above; it shows which are available with your handles. Trademark owners can also file a domain dispute (UDRP).
| Option | What to know |
|---|---|
| Another ending | The checker shows endings like .dev or .com, and close versions, available with your handles |
| Wait for it to lapse | The owner gets reminders, then 30 days to restore it after deletion |
| Domain dispute (UDRP) | For trademark owners. Prove it matches your mark, the owner has no right to it, and bad faith |
| UDRP result | The name is canceled or transferred to you; going to court is still possible |
What can go wrong with a .app, and how do you fix it?
Most problems come from a transfer lock, an expired name or out-of-date contact details.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| You can't move it to another registrar | Wait out the 60-day lock, then ask for the transfer code |
| Your website stopped working | The name may have expired. Renew it, or ask your registrar to restore it |
| Your domain was suspended | Correct your contact details and answer your registrar |
Which platforms should you claim with your .app?
The .com, the App Store, Google Play, Instagram and X. More on HTTPS, email and renewals: Using your .app.
Checks the .app, the .com, App Store, Google Play, Instagram and X in one search.
Sources (14)
- PrimaryPorkbun: domain name pricing, the public price list our checker reads daily
- PrimaryGoogle Registry: .app (HSTS preload list, registrar partners)
- PrimaryGoogle Registry: .app Domain Registration Policy (HTTPS notice, two-letter names)
- PrimaryGoogle Registry: .app Pricing Policy (premium names)
- PrimaryRFC 1035: Domain names, implementation and specification (sections 2.3.1, 2.3.3, 2.3.4)
- PrimaryRFC 1123: Requirements for Internet hosts (section 2.1, names may start with a digit)
- PrimaryRFC 5891: Internationalized domain names in applications (section 4.2.3.1, hyphen rules)
- PrimaryIANA: Charleston Road Registry (Google) Latin table for .app, version 1.0
- PrimaryGoogle Registry: FAQs (partners must be ICANN-accredited registrars)
- PrimaryICANN: FAQs for registrants, transferring your domain name
- PrimaryICANN: Expired Registration Recovery Policy
- PrimaryICANN: Keeping registration data accurate
- PrimaryICANN: Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (paragraphs 4(a), 4(i), 4(k))
- PrimaryHSTS Preload List (hstspreload.org) (how the list works, subdomains)