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How to Register a .eth name

Updated over a week ago

Good to Know

  • Registration requires ETH on Mainnet Ethereum for registration and gas fees


Search and Set Details Before Registration

1. Search for an available name

Go to the ENS App and search for an available name.


2. Select registration duration

Select the amount of years you want to register the name for - or pick by date.

3. Toggle primary name.

Connect your wallet and choose if you want this as your wallets Primary name

Learn about The Primary Name

4. Create your profile

Add accounts, addresses, and other records to your profile. Click on the camera icon to add an Avatar.

  • ETH and other wallet addresses

  • Social handles

  • Decentralised website (via contenthash)

  • Avatar image (via avatar)

  • Email and other text records

Next you can register the name.

Learn to Add more to profile. Learn How to set an Avatar - Try the Upload Image option to benefit from gasless changes


Register your ENS Name

Registration requires ETH on Mainnet Ethereum for registration and gas fees

Registering an ENS name is a three step process

Request to Register ➡️ Wait 60 Seconds ➡️ Register
  1. Request to Register
    A 0ETH 'commit' transaction to prevent front-running

  2. Wait 60 Seconds
    A 60 second waiting time

  3. Register
    The actual Registration transaction


Step 1: Request to register (commit)

Request to Register ➡️ Wait 60 Seconds ➡️ Register

While this transaction does not have a transaction value, it still incurs a gas fee.

Click Request to Register to start Step 1 of the registration process. A 0 ETH transaction is performed where your name is hashed with a secret key so that no one else can view the name you're trying to register.

Keep in mind

  • This step stores a secret key in your browser's local storage. To avoid having to repeat this step, make sure to not clear your cache or switch browsers.

  • You have 24 hours to complete Step 3 before the Request to Register transaction expires. However, the ENS name is not reserved for you during this time.

Double-check that the registration length and fees are satisfactory, then press Begin to start the registration process. Next, Open wallet and approve the transaction in your wallet. Wait while the transaction is processed on Ethereum.


Step 2: Wait 60 seconds

Request to Register ➡️ Wait 60 Seconds ➡️ Register

After the Step 1 transaction completes there's a 60-second waiting period to prevent front running.


Step 3: Complete Registration (register)

Request to Register ➡️ Wait 60 Seconds ➡️ Register

Now it's time to Register your ENS name. Click the complete registration button and confirm the transaction in your wallet. Once all transactions go through successfully you should now be the proud owner of your very own ENS name - Congratulations!


FAQ

How much does it cost to register a .eth name?

The base price is determined by the length of the name:
– 5+ characters: $5/year
– 4 characters: $160/year
– 3 characters: $640/year

These are paid in ETH on Ethereum Mainnet, plus gas fees for the registration transactions.

Why does it say i have insufficient balance?

Registration requires ETH on Mainnet Ethereum for registration and gas fees. ETH on L2s cannot be used. You may also need a buffer amount due to gas price fluctuations.

Can I use any wallet?

Yes – any wallet that supports Ethereum (e.g. MetaMask, Rainbow, Coinbase Wallet) can be used to register and manage a .eth name.

What is a Primary Name?

The Primary Name lets your wallet address be linked to a readable .eth name. For example, instead of showing 0x123...abcd, dapps can display yourname.eth.

You can choose to set it during registration or afterwards. Learn How to Set as Primary Name

What Records can i add?

You can add:
– ETH and other wallet addresses
– Social handles
– Decentralised website (via contenthash)
– Avatar image (via avatar)
– Email and other text records

These are optional and can be added or updated later. Learn How to Edit Profile. Learn How to set an Avatar.

Can i register a name in Grace period?

No – A name can only be extended during the grace period, not registered. Extending a name in this state does not transfer ownership; it only renews it for the current owner. Learn about Name Lifecycle & Temporary Premium.

Can i register a name in Temporary Premium?

Yes – Anyone can register a name during Temporary Premium by paying the listed premium fee. You can also wait for the premium to decrease and register the name if it’s still available. Learn about Name Lifecycle & Temporary Premium.

Can I register names other than .eth?

No – ENS only supports .eth names directly. ENS does not manage or create other TLDs. However, DNS domains can be imported into be ENS names. Learn about DNS Names

Is the name reserved for me after Step 1?

No – the commit (Step 1) does not reserve the name. If someone else registers it faster, they may still get it. Finish the Step 3 promptly to avoid losing the name.

Can I cancel or undo a registration?

No – ENS names are non-refundable. Once registered, it belongs to your wallet until transfer, or expiry & being newly registered.

What happens if I don’t complete the registration?

The commit from Step 1 will expire after 24 hours. If you miss the window, you’ll need to restart the process from Step 1.

Can I transfer a name after registration?

Yes – you can transfer ownership at any time. You can also update the manager (who controls records) separately. Learn How to Edit Roles

Is the name stored onchain?

Yes – .eth names are fully onchain as ERC-721 NFTs & ERC-1155 NFTs (wrapped names). This means you can view, transfer, or interact with them using standard Ethereum tools and marketplaces.

Why is my name already wrapped?

Names registered through the ENS App are wrapped by default. Wrapped names use the Name Wrapper contract, enabling advanced features like permissions (fuses) and subnames. No extra steps are needed. Learn What is the Name Wrapper

Why doesn't the name i search say 'available'?

If the name does not say available, it cannot be registered. Learn more about Search Bar & Name Status - from status; Registered, imported, not imported, owned, not owned, too short, not supported, to invalid format.

Why doesn't my name appear correctly on marketplaces (e.g. OpenSea)

Learn more about OpenSea. Learn about Third Party Sites: Refresh Metadata

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