---
layout: article
title: Registration
description: Learn how domain registration works in Appwrite, including Appwrite-registered and external domains, organization scope, and verification.
---

In Appwrite Domains, **registration** describes who holds the domain at the registry and how the domain is added to your organization. DNS management in Appwrite is separate from registration: you can delegate DNS to Appwrite for domains registered elsewhere.

# Domain types {% #domain-types %}

Appwrite distinguishes domains by how they are managed:

| Type | How it is added | Registrar in Console | Auto-renewal |
|------|-----------------|----------------------|--------------|
| **Appwrite-registered** | [Register](/docs/products/domains/register) or [transfer in](/docs/products/domains/transfer) through Appwrite | Appwrite | Available |
| **External** | [Add external domain](/docs/products/domains/external) and point nameservers to Appwrite | External registrar | Managed at your registrar |

Both types can use Appwrite DNS once nameservers point to `ns1.appwrite.zone` and `ns2.appwrite.zone` and verification completes.

{% arrow_link href="/docs/products/domains/pricing" %}
Learn about pricing
{% /arrow_link %}

# Organization scope {% #organization-scope %}

Domains belong to an **organization**, not an individual project. Plan limits apply per organization. You can [change organization](/docs/products/domains/change-organization) from the domain **Settings** tab to reassign a domain to another organization you control.

When you connect a verified domain to a Site, Function, or API endpoint, Appwrite uses the same DNS zone you manage under **Organization** > **Domains**.

# Verification {% #verification %}

External domains must be verified before Appwrite treats the zone as authoritative. Verification succeeds when the domain's nameservers delegate to Appwrite (`nameservers` shows **Appwrite** in the Console).

Appwrite-registered domains use Appwrite nameservers automatically and show **Verified** once DNS is active.

If verification fails after a nameserver change, use **Verify** on the domain to retry. Nameserver updates can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally.

# Plan limits {% #plan-limits %}

Each organization plan includes a maximum number of domains. Registration, transfer in, and adding external domains are blocked when you reach the limit until you delete a domain or [upgrade your plan](/docs/advanced/platform/billing).

Downgrading a plan may require removing domains to meet the new limit before the change completes.

# Transfer status {% #transfer-status %}

Domains being transferred into Appwrite show a transfer status until the registry completes the move. Status values include pending owner approval, pending admin approval, pending registry, completed, cancelled, and not transferrable.

See [Transfer a domain](/docs/products/domains/transfer) for the full transfer-in and transfer-out workflows.

# Access {% #access %}

On Appwrite Cloud with [organization roles](/docs/advanced/platform/roles) enabled, owners and developers with the domains write scope can manage domains, DNS records, and settings. Viewers cannot change domain configuration.

When [organization roles](/docs/advanced/platform/roles) are disabled (for example self-hosted profiles without org roles), all organization members can manage domains where the feature is available.