.how is Google Registry's extension for sharing know-how: tutorials, courses, recipes and step-by-step guides. It was delegated in August 2014, Google sets no eligibility rules for it, and names can read as a phrase, such as knit.how or fixyourbike.how.
PD Hosting is a London registrar with Nominet accreditation. Your .how is registered immediately when you check out, appears in your client area with full DNS control, and we remind you when renewal is coming up. Search for a name below.
Per year. Compare every extension on our domain pricing page.
What is a .how domain?
- Type
- A generic top-level domain (gTLD), added to the root zone in August 2014 under ICANN's new gTLD programme. Source
- Registry
- Charleston Road Registry Inc., the Google company that operates as Google Registry. It has held .how from the start. Source
- Who may register
- Google's registration policy says there are no special restrictions on registering .how names. Source
- Two-letter names
- Owners of two-letter .how names must avoid implying a link with a government or country-code registry that doesn't exist. Source
- HTTPS
- .how is not on the browser HSTS preload list, so browsers don't force HTTPS on it the way they do for .dev, .app and .page. Source
- Email confirmation
- Every gTLD registrar has to confirm the holder's email address. We send a link after registration or an ownership change, and an unanswered request leads to suspension after 15 days. Source
- Expiry and recovery
- Reminders arrive about a month and a week before the date. After deletion there is a 30-day window to restore the name. Source
Facts checked against the registry on 9 November 2026.
Who a .how domain suits
A .how belongs to anyone who teaches: a YouTuber explaining bike repairs, a sewing teacher selling online courses, a chef publishing recipes with videos, a gardener filming pruning tips, or a software trainer with a library of short lessons. Because the extension reads as the end of a question, the name can simply be the skill itself.
Companies use it too, for product guides and onboarding: a kitchen appliance maker might put setup videos on a .how address printed inside the box, so buyers reach the instructions without searching a busy main site.
- A tutorial or online course website
- Recipe and cooking technique videos
- Product setup guides printed on packaging
- A DIY, repair or craft channel's home page
Benefits of a .how domain
Names that read as a phrase
Skill-first names such as bake.how or tiethatknot.how say exactly what the visitor will learn, and are easy to remember from a video outro.
Run by Google Registry
The extension sits on the same registry infrastructure as Google's other domains, with a short, published policy and no eligibility paperwork.
Ideal for packaging and print
A short .how on a box, manual or leaflet sends buyers straight to instructions, without a long URL or a QR code.
Google's .how isn't HTTPS-only (unlike .dev and .app)
Google Registry has asked browsers to force secure connections across several of its extensions. .dev, .app and .page are on the HSTS preload list that ships inside Chrome and other major browsers, which means a site on those endings simply won't load over plain HTTP. People often assume every Google extension works that way.
.how doesn't. We checked the Chromium preload list, and .how is not on it. In practice, a .how site will load over HTTP if you serve it that way, and a lapsed SSL certificate produces a warning rather than a page that refuses to open.
That's no reason to skip HTTPS. Browsers label HTTP pages as not secure, payment forms and many browser features need a secure page, and search engines prefer HTTPS. Free certificates are widely available, so set one up from day one and redirect HTTP to HTTPS. If you'd like the same guarantee that .dev gives, you can add your own .how site to the HSTS preload list once HTTPS is working everywhere.
.how pros and cons
Works well if
- You teach a skill and want the address to say what visitors will learn
- You need a short instructions address to print on products
- You run a video channel and want a memorable home outside the platform
- The skill-based name you want is free here but long gone in .com
Look elsewhere if
- Your audience is non-technical and may not recognise .how as a web address: a .co.uk or .com is safer on print aimed at them
- You want HTTPS enforced by browsers automatically: .dev, .app or .page do that
- Keeping costs down is the priority: .how renews at more than a .uk
.how compared with similar extensions
| Extension | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| .how | Tutorials, courses and product guides | Reads as a phrase; HTTPS is your choice, not forced. |
| .tips | Short advice and quick hints | Lighter than a full tutorial site. |
| .dev | Developer docs and coding tutorials | Also Google's, but HTTPS-only by browser rule. |
| .help | Support centres and helplines | Better for answering problems than teaching skills. |
Register your .how domain
- Search for the name you want below.
- Add it to your basket and choose how many years to register it for.
- Check out. Your domain is registered straight away and appears in your client area, ready to point at your website and email.
Every domain includes DNS management, DNS backup and restore, and free mail forwarding.
.how questions
Does a .how site have to use HTTPS?
No, browsers don't force it. Unlike .dev and .app, .how isn't on the HSTS preload list, so an HTTP page will still load. You should still use HTTPS, because browsers mark plain HTTP as not secure.
Who runs the .how extension?
Google Registry, through its company Charleston Road Registry Inc. Its registration policy for .how sets no special eligibility rules, so anyone can register a name through an accredited registrar such as us.
Will a .how help my tutorials rank?
Not directly. Google treats .how like any other generic extension, so the ending doesn't add ranking weight. Useful, well-structured tutorials and links from other sites do.
What do I pay to renew a .how?
After the first year, which is discounted, a .how renews at £45.95 a year with us. We send reminders before the date so it doesn't lapse.
Can I transfer a .how I already own to PD Hosting?
Yes. Ask your current registrar to unlock the name and give you its auth code (EPP code), then order the transfer with us. The price in the box above normally adds a year to the registration.
Sources: IANA .how delegation record · Google Registry .how registration policy · Google Registry: .how · Chromium HSTS preload list · ICANN RAA: WHOIS Accuracy Program Specification
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