How to Register an ENS Domain: Step-by-Step Guide

Registering an ENS domain means claiming a human-readable .eth name (like "yourname.eth") on Ethereum and linking it to your wallet address or other resources, through a public, on-chain process that anyone with a compatible wallet and some ETH for fees can complete. The overall flow involves searching for availability, committing to the registration to prevent front-running, finalizing the registration, and configuring resolver records.

For background on what ENS is and how it works technically, see our explainer on what ENS is.

Step 1: Check Availability and Pricing

Start by searching for the name you want. If it's already owned, you generally can't register it unless the current owner lets the registration lapse. Pricing for .eth names is typically length-based: shorter names (especially 3–4 characters) tend to command a higher annual fee than longer ones, reflecting scarcity and demand. Multi-year registrations are usually offered at a discount versus renewing every single year.

Step 2: Understand the Commit-Reveal Process

ENS registration for .eth names uses a two-transaction, commit-reveal scheme specifically to prevent front-running. Because Ethereum transactions sit briefly in a public mempool before confirmation, an observer could otherwise see your registration request and register the name themselves first. To prevent this:

1. Commit — you submit a transaction containing a cryptographic hash of your intended registration (including your name choice and a secret value), which reveals nothing meaningful to onlookers.
2. Wait — a mandatory short waiting period (usually about a minute) must pass before you can proceed, ensuring your commitment is recorded on-chain first.
3. Reveal/Register — you submit a second transaction with the actual name and secret, which the contract checks against your earlier commitment before finalizing the registration and taking payment.

This two-step design means a single "buy this name" click from a wallet interface actually triggers two separate on-chain transactions behind the scenes.

Step 3: Pay Registration Fees

You'll pay both the ENS registration fee (based on name length and duration) and standard Ethereum gas fees for both the commit and register transactions. Gas costs vary with network congestion, so registering during low-traffic periods can meaningfully reduce your total cost.

Step 4: Set Your Primary Resolver Record

Once registered, the name doesn't automatically point anywhere — you need to configure resolver records. The most common first step is setting the name's address record to point to your own wallet address, and separately setting your wallet's "primary name" (reverse record) so that apps checking your address display "yourname.eth" instead of the raw address.

Step 5: Add Additional Records (Optional)

Beyond a basic address record, you can configure:

• Addresses for other blockchains, if you want one ENS name to resolve across multiple networks.
• A content hash pointing to a decentralized website.
• Text records like an avatar, email, or social handles, used by some apps for profile display.

Step 6: Set a Renewal Reminder

ENS registrations expire if not renewed, and after expiration there's typically a grace period before the name becomes available for anyone else to register. Unlike many traditional domain registrars, there's no guaranteed automated email reminder system tied to your wallet, so mark your own calendar or use a third-party renewal reminder tool if one is available.

Registration Steps at a Glance

Step	Action	Typical cost driver
1. Search	Check name availability	None
2. Commit	Submit hashed commitment	Gas fee
3. Wait	Mandatory delay (~1 minute)	None
4. Register	Reveal and finalize	Registration fee + gas
5. Set records	Point name to wallet/content	Gas fee
6. Renew	Repeat before expiration	Registration fee + gas

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Registering a look-alike of an existing brand or project name without realizing the confusion this could cause — and be aware that scammers do this too, so always double-check a resolved address before trusting it, as covered in our piece on common DeFi scams.
• Forgetting to set the reverse record, which means apps will still show your raw address instead of your new name.
• Letting a valuable name lapse by missing renewal, especially for names you use publicly or professionally.
• Registering from a wallet you don't control long-term, since losing access to that wallet means losing the name — treat your seed phrase with the same care you'd give any other high-value asset.

Bottom Line

Registering an ENS domain is a straightforward but multi-step on-chain process: search, commit, wait, register, and then configure resolver records so the name actually points where you want. The commit-reveal design exists specifically to stop front-running, and ongoing renewal is entirely your own responsibility. For broader wallet safety practices that apply once you're managing an ENS-linked address, see our guide on DeFi wallet security.