domain-names

dn — Domain Name CLI

Manage domains from your terminal. dn works in two modes: directly through the Automattic Domain Services API (partner mode), or through WordPress.com (user mode).

Installation

Composer (global)

composer global require automattic/dn-cli

Make sure ~/.composer/vendor/bin (or ~/.config/composer/vendor/bin) is in your PATH:

export PATH="$HOME/.composer/vendor/bin:$PATH"

From source

git clone https://github.com/Automattic/dn-cli.git
cd dn-cli
composer install

Then run with ./bin/dn or symlink it into your PATH:

ln -s "$(pwd)/bin/dn" /usr/local/bin/dn

Setup

Run dn configure to pick a mode and authenticate:

• User mode — WordPress.com OAuth. Requires a WordPress.com account.
• Partner mode — Automattic Domain Services API. Requires an API key and API user.

Your mode determines which commands are available. User mode covers domain search, purchase, and transfer through WordPress.com checkout. Partner mode gives you the full set: registration, DNS, contacts, privacy, transfers.

Non-interactive setup

Pipe credentials via stdin for scripts and CI/CD:

# Partner mode
printf '%s\n%s\n' "$DN_API_KEY" "$DN_API_USER" | dn configure --mode=partner --stdin

# User mode (pipe an OAuth token)
printf '%s\n' "$DN_OAUTH_TOKEN" | dn configure --mode=user --stdin

Environment variables

Environment variables override the config file:

# Partner mode
export DN_API_KEY="your-api-key"
export DN_API_USER="your-api-user"
export DN_API_URL="https://custom-endpoint.example.com/command"  # optional

# User mode
export DN_OAUTH_TOKEN="your-oauth-token"

# Override mode regardless of config file
export DN_MODE="user"  # or "partner"

# Auto-checkout preference (user mode)
export DN_AUTO_CHECKOUT="both"  # "credits", "card", or "both"

Config file

Stored at ~/.config/dn/config.json with 0600 permissions:

{
    "mode": "partner",
    "api_key": "your-api-key",
    "api_user": "your-api-user"
}

{
    "mode": "user",
    "oauth_token": "your-oauth-token",
    "auto_checkout": "both"
}

To remove stored credentials:

dn reset

Commands

Check domain availability

Both modes.

dn check example.com
dn check example.com example.net example.org

Get domain suggestions

Both modes.

dn suggest "coffee shop"

# Filter by TLDs and limit results
dn suggest "coffee" --tlds=com,net,io --count=20

# Exact match only
dn suggest "mycoffee" --exact

Register a domain

In partner mode, registers the domain directly:

# Interactive — prompts for contact details
dn register newdomain.com

# Non-interactive with all options
dn register newdomain.com \
  --first-name=Jane \
  --last-name=Doe \
  [email protected] \
  --phone=+1.5551234567 \
  --address="123 Main St" \
  --city="San Francisco" \
  --state=CA \
  --postal-code=94110 \
  --country=US \
  --period=2 \
  --privacy=on

In user mode, adds the domain to your WordPress.com cart and prints a checkout link:

dn register newdomain.com

# With a specific site
dn register newdomain.com --site=mysite.wordpress.com

Auto-checkout (user mode)

Complete purchases from the terminal without opening a browser. Requires a saved payment method or account credits, and contact information on file from a previous purchase.

# Auto-checkout: try credits first, then stored card
dn register newdomain.com --auto-checkout

# Use account credits only
dn register newdomain.com --auto-pay-credits

# Use a stored payment method only
dn register newdomain.com --auto-pay-card

# Skip confirmation prompt (for scripts)
dn register newdomain.com --auto-checkout --yes

Set a persistent preference during dn configure or with the DN_AUTO_CHECKOUT environment variable (credits, card, or both).

Cart and checkout (user mode)

dn cart
dn checkout
dn checkout --site=mysite.wordpress.com

dn register adds to cart, dn cart shows what's in it, dn checkout opens WordPress.com checkout in your browser.

Domain information

Partner mode. In user mode, points you to WordPress.com.

dn info example.com

Transfer a domain

Both modes. Transfers a domain from another registrar. The domain must be unlocked and you need the EPP authorization code.

In partner mode, submits the transfer directly:

dn transfer example.com --auth-code=ABC123XYZ

In user mode, validates the auth code, adds the transfer to your WordPress.com cart, and prints a checkout link:

dn transfer example.com

# With a specific site
dn transfer example.com --site=mysite.wordpress.com

Auto-checkout works the same as with dn register:

dn transfer example.com --auto-checkout
dn transfer example.com --auto-pay-credits --yes

Partner mode commands