Free Punycode Converter

Convert internationalized domain names (IDNs) between human-readable Unicode and ASCII Punycode. Type a domain like münchen.de to get its xn-- ASCII form, or paste an xn-- domain to decode it back to Unicode. Everything runs locally in your browser using an embedded RFC 3492 codec, so nothing is uploaded.

How to use the Punycode converter

  1. Enter a domain name or single label in the box above. It can contain non-ASCII characters (e.g. café.fr) or already be an xn-- label.
  2. Click To Punycode (ASCII) to encode a Unicode domain into its DNS-safe xn-- form.
  3. Click To Unicode to decode an xn-- domain back into readable characters.
  4. Use Copy to copy the result to your clipboard.

Why use it

Internationalized domain names let people register addresses in their own language and script, but the DNS, TLS certificates, email systems and many tools only understand ASCII. Punycode bridges the two: it encodes any Unicode label as an xn-- string that those systems accept, and decodes it back so humans can read it. This converter is handy for verifying suspicious lookalike domains, configuring servers, debugging certificates and checking how an IDN will appear in the DNS.

Frequently asked questions

What is Punycode?
Punycode is the encoding defined in RFC 3492 that represents Unicode characters using only the limited ASCII characters allowed in domain names (letters, digits and hyphens). It is how internationalized domain names (IDNs) such as münchen.de are stored in the DNS as their ASCII equivalent (xn--mnchen-3ya.de).
What does the xn-- prefix mean?
The xn-- prefix (the "ACE prefix") marks a domain label that has been Punycode-encoded. Whenever you see a label starting with xn--, it is an ASCII-Compatible Encoding of a Unicode label. Decode it with the "To Unicode" button to read the original characters.
Is this punycode converter free and private?
Yes. The converter is completely free with no login. All conversion happens locally in your browser using an embedded RFC 3492 codec, so the domains you enter are never sent to a server.
Why would I convert a domain to Punycode?
Many systems (DNS records, TLS certificates, email headers, server configs and some older software) only accept ASCII. Converting an IDN to its xn-- form lets you use those systems while still owning a domain with non-ASCII characters.

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