Encoding
Decode punycode domains back to Unicode
Punycode Decoder reads the xn-- form of an internationalized domain and returns the readable Unicode version, so xn--mnchen-3ya.de comes back as münchen.de. System administrators meet punycode in zone files, email headers, and whois output, where the ASCII form is what gets stored; decoding makes those records legible again. Conversion applies per label: a label that begins with the lowercase xn-- prefix is expanded back into its accented or non-Latin characters following the RFC 3492 rules browsers apply, while every other label (plain ASCII labels, or prefixes written as uppercase XN--) passes through unchanged.
How to use Punycode Decode
- Open Punycode Decode in the Toolbox101 app.
- Paste a punycode domain from a zone file, mail header, or address bar, for example
xn--mnchen-3ya.de. - Read the
Outputbox, which shows the readable Unicode form (such asmünchen.de) as you type, with ASCII parts like.deunchanged. - Click
Copyto take the decoded domain and use it where readable names are needed.
Worked example
Punycode Decode returns the output below for this input.
Input
xn--mnchen-3ya.deOutput
münchen.deCheck it yourself: open Punycode Decode and enter the same input.
Frequently asked questions
When does this decoder change a domain?
Only labels that begin with the lowercase xn-- prefix are converted back to Unicode: xn--mnchen-3ya.de becomes münchen.de. Everything else passes through unchanged: plain ASCII domains, and labels whose prefix is written in capitals (XN--), which the library behind this tool leaves alone. Decoding runs label by label, so .de and other ASCII parts are untouched.
What is punycode and why do domains use it?
Punycode is the ASCII encoding that stands in for Unicode characters in domain names. DNS was designed for ASCII, so an internationalized label like münchen is stored and resolved as xn--mnchen-3ya. The xn-- prefix tells every resolver that the label is encoded punycode.
Should I use the Unicode or the xn-- form of a domain?
Both forms name the same domain and resolve identically. DNS, zone files, and whois store the xn-- form; humans read the Unicode form. When you configure a server or write a record, use the xn-- form the registrar gave you. Decode it only when you need to read or communicate the name.
Do web browsers decode punycode domains automatically?
Yes, for display. Most Unicode domains appear in their readable form in the address bar. Browsers intentionally keep the xn-- form visible when a domain could be confused with another script, a protection against lookalike domains, which is why you still see encoded labels in the wild.
Use Punycode Decode now
Runs in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded.