Why Transfer a Domain?

Domain registrars vary significantly in price, support quality, interface usability, and included features (WHOIS privacy, DNS management, auto-renewal). Transferring your domain to a new registrar is a routine process — but it has several steps that must be done in the right order to avoid accidental downtime or a failed transfer.

Before You Start: Key Checks

Transfers can fail or get stuck if you skip these pre-transfer checks:

  • 60-day lock rule: ICANN requires a 60-day waiting period after a domain is registered or previously transferred. You cannot transfer a domain until this period has passed.
  • Expiry date: Don't initiate a transfer within 30 days of expiry. The transfer process takes up to 7 days and a near-expiry domain may not transfer cleanly.
  • WHOIS email access: You'll receive an authorization email at the registrant email address on file. Ensure you have access to it — this is often where transfers stall.
  • No WHOIS updates within 60 days: Recent contact information changes trigger another 60-day transfer lock at many registrars.

Step-by-Step Transfer Process

Step 1: Unlock the Domain at Your Current Registrar

Most domain registrars lock domains by default to prevent unauthorized transfers. Log in to your current registrar's control panel and find the "Transfer Lock" or "Domain Lock" setting. Disable it. Some registrars call this the "Registrar Lock" and it corresponds to the EPP status code clientTransferProhibited.

Step 2: Disable WHOIS Privacy (Temporarily)

WHOIS privacy services mask your real contact details. Some registrars replace the registrant email with a proxy address that may not forward authorization emails properly. Disable WHOIS privacy temporarily to ensure all transfer communications reach you directly.

Step 3: Obtain the Authorization (EPP/Auth) Code

Your current registrar will provide an Authorization Code (also called an EPP code, Auth-Code, or transfer secret). This is a unique string that proves you have permission to transfer the domain. Find this in your control panel or request it via support. Guard this code carefully.

Step 4: Initiate the Transfer at the New Registrar

Go to your new registrar's transfer page, enter the domain name, and submit the Authorization Code when prompted. You'll typically pay a registration fee at this point — most registrars include a one-year renewal with a transfer, effectively extending your domain's expiry date by one year.

Step 5: Approve the Transfer Email

Within minutes of initiating the transfer, you'll receive an authorization email at your WHOIS registrant address. Click the approval link. Some registrars at the losing end will also send a notification — you may have the option to expedite the transfer by approving it there too.

Step 6: Wait for Propagation

Once approved, the transfer typically completes within 2–7 days. The official ICANN process allows up to 7 days unless the current registrar explicitly approves it faster. During this time, your DNS settings and website should continue working normally — the DNS zone is transferred along with the domain registration.

After the Transfer: What to Verify

  1. Confirm the domain now shows in your new registrar's account
  2. Re-enable WHOIS privacy at the new registrar
  3. Verify your DNS records transferred correctly (or re-enter them manually)
  4. Set up auto-renewal at the new registrar
  5. Check that your email (MX records) and website (A records) are still resolving correctly

Common Transfer Problems and Solutions

  • Transfer stuck or pending: Check if the domain is still locked, or if the authorization email was sent to an old or proxied address
  • Auth code rejected: Codes sometimes expire within hours or days — request a fresh one and retry immediately
  • Transfer denied by current registrar: If you're past the 60-day lock, contact their support — some registrars incorrectly block legitimate transfers