Domain Transfer

A domain transfer is the process of changing the sponsoring registrar of a domain name. The registration, its expiry date and, usually, the DNS configuration stay with the domain, but billing and management move to the new registrar.

Why it matters

People transfer to consolidate domains, cut costs or leave a poor provider. Done carelessly, a transfer can cause downtime: if the new registrar resets the nameservers to its defaults, your site and email may stop. For most generic TLDs the transfer adds one year to the registration and takes from minutes to several days depending on approvals. New registrations and recent transfers are generally barred from transfer for a period, commonly 60 days.

Example

A safe order of operations:

1. Export your DNS records or confirm the DNS host is separate.
2. Unlock the domain and get the auth code.
3. Ensure the admin email is reachable.
4. Start the transfer and approve the confirmation.
5. Verify nameservers and records afterward.

$ dig example.com NS +short
ns1.dnshost.net.

Common mistakes

• Transferring just before expiry, leaving no room for errors.
• Letting the new registrar overwrite nameservers.
• Missing the approval email, which cancels the request.

Related

• Transfer lock
• EPP authorization code
• Registrar
• Guide: Domain transfer guide

This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.