Transferring Domains
A domain name is a critical asset for your online presence, and managing that domain properly includes knowing how to transfer it when necessary. Whether you’re moving to a new registrar for better pricing, improved services, or enhanced customer support, understanding the domain transfer process is essential.
What is a Domain Name Transfer?
A domain name transfer is the process of moving your domain from one registrar to another. Registrars are companies accredited by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to manage domain registrations. Transferring your domain may be necessary for several reasons:
Better Pricing: One of the most common reasons for transferring a domain is to find better pricing on renewals and domain management services. Domain registrars often offer competitive pricing to attract new customers, and you may find that another registrar provides more favorable rates for renewing your domain name or registering new domains. While initial registration costs can be quite low, renewal fees may increase significantly after the first year. If you find that your current registrar’s renewal rates are too high, transferring your domain to a registrar with more affordable renewal rates can save you money in the long run.
Improved Customer Service: Another major factor that can lead to a domain transfer is the need for better customer service. Managing a domain can involve technical aspects such as updating DNS settings, handling domain renewals, or securing your domain with privacy protection. If your current registrar lacks responsive support or fails to resolve issues in a timely manner, it can cause frustration, especially if website downtime or email disruptions are involved.
Consolidation: If you own multiple domains, it’s common to have them spread across several registrars, especially if you’ve registered them at different times or through different promotions. However, managing multiple domains with different registrars can become cumbersome, requiring you to keep track of multiple renewal dates, invoices, and different user interfaces. By transferring all of your domains to a single registrar, you can consolidate management under one account. This can streamline your administrative tasks, making it easier to monitor renewal dates, update DNS settings, and apply consistent security measures across all of your domains. Consolidating domains under one registrar also simplifies billing and allows for better visibility into your entire domain portfolio, which is especially beneficial for businesses managing multiple websites or individuals with large domain portfolios.
Additional Services: Sometimes, a domain transfer is motivated by the desire for additional services that your current registrar doesn’t offer or doesn’t provide at a satisfactory level. Different registrars offer different services, and some provide advanced features such as two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced account security, DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) for protecting your DNS records from attacks, or automated backups of your DNS settings.
Domain Sales: Another common reason for a domain transfer occurs when a domain is sold to a new owner through a domain marketplace or private transaction. When you sell a domain, you may need to transfer the domain to the buyer’s registrar of choice, especially if they are using a different registrar than you. This is known as an external transfer and is typically facilitated by the marketplace or registrar through which the transaction occurred. During the transfer, both the buyer and seller will need to follow certain security protocols to ensure the safe transfer of ownership. This often includes unlocking the domain, providing the authorization (EPP) code to the buyer, and initiating the transfer request. Once the transfer is complete, the new owner gains full control of the domain, and the seller’s ownership is relinquished.
Steps Involved in a Domain Transfer
Transferring a domain between registrars is a multi-step process that ensures the security of domain ownership and prevents unauthorized transfers. This process is designed to protect both the current domain owner and the domain itself, ensuring that ownership changes only occur when properly authorized. Below is a detailed walk-through of the typical steps involved in transferring a domain:
Unlock the Domain: Most domains are locked by default when registered to prevent unauthorized transfers. This security feature ensures that no one can transfer the domain without the express consent of the current owner. To begin the transfer process, the first step is to unlock the domain. To do this, you’ll need to log in to your account with your current registrar and navigate to the domain management section. There, you’ll typically find an option to unlock the domain. This process may vary slightly between registrars, but it's usually labeled as "Domain Lock" or "Transfer Lock." Once unlocked, the domain will be eligible for transfer. It’s important to note that you should only unlock the domain when you are ready to begin the transfer, as leaving the domain unlocked could expose it to unauthorized changes.
Obtain the Authorization Code (EPP Code): The next step is to request the authorization code, also known as an EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) code. This code acts as a security key for the transfer, ensuring that the person initiating the transfer is authorized to do so. The EPP code is unique to your domain and serves as a final confirmation that you are the legitimate owner of the domain. To obtain the EPP code, you will usually need to access your current registrar’s control panel or dashboard. In most cases, there will be an option to request the authorization code, which will either be displayed on the dashboard or emailed to the domain owner’s registered email address. It’s important to store this code securely, as you’ll need it to initiate the transfer with the new registrar.
Initiate the Transfer with the New Registrar: Once you have unlocked the domain and obtained the EPP code, the next step is to initiate the transfer at your new registrar. To do this, log in to your account at the new registrar and look for the domain transfer section, usually labeled as “Transfer a Domain” or “Domain Transfer.” You will be prompted to enter the domain name you wish to transfer, as well as the EPP code you obtained from your current registrar. Some registrars may also ask for additional information, such as your contact details or any specific services you want to add (e.g., domain privacy or DNS management). After submitting the domain and EPP code, the new registrar will process the request. This step typically triggers an internal verification process where the old and new registrars communicate to ensure that the transfer request is legitimate and all security measures have been followed.
Confirm the Transfer: Once the transfer has been initiated, both the old and new registrars will send you confirmation emails to verify that the domain transfer is proceeding with your consent. These emails are another security step in the process, ensuring that the transfer has been authorized by the domain owner. You may be asked to confirm the transfer through one or both of these emails. Some registrars require you to click a confirmation link, while others may ask for additional verification steps, such as re-entering your login credentials or the EPP code. The exact process can vary, but it’s important to follow the instructions carefully to avoid delays. At this stage, make sure you monitor your email inbox (and possibly your spam folder) for any messages from the registrars, as your prompt response may be required to complete the process. After confirming the transfer, the new registrar will proceed with the transfer, and the domain will soon be moved under their management.
Wait for the Transfer to Complete: Once all confirmations have been made, the actual transfer process will begin. Domain transfers typically take between 5 and 7 days to complete, although the exact time may vary depending on the registrars involved and their internal processes. During this time, your domain will remain fully functional, and your website and email services should not experience any downtime. While the transfer is in progress, both the old and new registrars will update the WHOIS database and other domain records to reflect the change in ownership or registrar. You can check the status of the transfer through the dashboard of the new registrar to see when it has been successfully completed.
Internal vs. External Transfers
When transferring a domain, it’s essential to understand the distinction between internal transfers and external transfers as each involves different processes, timelines, and levels of complexity. Understanding these differences helps ensure that you choose the appropriate method for transferring a domain and follow the correct steps for a smooth transition.
Internal Transfers: Internal transfers, also known as a domain push, occur when a domain is transferred between two accounts within the same registrar. For example, if you are transferring a domain from one user account to another within GoDaddy, Namecheap, or any other registrar, this would be considered an internal transfer. These types of transfers are common when selling or transferring ownership of a domain to another person, company, or organization that is also using the same registrar. Internal transfers are generally faster and simpler than external transfers because the domain remains within the same registrar's infrastructure. This means that many of the technical steps involved in external transfers, such as updating the domain registry or obtaining an authorization code, are not required. Instead, the transfer process is typically handled within the registrar's system, resulting in fewer steps and a shorter completion time.
External Transfers: An external transfer occurs when you transfer a domain from one registrar to another. For example, if you are moving your domain from GoDaddy to Namecheap, this would be considered an external transfer. External transfers are generally more involved than internal transfers because they require coordination between two different registrars, each with its own policies and procedures. The key difference with external transfers is that the domain must be moved out of one registrar’s control and into another registrar’s system, which involves several security measures to protect the domain from unauthorized transfers. External transfers usually require an authorization code (EPP code) and may take several days to complete.
Domain Transfer Restrictions and Extensions
Before you transfer a domain, there are a few important restrictions and rules to be aware of, especially regarding ICANN’s regulations and how transfers impact your domain registration period.
What is the 60-Day Registration Transfer Lock?
According to ICANN rules, newly registered domains or domains that have recently been transferred cannot be transferred to another registrar for 60 days. This transfer lock is designed to prevent fraudulent transfers, such as domain hijacking, and ensures the domain is stable under its current ownership.
If you’ve recently registered or transferred a domain, you’ll need to wait for this 60-day lock to expire before initiating another transfer. Some registrars may offer an opt-out option when transferring domains, but this is not guaranteed across all platforms. In these cases, you can still push the domain at the current registrar while this lock is imposed.
Does Transferring a Domain Externally Add a Year of Registration?
Yes, when you transfer a domain to a new registrar, the expiration date is usually extended by one year. This means that the time remaining on your current registration is preserved, and an additional year is added. You need to pay a transfer fee at the gaining registrar in order to initiate an external transfer, and this fee will be the same price as a domain renewal for that extension.
Managing Your Domain Transfers Smoothly
Understanding the domain transfer process is essential for maintaining control over your domain and ensuring you’re using the registrar that best suits your needs. Whether you’re transferring your domain to consolidate it with other domains, save on costs, or take advantage of better services, the process can be completed with a few simple steps.
Knowing when to use a domain push versus an authorization code transfer and being aware of restrictions like the 60-day transfer lock will help you avoid common pitfalls and make sure your domain transfer goes smoothly. As long as you follow the right procedures, transferring your domain can be a straightforward way to better manage your online presence and maintain control over your valuable digital assets.