How to transfer a domain without breaking your site

Transferring a domain between registrars is routine once you know the order of operations. The failures almost always come from a locked domain, a missing auth code, or an email you never saw.

What you need

• Access to the current registrar's control panel.

• The domain to be at least 60 days old and not recently transferred.

• A valid email address on the domain's registrant contact.

• The auth/EPP code from the current registrar.

• The domain unlocked for transfer.

1. Unlock the domain and get the auth code

In your current registrar's panel, remove the clientTransferProhibited lock and request the auth (EPP) code. Check with our free WHOIS/RDAP lookup that the domain shows as unlocked.

2. Start the transfer at the new registrar

Enter the domain and the auth code at the gaining registrar and pay the (usually one-year) renewal that comes with the transfer.

3. Approve the confirmation email

The losing registrar emails the registrant contact to confirm. If you miss this, the transfer is cancelled. Whitelist your registrar's email and check spam.

4. Wait — typically 5 to 7 days

Transfers usually complete within a week. During this window your site keeps working: the nameservers do not change just because the registrar did.

Common failures and fixes

• Domain is locked — unlock it at the old registrar first.

• Wrong or expired auth code — request a fresh one.

• Registrant email is unreachable — update the contact before starting.

• Transferred too soon after a previous move — wait out the 60-day rule.

• DNSSEC enabled — remove it at the old registrar before transferring.

Once the transfer completes, verify your nameservers still resolve correctly and re-check your certificates. If you are consolidating domains, our domain registration includes easy management in one panel.