Skip to content
hostcomplex
Language: en

Transfer a Domain

What You Need Before You Start

This guide shows you how to transfer a domain to another registrar while keeping the same domain name. It is for owners who want their domain managed by a different provider from their current host or registrar. Before you start, you need access to the domain account at the current registrar, an email address that receives approval messages and a domain that is usually at least 60 days past its last registration or transfer.

Steps to Transfer the Domain

  1. Confirm the domain is eligible. Check that the domain is not expired and is not within the waiting period after its last registration or transfer. Make sure the registrant contact details are correct, since mismatched details can block approval.
  2. Unlock the domain. In the current registrar's control panel, turn off the transfer lock, which is often called registrar lock. A locked domain rejects transfer requests.
  3. Get the authorization code. Request the authorization code from the current registrar. Treat it like a password, because anyone holding it can start a transfer, and do not share it with anyone you have not verified.
  4. Start the transfer with the new registrar. Give the new registrar the domain name and the authorization code, then pay for the transfer. Many extensions add one year to the expiry date, so check how that year is priced.
  5. Approve the transfer. Watch for confirmation emails from both registrars and approve each one promptly. The losing registrar usually has a few days to respond, and the registry then updates the record, which can take several more days.
  6. Check the settings after the move. Confirm the nameservers, DNS records, email and expiry date at the new registrar. Do not cancel your old hosting until these are verified.

Common Mistakes and When to Ask for Help

  • Expecting the transfer to move hosting. A transfer changes only the registrar. Your website and email keep running wherever DNS points.
  • Missing approval emails. A pending transfer can fail or stall if the approval messages are ignored.
  • Forgetting the lock. A domain that is still locked will reject the transfer request.
  • Sharing the authorization code. Keep it private and use it only with the new registrar.

Ask the new registrar's support team if the transfer is rejected or stays pending past the expected period. Ask the current registrar for help if you cannot obtain the authorization code.

How long does a domain transfer take?

It usually takes several days. The losing registrar's approval window is often the main factor, although some transfers finish sooner and others take longer when confirmations are missed or a lock is still in place. The exact timing depends on both registrars and the extension.

Can a domain be transferred right after it is registered?

Usually not. ICANN's rules place a transfer lock on most newly registered and newly transferred domains for about 60 days, to reduce hijacking and fraud. The lock appears as a status on the domain, and some registrars may allow exceptions in specific cases. The status codes are explained in EPP status codes.

Does transferring a domain change its website or email?

No, not by itself. A transfer changes which registrar manages the domain. Website files, hosting, DNS and email settings stay as they are until you change them. Check those settings after the transfer completes so that services keep working.