How to Transfer a Domain Name to a New Registrar
Transferring a domain to a new registrar is routine once you know the steps. Here’s exactly how the process works and how to avoid common failures.
Meta Title: How to Transfer a Domain Name to a New Registrar (Step by Step) | SAPH Solutions
Meta Description: Moving your domain to a new registrar? Here’s exactly how the transfer process works and how to avoid the common mistakes that cause it to fail.
Whether you’re consolidating domains under one provider or just switching to better pricing and support, transferring a domain name to a new registrar is a fairly routine process — as long as you know the steps and avoid a few common pitfalls that trip people up. Here’s exactly how it works.
Before You Start: Check the Timing
Domains can’t be transferred within 60 days of initial registration or a previous transfer, and they generally can’t be transferred within about 45 days of expiring either, depending on the registry rules for that extension. Check your domain’s registration and transfer history before planning a move, so you’re not caught off guard by a locked window.
Step 1: Unlock the Domain at Your Current Registrar
Domains are locked by default to prevent unauthorized transfers. Log into your current registrar’s dashboard and disable the transfer lock (sometimes called “registrar lock” or “domain lock”). Skipping this step is the most common reason transfers fail right out of the gate.
Step 2: Get Your Authorization Code (EPP Code)
Also called an EPP code or transfer authorization code, this is a unique code your current registrar generates to authorize the move. You’ll typically find it in your domain management dashboard, or you may need to request it via support, depending on the registrar. This code proves to the new registrar that you actually own and control the domain.
Step 3: Make Sure WHOIS Contact Info Is Current
Registrars send a transfer confirmation email to the registrant email address on file. If that email is outdated or you’ve lost access to it, the confirmation will fail and stall the entire process. Update your WHOIS contact details before starting the transfer, not after something goes wrong.
Step 4: Initiate the Transfer at the New Registrar
Log into the account you’re transferring to, search for your domain, and enter the authorization code when prompted. You’ll typically need to pay for the transfer, which usually also adds a year to your registration. Our guide on choosing a domain name covers the broader picture of domain management if you’re setting things up fresh.
Step 5: Confirm the Transfer
You’ll receive a confirmation email, usually from your current registrar, asking you to approve the transfer. Click through and confirm. Most transfers complete within 5-7 days, though some can finish faster if the losing registrar approves it immediately rather than waiting out the default hold period. For official technical details on how domain transfers work at the registry level, ICANN’s domain transfer policy page is the authoritative source.
What Happens to Your Website During the Transfer
A domain transfer changes who manages the domain registration, not where it points. Your DNS settings and website hosting remain unaffected throughout the process as long as you don’t change nameservers at the same time. It’s worth avoiding other changes (like switching hosting) until the transfer completes cleanly, to keep troubleshooting simple if anything does go wrong.
The Bottom Line
Domain transfers are routine when you follow the steps in order: unlock the domain, get your authorization code, confirm your contact email is current, initiate at the new registrar, and confirm. Most failed transfers come down to a locked domain or an outdated contact email, both of which are easy to check beforehand.
