How to Transfer a Domain Name to a New Registrar (2026)
Want to transfer a domain name to a new registrar, maybe for lower renewal prices, better support or to keep all your domains in one place? The process is standard across most domain extensions and registrars: unlock the domain, get its authorisation code, start the transfer at the new registrar and approve it. Our guest author first explained these steps in 2009; here they are updated for 2026, with the checks that prevent downtime.
Quick answer: To transfer a domain name, log in to your current registrar, turn off the transfer lock, and copy the authorisation (EPP) code. At the new registrar, start a domain transfer, enter the code and pay for the transfer, which usually adds one year to the registration. Approve any confirmation email. Most transfers finish within 5 to 7 days, and your website stays online if the nameservers don’t change.
Table of Contents
Before you transfer a domain name
- Check the 60-day rule: most domains can’t be transferred within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer, and some registrars apply the same lock after you change the owner’s details.
- Don’t wait until expiry: start at least two weeks before the renewal date. Expired domains may not transfer.
- Check the admin email: make sure the registrant email on the domain works, because confirmations are sent there.
- Note your DNS settings: save a copy of your DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) in case you need to recreate them.
- Compare renewal prices: cheap first-year transfer offers can come with high renewals.
How to transfer a domain name step by step
1. Unlock the domain at your current registrar
Log in and open the domain’s settings. Turn off Domain Lock or Transfer Lock. If the domain has registry lock or extra protection, ask support to remove it temporarily.
2. Get the authorisation code
Request the auth code, also called the EPP code or transfer key. Many registrars show it on screen; others email it to the registrant address. Keep it private: anyone with the code could try to move your domain.
3. Start the transfer at the new registrar
Search for Transfer domain at your new registrar, enter the domain name and paste the auth code. Pay the transfer fee. For most extensions, the time remaining on your current registration is kept and one year is added.
4. Approve the transfer
You may receive emails from both registrars. The new one may ask you to confirm the request, and the old one may let you approve it immediately instead of waiting. If you do nothing, the losing registrar normally releases the domain automatically within 5 days.
5. Check DNS and lock the domain again
When the transfer completes, confirm the nameservers and DNS records are correct, switch on the transfer lock and two-step login at the new registrar, and enable auto-renew.
Will my website or email go down?
Not usually. A registrar transfer moves the registration, not your website. If your nameservers stay the same (for example, your host’s or Cloudflare’s), your site and email keep working throughout. Problems happen when the old registrar was also your DNS host and deletes the records after the transfer. To be safe, move DNS to the new registrar or a separate DNS provider first, wait for it to propagate, and then transfer.
Common domain transfer problems
- Invalid auth code: request a fresh code and paste it without spaces.
- Domain still locked: wait a few minutes after unlocking, then retry.
- Privacy service blocking emails: some registrars require you to turn off WHOIS privacy temporarily.
- Country-code domains: extensions like .in, .uk or .de can have their own rules; check your registry’s help pages.
For more tips, see how to manage domain names, increase domain name security and set up private nameservers. ICANN also publishes a plain-language guide to transferring your domain name.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to transfer a domain name?
Usually 5 to 7 days, and sometimes within hours if both registrars approve quickly.
Do I lose time left on my domain when I transfer?
No. For most extensions, the remaining time is kept and one year is added.
Can I transfer a domain I just bought?
Usually not for 60 days after registration.
Is a domain transfer free?
Most registrars charge about the cost of a one-year renewal, which also extends the registration.
Originally written by guest author S. Pradeep Kumar, a technology blogger at HellBound Bloggers. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.
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Really this is a very informative to whom who wants their domain registrar transfers. I have also transfered my domain from Godaddy to another one, but Godaddy did not charge anything at the time of transfer…
Is there any charge for transferring the Domain name ?
For GoDaddy and other popular domain registrars, they didn’t charge a penny. But I guess some other sites have hidden charges, be careful. :)
how to transfer a domain from rediff.com to other
You can follow this GoDaddy thread mate, hope it will be useful.
I recently went through this process to consolidate the location of my domains. I finally got fed up with remember multiple credentials, and godaddy for that matter. Most registrars have pretty good documentation, but this would have definitely come in handy. Good post, just a few weeks to late ;-)
lots of things to learn and great tutorials.
I’m planning to transfer one of my domain to new account and I hope this guide will really help me to get success with what I’m planning to do
I use dynadot for all my domain needs, its best domain site. GoDaddy sucks.
Pradeep given really nice tut for new webmasters, keep it buddy. :)
Thank you very much Chetan ! :)
But, I also use GoDaddy ! :D
And till now, it didn’t hit me ! ;)
I agree with chetan, but cant say it s%$# , but most of my friends said the same. mediatemple,wpwebhost is good and their customer service is good too. others
BW- nice and useful tips buddy :)
@ Tech-Freak Stuff : Yes Rohit, they charge for transferring. The domain transfer fee will be similar as domain registration fee.
Does the Domain transfer from one registrar to another require any fee? I want to transfer my domains too..
@Mark – Top domain name registrars offers many features and advanced options which your local domain name vendor may never offer. We also host all our domains with Godaddy.
@ Mark : Well buddy, there are many reasons. Some people would have got free domain names when they purchased a hosting account and they provide very less features… ;)
So transferring them to advanced domain registrar like GoDaddy helps a lot ! :)
Always wonder about this, thanks.
Out of curiousity, why would one want to transfer their domain(s) to another registrar?