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How to Transfer a Domain to a New Registrar: Step-by-Step
Moving your domain to a new registrar is not complicated, but the order of operations matters. Do the steps in the right sequence and the transfer is boring and smooth. Skip a step and you risk a rejected request, a multi-day delay, or worse, a website and email that go dark mid-move.
This guide walks you through how to transfer a domain the practical way: prerequisites first, then unlock, auth code, DNS prep, initiate, confirm, and wait. Follow it top to bottom and you will reach “done” without surprises.
Key Takeaways
• A domain must be at least 60 days old since registration or its last transfer (an ICANN rule). You cannot transfer within 60 days of a previous transfer.
• The core steps: unlock the domain, get the auth/EPP code, prep DNS at the new host, initiate the transfer, confirm by email, then wait (usually up to 5 to 7 days).
• A transfer almost always adds one year to your registration term.
• Prepare your DNS records at the destination before you start so your site and email never break during the move.
What do you need before you can transfer a domain?
Before you touch a single setting, confirm the domain is actually eligible. Most failed transfers fail here, not in the technical steps.
A domain is transferable when:
- It is 60+ days old since the original registration date.
- It has not been transferred in the last 60 days (ICANN enforces a 60-day lock after any transfer).
- It is not expired or in a redemption/grace period.
- The registrar lock is removable (you control the account).
- There are no pending disputes, holds, or unpaid invoices on the domain.
If any of those are off, fix them first. There is no workaround for the 60-day rule, so if you just registered the domain or just moved it, you wait.
Transfer readiness checklist
| Requirement | Why it matters | Ready? |
|---|---|---|
| Domain is 60+ days old | ICANN minimum age rule | ☐ |
| No transfer in last 60 days | 60-day post-transfer lock | ☐ |
| Domain not expired | Expired domains cannot transfer | ☐ |
| You can access the current registrar account | Needed to unlock and get the code | ☐ |
| WHOIS contact email is current | Approval email is sent there | ☐ |
| Registrar/transfer lock can be removed | Locked domains are rejected | ☐ |
| No active dispute or legal hold | Holds block transfers | ☐ |
| DNS records documented or set up at new host | Prevents downtime | ☐ |
Work down that list before you start. Every box should be checked.
How do you transfer a domain step by step?
Here is the full sequence. Do them in this order.
Step 1: Unlock the domain at your current registrar
Log in to your current registrar and find the domain settings. Look for a setting called Registrar Lock, Transfer Lock, or Domain Lock, and turn it off. This lock exists to prevent unauthorized transfers, so the new registrar cannot pull the domain while it is on.
Save the change. Some registrars take a few minutes to reflect the unlocked status.
Step 2: Get the auth/EPP code
Still at your current registrar, request the authorization code (also called the EPP code, auth code, or transfer key). This is a unique password that proves you authorized the move.
Depending on the registrar, the code is shown on screen or emailed to your WHOIS contact address. Copy it exactly, including case, and keep it somewhere safe for the next step.
Before you do anything else, prepare your DNS at the destination first. This is the step people skip, and it is the one that takes sites offline. A domain transfer moves the *registration* (who manages the domain), not your *DNS records* (what makes your website load and email deliver). If you initiate a transfer before your DNS is ready at the new host, your zone can be wiped or reset mid-move and your site and email go down. So, before Step 4: log in to your new host, recreate your DNS records there (A records, CNAMEs, MX records, TXT/SPF, etc.), or at minimum point your nameservers to the new host and confirm everything resolves. Prepare DNS *before* you initiate, never after.
Step 3: Fix your WHOIS email and privacy settings
The transfer approval email goes to your WHOIS administrative contact, so that address must be one you can actually open right now. If it is an old or dead inbox, update it before continuing.
If you use WHOIS privacy (domain privacy protection), it can sometimes hide the contact email and block the auth code or approval message. Temporarily disable WHOIS privacy for the duration of the transfer, then re-enable it once the move completes.
Step 4: Initiate the transfer at the new registrar
Now go to your new registrar and start a domain transfer. Enter the domain name, then paste the auth/EPP code from Step 2 exactly. Pay any transfer fee (more on that below).
The new registrar validates the code and the domain’s eligibility. If something is wrong, this is usually where you get an error, which is why the checklist matters.
Step 5: Approve and confirm the transfer
You will typically receive confirmation emails from both sides — one from the gaining (new) registrar and sometimes one from the losing (current) registrar. Open them and approve the transfer.
Approving at the gaining registrar usually speeds things up. If you ignore the email, many registrars will still complete the transfer automatically after the waiting period, but explicit approval is faster and cleaner.
Step 6: Wait for the transfer to complete
Domain transfers are not instant. They typically take up to 5 to 7 days to fully complete, depending on the registrars and how quickly you approve. During this window your site keeps running as long as your DNS is set up correctly (Step 3’s insight).
Once it completes, you will get a confirmation, the domain appears in your new account, and you can re-enable WHOIS privacy.
How long does a transfer add to your registration?
A domain transfer almost always adds one year to your registration term, and that year is usually included in the transfer price. So if your domain had eight months left, after transfer it generally has one year and eight months. You do not lose the time you already paid for; you gain a year on top of it.
This is one reason transferring near renewal time can be efficient: you renew and relocate in a single move.
What can block a domain transfer?
If a transfer stalls or gets rejected, it is almost always one of these:
- The 60-day lock — too soon after registration or a previous transfer.
- Recent registration — domain is younger than 60 days.
- Registrar lock still on — you skipped or did not save Step 1.
- Expired domain — renew it first, then transfer.
- Wrong or stale WHOIS email — the approval email never reaches you.
- Wrong auth code — a typo, extra space, or expired code.
- Pending dispute or legal hold — must be resolved before any move.
- WHOIS privacy blocking the email — disable it temporarily.
Run back through the and you will usually spot the culprit fast.
How do you keep your website and email working during the transfer?
This deserves its own callout because it is the most common real-world problem. Set up DNS at the new host first.
Do this before Step 4:
- Document your current DNS records. Note every A record, CNAME, MX (mail) record, and TXT record (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
- Recreate them at the new host so the destination already serves the same answers.
- Confirm everything resolves — load your site, send a test email.
- Only then initiate the transfer.
Because the registration and the DNS are separate layers, a well-prepared DNS zone means visitors and email never notice the move. An unprepared one means an outage right when you are least expecting it.
Transfer your domain to DarazHost without the headaches
Want a transfer that just works? DarazHost guides you through every step — removing the registrar lock, retrieving your auth/EPP code, and setting up your DNS at the destination first so your website and email keep running through the move. Pricing is transparent, and a transfer usually adds a year to your registration, so you renew and relocate at once. You can also pair the domain with hosting in the same account for simpler management. Our 24/7 support team will walk you through the transfer end to end, so you never have to guess what comes next.
Domain transfer FAQ
How long does it take to transfer a domain? Most transfers complete within 5 to 7 days. Approving the confirmation email at the new registrar promptly is the fastest way to keep it moving.
Will my website go down during a transfer? Not if you set up your DNS at the new host before you initiate the transfer. The registration and your DNS records are separate, so a prepared DNS zone keeps your site and email online the whole time.
Why can’t I transfer my domain yet? The most common reason is the 60-day rule: a domain must be at least 60 days old and cannot be transferred within 60 days of a previous transfer. Check that, plus the registrar lock, expiry date, and WHOIS email.
What is an auth code or EPP code? It is a unique authorization password issued by your current registrar that proves you approved the transfer. You paste it into the new registrar when you initiate the move. Treat it like a password.
Do I lose the time left on my registration when I transfer? No. A transfer adds a year to your existing term, so the time you already paid for is preserved and a year is added on top.
