How to Transfer a Domain to Another Registrar Safely
How to transfer a domain to another registrar — you want to move your domain name from one company to another without breaking your website or email, and the words unlock, EPP code, and 60-day lock are getting in the way.
Common signs of this issue
- You want to know how to transfer a domain to another registrar — to consolidate accounts, cut renewal costs, or get away from a registrar you do not trust.
- Your new registrar asks for an "authorization code", "auth code", or "EPP code" and you do not know where to find it.
- The transfer was rejected or cancelled with a message about the domain being locked or ineligible.
- You are told the domain cannot be transferred for 60 days because it was recently registered, transferred, or had its owner details changed.
- A web developer or host says you should "just change the nameservers" instead, and you are not sure which you need.
- After a previous transfer, your website or email stopped working and nobody could say why.
Safe checks you can do yourself
None of these require sharing passwords with anyone.
- Write down your current DNS records first. In your current registrar or DNS provider, open the DNS or zone settings and screenshot or copy every record — especially the A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and verification codes). This is the single most important step for keeping your website and email running.
- Check which nameservers your domain uses (a free "NS lookup" shows them). If they belong to your web host, Cloudflare, or another DNS provider, your records live there and a registrar transfer usually does not touch them. If they belong to your current registrar, the records live at the registrar and you must recreate them at the new one before or during the move.
- Confirm the domain is eligible. Look up the registration date and last transfer date at
lookup.icann.org. Most registrars block transfers for 60 days after a new registration or a previous transfer, and some also apply a lock after owner details change. ICANN has approved revisions to the transfer rules that adjust some of these windows, so check your registrar's current policy. - Make sure the registrant contact email is one you can read. Transfer confirmations and approvals often go there, and a transfer can stall if they go to an old designer's address.
- At the current registrar, turn off the transfer lock (sometimes called registrar lock or domain lock) and request the authorization / EPP code. Some show it on screen; others email it. Treat it like a password.
- Check the expiry date. Avoid starting a transfer in the last few days before expiry or after the domain has lapsed — renew first if needed. For most common extensions the transfer adds a year to the registration, so you do not lose paid time.
- At the new registrar, start the transfer, enter the code, and pay. Watch your inbox for approval emails from both sides. Many transfers finish within a few days; some complete faster if the old registrar approves early.
- When it completes, check the nameservers and DNS records at the new registrar against your saved list, then test your website and send a test email to and from your business address.
What this usually means
A registrar transfer moves who you pay and where you manage the domain. Changing nameservers only moves where your DNS records live — it takes minutes and does not change who holds the registration. If your goal is to point your domain at a new website or host, you almost certainly want nameservers or DNS changes, not a transfer; see point your domain to your website. Transfers are for consolidating accounts, lower renewal prices, better security, or leaving a registrar you no longer trust.
Most transfer disasters are DNS disasters. If your records were hosted at the old registrar and the new one starts with an empty or default zone, the website can go to a parking page and email can silently stop arriving because the MX records disappeared. The same is true if the registrar provided free email forwarding: it does not follow the domain. That is why copying every record before you start, and checking them the moment the transfer completes, matters more than any other step. For how long changes take to show, see how long DNS propagation takes.
Rejected transfers usually come down to a short list: the domain is still locked, the authorization code is wrong or expired, the domain is within a 60-day lock period, it is too close to or past expiry, or the old registrar sent an approval email nobody saw. Country-code domains (such as .uk, .ca, or .au) can follow different rules — some use a tag or a different code process — so check the new registrar's instructions for your extension.
What not to do
- Don't start a transfer without saving a copy of every DNS record. It is the most common reason website and email break afterwards.
- Don't transfer a domain in the middle of a website move. Change one thing at a time.
- Don't share your EPP or authorization code with anyone except the registrar you are moving to. Anyone with it and an unlocked domain can try to take it.
- Don't let the domain expire while waiting to transfer it. Renew first if the date is close.
- Don't transfer just to point the domain at a new host. Changing nameservers or DNS records is faster and far less risky.
- Don't transfer because an unsolicited letter or email told you to. Choose the new registrar yourself.
When to get help
Get help when your email runs through the domain and cannot go down even for a day, when your DNS records live at the registrar and there are many of them, when the domain is controlled by a former developer or an account nobody can log into, or when a transfer has already left your website or mail broken. In those cases a mistake is not a small inconvenience — it is lost enquiries, bounced invoices, and a scramble to rebuild records from memory. An experienced hand maps every record, stages the DNS at the new provider in advance, times the switch, and checks the website, mail, and authentication records immediately after, so customers never notice the move. If you are moving hosts at the same time, see how to move a website to a new host first.
Glenn, who runs WebsiteSelfHelp, handles domain transfers for small businesses with the DNS and email carried over intact. Request a direct review, say where the domain is now and where you want it, and he will tell you plainly what is involved and what could go wrong — no passwords or codes needed at the start.
Not sure what to do next?
Answer a few short questions and we'll point you to the safest next step — DIY, a freelancer, or a direct review. No passwords required.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transfer a domain to another registrar?
Save your DNS records, unlock the domain at your current registrar, get the authorization or EPP code, start the transfer at the new registrar with that code, approve any confirmation emails, and check your DNS records once it completes.
Where do I find my domain's EPP or auth code?
In your current registrar's domain settings, usually near the transfer lock option. Some show it on screen and others email it to the registrant contact. If you cannot find it, ask the registrar's support.
How long does a domain transfer take?
Commonly up to about five days for popular extensions, and sometimes much faster if the old registrar approves the release. Country-code domains can differ.
Why can't I transfer my domain for 60 days?
Most registrars block transfers for 60 days after a domain is registered or transferred, and some after owner details change. It is a security rule to prevent hijacking. You have to wait it out.
Will transferring my domain break my email?
It can if your DNS records, especially MX records, were hosted at the old registrar and are not recreated at the new one. Copy every record beforehand and check them the moment the transfer completes.
Should I transfer my domain or just change the nameservers?
If you only want the domain to point at a new website or host, change the nameservers or DNS records. Transfer only when you want to change the company you pay for the domain itself.
Do I lose the time left on my domain when I transfer it?
Usually not. For most common extensions the remaining time carries over and the transfer adds a year. Some country-code domains work differently, so check before you pay.