1. Overview
  2. Check eligibility
  3. Unlock your domain
  4. Choose a new domain registrar
  5. Authorize your transfer

Overview

If your current domain host does not give you access to set up your website, don't worry! You can still keep your domain and your new website by transferring your domain to a new domain registrar, like GoDaddy.com.

In most cases, there are just a few steps to follow:

  1. Check to see if your domain can be transferred.
  2. Unlock your domain.
  3. Acquire an authorization​ (EPP) code.
  4. Purchase a transfer from a new domain registrar.
  5. Authorize the transfer with your new domain registrar.

Check eligibility

Most domains can be transferred.  There are only two requirements:

  1. You must be the owner of the domain.
  2. The domain cannot be transferred during the first 60 days after initial registration.

Unlock your domain

Most domain registrars allow you to unlock your domain and obtain an authorization code (sometimes called a transfer key or EPP code) online.  Below are instructions for unlocking your domain on some known incompatible registrars.

Unlock your iPage domain

Unlock your Network Solutions domain

If your registrar does not have an online method of unlocking your domain, you will need to contact them (by phone or email) to unlock your domain and get an authorization code for the transfer. All domain hosts are required to allow you to unlock your domain name given reasonable notice. They are equally required to provide you with contact information so that you can begin this process.

Choose a new domain registrar

Typically domain registrars offer an incentive to move your domain over to them, like an extra year of domain registration included in the transfer cost.

We recommend you transfer your domain to us. That way all of your services are in one place!

Authorize your transfer

Once you've unlocked your domain and gotten an authorization code, you will need to authorize the transfer. In GoDaddy, you can do so by following these steps:

  1. Log in to your account manager at http://mya.godaddy.com/default.aspx.
  2. Next to Domains, click Launch.
  3. From the Domains menu, select Transfers.
  4. Click Authorize transfer.
  5. Click Add Now.
  6. Enter the transfer IDs In the Transaction ID and Security Code fields. These IDs are sent to the administrative email of your GoDaddy account. 
  7. Go to the Basic tab, then enter the Authorization Code your current registrar gave you in the text field next to your domain name.
  8. Select I authorize the transfer, then click Finish.
  9. Click OK.

GoDaddy also has a guide to this process here.

Once you've authorized your transfer, you need only wait until it completes! Note that this tends to take between five to seven days from the time you authorize the transfer.