Domain Name Transfer: What You Need to Learn and How it Can Benefit You

A domain name plays a significant role in getting your website online and across potential customers. This makes choosing an appropriate domain important to get your website identified on the Internet. Finding and owning a domain asks for the registration of it with a domain registrar, who may also provide you with web hosting and email solutions. There may be instances that you want to change your registrar, and here comes the domain name transfer. The article deals with some important information about domain transfer.

What does it mean to transfer a domain?

A domain transfer means changing a domain name from one registrar to another. For instance, you have sourced a perfect domain for your business website, but you are unhappy about the services offered by the current registrar. In such a case, you can transfer your domain to another registrar easily.

By transferring a domain name to a new hosting provider, you need to adjust to the terms of the new company, which also provides similar services. Therefore, some registrants may not move to a new registrar because of uncertainty about the terms.

Reasons why you go for domain name transfer

There are different reasons why registrants choose to transfer a domain. They are:

• Features

When it comes to a domain name service, there are companies that offer distinguishing features and services with their subscription plans. They include a reliable Anycast global network for improved speed and high-level security for DDoS attacks, user-friendly tools for domain management, auto-renewals, and customer support. 

• Price

The price for domain services varies between registrars. Some offer free domain transfers with a web-hosting service. It also includes a reliable server speed, effective domain management and guaranteed renewal protection. Some others offer you a basic service at a low price and charge for every additional feature they offer. In such cases, they charge high renewal charges for a domain, which disappoints their customers.

What should you do to transfer a domain?

To complete a domain name transfer, you need to undergo the following:

• Update your contact details

The transfer process requires the registrar you want to leave and the new registrar to contact you. Therefore, it is essential that your contact details are kept up to date. All you need to do is to check your account information on the present registrar’s control panel and make sure that your contact details are correct. 

You should also make sure that you have a backup email address as the email account linked to your domain name will be deactivated when the domain transfer takes place.

• Fill in a request form

For a domain name transfer, you need to submit a filled-in request form to the new registrar.

• Unlock your domain

To avoid accidental deletion or changes, domains are locked by default. You need to unlock your domain by clicking the ‘unlock domain’ option on the registrar’s website. Such an option is usually found under the ‘Security’ or ‘Domain’ section. In some cases, you may have to request for the manual unlocking of the domain.

• Obtain an authorization code

You need an authorization code to transfer your domain, for which you have to raise a request. The Auth code, EPP code, or EPPT Authentication code should be received within 5 days by email after the request. 

• Check whether your domain is eligible for transfer

You can transfer your domain only after 60 days according to the ICANN rules. Therefore, ensure that your domain is eligible for transfer.

• Create a new account and enter the Auth code

For this, you need to log into your new registrar’s website and create an account by entering the domain name you want to transfer. Enter the EPP code to effect the transfer.

• Get the domain transfer officially approved

After providing the authorization code, you will be contacted by the registrars to confirm the contact information and officially validate the domain transfer.

If asked for, you need to pay for the domain name transfer and wait for a few days to have your domain and server configured by the new registry.