It’s one of the most basic aspects of web hosting, but most people do it so seldom that they probably need to relearn the process each time. These simple steps will help you transfer your domain name to a new home in no time.
If you already have a domain name, you’ve probably already dealt with a registrar, a company that handles URL acquisitions. A registrar can be a standalone URL seller or a web hosting service that also offers domain names. If your domain name is tied to a web hosting service, the desire to move it may come from one of the reasons mentioned above, or it might be due to rival hosts’ superior uptimes, load times, or feature sets.
Don’t, however, think that people who have NameCheap domains never transfer their URLs. For example, if you strike a deal to sell your website, you may need to transfer the domain to the new owner’s preferred URL host. Or you might be moving to a new hosting service that offers a sweet deal on the annual cost of domain registration for new sign-ups.
The domain transfer process isn’t difficult, but it may not be obvious. There are only a few steps to undertake to initiate the action, fortunately. Note, however, that transferring a domain name requires two companies to approve the transfer, which slows matters a bit. You can expect your domain transfer request to go through in a few hours’ or a few days’ time, depending on the companies involved. Don’t fret if the domain doesn’t get moved within a few minutes of you placing the request, though the process can sometimes be completed quite quickly.
This article only tackles the act of transferring a domain name. Moving any website files that you’ve uploaded to a web host’s servers—that is, moving your actual site to a new web host—is a different matter altogether, one that will be the subject for another article. In addition, understand that these tips are written in the most general manner possible, because the referenced sections and icons will vary by registrar. The process is similar enough from provider to provider that you should be able to puzzle it out with the help of the guide below.
Let’s get started.
Disable the Registrar Lock
The first thing you need to do before transferring your domain is to disable the registrar lock. Most registrars keep your domain under tight security to prevent unauthorized transfers. After all, you don’t want someone else to be able to seize ownership.
To turn off the lock, visit your registrar’s domain management section, select the domain you wish to transfer, and click the disable lock icon (or check the box, or push the button—you get the idea). That’s it!
Get the Authorization Code
Initiate and Verify a Domain Name Transfer
Log into the new registrar that will soon host your domain name. Many web hosts have a dedicated section for handling domain-related matters. Look for an option that lets you type in the domain name that’s to be moved and the authorization code that you acquired using the previous step. Click the Transfer icon.
After you initiate a domain name transfer, you should receive an email with the details of the exchange. Give the information a once-over. If all is as it should be, click the included confirmation link and agree to the transfer terms. Be aware that once you verify the domain transfer, you won’t be able to transfer it again for 60 days.
