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Transferring Domain Names to Another Registrar

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Last Updated: March 4, 2010 6:09 PM
Here's the Lowdown: Transferring a domain name between registrars can be a little tricky. Have no fear. We've got you covered. If you follow the steps outlined here, you'll be on your way to completing your transfer.

The process for transferring domain names from us to another registrar partially depends on your new registrar. For more information, you might need to consult the other registrar's help. If you are transferring a domain name that has expired, see Transferring Expired Domains.

The Domain Transfer Process

  1. Advise your administrative contact that the domain name is being transferred.
  2. Unlock your domain name.
  3. If applicable, cancel your private registration. For more information, see Canceling Private Registration for Domains.
  4. Verify that your administrative contact is valid. For more information, see Updating Your Contact, Registrant, Administrator, Technical, or Billing Information.
  5. Obtain the authorization code if you are transferring a .com, .net, .org, .biz, .tv, .us, or .info domain name.
  6. The registry notifies us once you have authorized the transfer to the new registrar.
  7. We email you instructions to complete the transfer. If you do not authorize or deny the transfer request within five days, we automatically complete the transfer.
  8. The registry notifies your new registrar of the transfer's acceptance or rejection.
  9. We email confirmation when the transfer completes.

NOTE: The transfer between registrars can take a week once you authorize the transfer.

A 60-day transfer restriction period applies when a registration is new or renewed, recently transferred, updated by changing the registrant's contact organization, or the registrant contact's first or last name when an organization has not been listed.

Unlocking Your Domain Name

Unlocking a domain name allows it to be transferred to another registrar.

To Unlock Your Domain Name

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. In the My Products section, click Domain Manager.
  3. Select the domains to unlock, and then click Locking.
  4. To unlock the domain name, deselect Lock domains.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click OK again.

Obtaining the Authorization Code

If you want to transfer a .com, .net, .org, .biz, .tv, .us, or .info, domain name away from us, obtain the authorization code from the Domain Manager.

NOTE: You can also obtain an authorization code for transferring .eu domain names. You can use the authorization code to expedite the transfer within 24 to 48 hours.

To Obtain the Authorization Code

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. In the My Products section, click Domain Manager.
  3. Click the domain name for which you want to obtain the authorization code.
  4. In the Authorization Code field, click Send by Email.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click OK again.

We email the authorization code to the domain name's administrative contact.

Completing Authorized Transfers

Once the registry notifies us that the transfer is authorized, completing it expedites the move between registrars.

To Complete an Authorized Transfer

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. In the My Products section, click Domain Manager.
  3. From the Domains menu, select Pending Transfers.
  4. Select the domain names to transfer, and then click Accept/Decline.
  5. Select whether to Accept or Decline the transfer.
  6. Click OKepp.

Note: This step is not available for .eu or .de domains.