How to Transfer a Domain: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

June 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Transferring a domain to a new registrar sounds technical, but it is a simple, well-defined process. Done right, your website and email keep working the whole time. Here is exactly how to do it.

Before you start

• The domain must be at least 60 days old and not transferred in the last 60 days (an ICANN rule).
• You need access to the email on the domain's admin contact.
• Have your current registrar login ready.

Step 1 — Unlock the domain

Log into your current registrar and turn off the "Registrar Lock" / "Transfer Lock" for the domain.

Step 2 — Get the EPP (Auth) code

Find the EPP code (also called auth code or transfer key) in your current registrar's panel. This is the password that authorises the transfer.

Step 3 — Disable WHOIS privacy temporarily

Some registrars block transfers while privacy is on, because the verification email can't reach you. Turn it off for now — you can re-enable free WHOIS privacy after the transfer completes.

Step 4 — Start the transfer at the new registrar

Begin the transfer order, enter the domain and the EPP code, and pay. A domain transfer usually adds one extra year to your registration, so you are not losing time.

Step 5 — Approve the transfer

You will receive a confirmation email. Click the approval link. Approving speeds things up; otherwise it auto-completes after a few days.

Step 6 — Wait for completion

Transfers typically finish within a few hours to 5 days, depending on the extension. You will be notified when it is done.

Will my website or email go down?

No — as long as you do not change your DNS/nameservers, your site and email keep running throughout the transfer. The transfer only changes who manages the domain, not where it points.