Domain Transfers
How to Transfer a Domain to a New Registrar Without Any Site Downtime
Moving a domain between registrars is purely a billing and ownership change — done correctly, your live site and email never notice it happened.
60-day
ICANN lock after registration or a prior transfer
5-7 days
Typical time to complete once approved
0
Downtime if nameservers stay unchanged
24/7
Support during the transfer window
In short
To transfer a domain to a new registrar, unlock it and request the EPP (authorization) code from your current registrar, then start the transfer at the new registrar using that code. Approve the confirmation email within about 5 days, and the transfer usually completes within 5-7 days — unless the domain was registered or last transferred in the past 60 days, which blocks a new transfer under ICANN rules.
Your website and email keep working throughout, provided you don't change nameservers until the transfer is confirmed.
People transfer domains for a lot of practical reasons — consolidating everything under one registrar, better renewal pricing, or simply leaving a registrar whose support has stopped responding. The part that stops most people is the fear that a live site will go dark mid-transfer, which is almost never actually true: a domain transfer changes who administers the registration, not where the domain's DNS records point.
Domains through Hosting Cheap are competitively priced whether you're registering fresh or transferring in an existing one, and transferring in leaves your existing nameservers and DNS records exactly as they are, so hosting and email continue uninterrupted. If an EPP code doesn't arrive or an approval email lands in spam, 24/7 support can help track it down.
Unlocking the Domain and Getting Your EPP Code
Most registrars lock domains against transfer by default, usually labeled a "transfer lock" or "registrar lock" in the domain's settings. Log in to your current registrar, find that setting, and disable it before requesting anything else — a transfer attempt against a locked domain simply gets rejected.
Once unlocked, request the EPP code, also called an authorization or transfer code, from the same account. Some registrars generate it instantly on screen; others email it within a day, so it's worth requesting it a little ahead of when you actually plan to start the transfer.
The 60-Day Rule Nobody Reads Until It Blocks Them
ICANN policy blocks a domain from transferring within 60 days of its initial registration, and again within 60 days of any previous transfer. This exists to prevent domain hijacking and rapid-fire ownership churn, but it also catches out anyone who registered a domain recently and immediately tries to move it elsewhere.
A recent change to the registrant's contact details can trigger a similar lock on some registries, so it's worth checking a domain's registration and transfer history before assuming the process will start right away.
Starting and Approving the Transfer
At the new registrar, initiate the transfer by entering the domain name and the EPP code, along with payment — most transfers also extend the domain's registration by a year. The current (losing) registrar then sends a confirmation email, often called a Form of Authorization, asking you to approve the move.
Approving that email promptly speeds the transfer along; ignoring it usually lets it auto-approve after about 5 days in most TLDs, while actively rejecting it cancels the transfer outright. Either way, expect the whole process to wrap up within 5-7 days of that approval.
Keeping Your Site and Email Live During the Move
The single most important habit during a domain transfer is leaving the nameservers exactly as they are — before, during and right after the process. The domain's DNS settings normally carry over unchanged from the losing registrar, since a transfer only changes who administers the registration, not where the domain resolves.
If you're also planning to switch hosting providers, treat that as a separate, later step rather than doing it in the same window as the registrar transfer. Complete the hosting move first, confirm it works, and only then transfer the registrar without touching DNS at all.
Doing a Domain Transfer and a Hosting Move at the Same Time
Some people try to switch registrar and switch host in the same afternoon, and that's exactly when things break. Sequence the two moves instead: migrate to the new host first while the domain still resolves through its existing nameservers, confirm the new site works properly, then transfer the registrar itself without touching DNS at all.
Because a domain transfer is purely an ownership and billing change between registrars, it never has to interrupt a live site — nameservers keep resolving to whatever they were pointed at throughout the entire process, regardless of who's administering the registration.
- Unlock the domain and grab the EPP code before starting anything
- Domains under 60 days old, or recently transferred, can't move yet
- Approve the confirmation email to speed the transfer along
- Leave nameservers untouched so the live site keeps resolving
Why Hosting Cheap
What you get
Competitively priced domains
Transfer in and renew going forward at straightforward, competitive pricing.
DNS left exactly as it is
Transferring registrars doesn't touch your nameservers or existing records.
24/7 human support
Get help if an EPP code doesn't arrive or an approval email goes to spam.
Free migration for hosting
Move your site to Hosting Cheap separately from the domain transfer, at no charge.
cPanel-style management
Manage the transferred domain's DNS alongside your hosting from one panel.
Free SSL either way
A certificate stays valid or reissues automatically regardless of who administers the domain.
How It Works
Get set up in a few steps
Unlock the domain and get the EPP code
Log in to your current registrar, disable the transfer lock, and request the authorization code.
Start the transfer at the new registrar
Enter the domain and EPP code, pay the transfer fee, and wait for the approval email.
Approve and confirm nameservers are unchanged
Approve the confirmation to speed things up, then check your site still resolves once complete.
Included
Everything you need, on every plan
- Unlock the domain at the current registrar first
- Request the EPP or authorization code before starting anything else
- Confirm the domain is older than 60 days since registration or last transfer
- Make sure WHOIS contact details are up to date beforehand
- Start the transfer at the new registrar with the code and payment
- Approve the confirmation email rather than letting it sit unanswered
- Leave nameservers exactly as they are throughout the process
- Verify the domain shows the new registrar in WHOIS once complete
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is an EPP code and where do I get it?
An EPP code, also called an auth or transfer code, is a unique string your current registrar issues to prove you own the domain and authorize a transfer. Request it from your current registrar's control panel after unlocking the domain; some issue it instantly, others email it within a day.
Why can't I transfer my domain right now?
The most common reason is the ICANN 60-day rule, which blocks transfers within 60 days of initial registration or within 60 days of a previous transfer. A recent change to the registrant's contact details can also trigger a similar lock on some registries.
Will my website go down during a domain transfer?
No, not if you leave the nameservers alone. A domain transfer only changes which registrar administers the domain's registration and billing — it doesn't touch the DNS records or nameservers that determine where your site and email actually resolve.
How long does a domain transfer take?
Once you approve the confirmation email, most transfers complete within 5-7 days. Some registries process popular TLDs faster, and approving promptly rather than letting it auto-approve after about 5 days can shave time off the process.
Can I transfer and change hosting at the same time?
You can, but it's cleaner to treat them as separate steps. Migrate to the new host first while the domain still resolves via its existing nameservers, confirm the new site works, then transfer the registrar itself without touching DNS.
What happens if I ignore the transfer approval email?
Depending on the registry, an unanswered confirmation email either auto-approves the transfer after roughly 5 days or lets it expire, requiring you to restart the request. Actively approving it is the fastest and most reliable route.
Transfer Your Domain Without Any Interruption
Move your domain in at competitive pricing while your site and email keep running throughout.
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