How to transfer a domain: a step-by-step guide
Moving a domain to another registrar takes ten minutes. What matters is the four things you check before you start: the lock, the EPP code, the 60-day rule and keeping DNS running.
Ensar Günel· updated · 5 min read
Contents
- Before you start: 4 checks
- 1. Was the domain registered or transferred in the last 60 days?
- 2. How close is the expiry date?
- 3. Can you read the registrant email?
- 4. Where are your DNS records?
- Step by step
- Step 1: Remove the registrar lock
- Step 2: Get the EPP (auth) code
- Step 3: Start the transfer at the new registrar
- Step 4: Wait for approval
- Step 5: Check everything once it lands
- Country-code domains follow their own rules
- Common errors
- Summary
A domain transfer moves your domain to a different registrar, the company that manages it for you. You stay the owner, your website and email keep running, and only the renewal bill and the control panel move to the new company.
The transfer itself takes a few minutes. Most transfers that get stuck fail on a small detail nobody checked beforehand, so this guide covers those details first and the steps second.
Before you start: 4 checks
1. Was the domain registered or transferred in the last 60 days?
For generic extensions such as .com, .net and .org, ICANN rules block a transfer for 60 days after registration or after a previous transfer. ICANN is revising its transfer policy, but until the new rules take effect and registrars apply them, plan around the 60-day window.
You can see when a domain was registered with a Whois lookup or the domain age tool.
2. How close is the expiry date?
Registrars may refuse transfers on domains that have expired or are about to. Start at least two weeks before the expiry date, not two days. If the domain is already in its grace period, you may have to renew it at your current registrar first.
The good news: a transfer of a generic domain adds one year, and you keep the time you already paid for. Transfer five months before expiry and your new expiry date is one year and five months away.
3. Can you read the registrant email?
Some registrars send the transfer approval or the EPP code to the email address in the domain's Whois record. If that inbox belongs to a former employee or a closed company, update it in your current control panel before you begin.
4. Where are your DNS records?
Your site and email keep working after the transfer as long as your DNS stays where it is. If you use your old registrar's name servers, that registrar may delete the zone once the domain leaves.
The fix is simple: before you transfer, write down your A, MX, TXT and CNAME records with a DNS lookup. Email records (MX and SPF) are the ones people forget.
Step by step
Step 1: Remove the registrar lock
Your current registrar may call it "transfer lock", "domain lock" or "registrar lock". With the lock on, the transfer is rejected automatically. More on what a transfer lock is.
Step 2: Get the EPP (auth) code
The EPP code works like a password for the domain: only someone who knows it can start a transfer. Some registrars show it in the panel with one click; others make you open a support ticket.
When you copy it, make sure there's no leading or trailing space. That's the most common reason for an "invalid code" error.
Step 3: Start the transfer at the new registrar
Enter the domain name and the EPP code, then pay. At Piyodo this happens on the transfer page: we check the code as you enter it, so you see a problem before the domain goes into your cart.
Step 4: Wait for approval
Most transfers complete within 5–7 days. During this time the old registrar can approve the transfer early or let the waiting period run out. You don't need to touch DNS; your site keeps running.
Step 5: Check everything once it lands
- Is the domain in your new panel, and has the expiry date moved one year forward?
- Are the name servers still correct? If you used the old registrar's DNS, add your records in the new panel and switch the name servers.
- Turn the registrar lock back on.
Country-code domains follow their own rules
Country-code domains (ccTLDs) set their own transfer rules, and they can differ a lot from .com. Turkish domains (.com.tr, .tr) are a good example: a registrar change is managed through TRABİS, it's free, and it does not extend the registration period. The 60-day rule is an ICANN rule for generic domains, so it doesn't apply there.
If you're moving a ccTLD, check that registry's rules before you start.
Common errors
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Invalid EPP code" | A space in the code, or an old code | Request the code again and paste it without spaces |
| "Domain is locked" | Registrar lock is still on | Remove the lock at your current registrar |
| "60 days have not passed" | New registration or recent transfer | Try again after the window |
| Transfer rejected | Expired domain, payment or approval missing | Contact your current registrar |
Summary
The transfer is easy; the preparation is what counts. Remove the lock, get the EPP code, check the 60-day window and the expiry date, and save your DNS records. Do that and your domain moves to the new registrar within a few days, without downtime.
Ready to move? Start on the transfer page.
Have a name in mind?
Let's see right away if it's available and what renewal costs.
