How to Transfer a Domain Name?

Once you have found the perfect client for your domain name and the deal has been made, the final step for you is to transfer the domain name to the client. However, for most people who aren’t very tech-savvy, this can be the trickiest part because to transfer a domain to someone else, you will need to go through quite a few steps. If you also want to transfer a domain name, then you do not need to worry as we are going to explain all the steps in detail for transferring your domain name to four major domain providers, namely SiteGround, Bluehost, BigRock, and NameCheap.

So, let’s get started!

Few Things to Know Before Initiating Domain Name Transfer

• If your domain is expired, it cannot be transferred. You will need to renew it first and then initiate a transfer.

• Once the domain transfer is final, you will not get it back. In case you need it back, you will need to contact the new owner, and whether you will get it or not entirely depends on them.

• For most domain providers, the privacy settings have to be disabled before you initiate the transfer.

• The EPP or the authorization code is the key to transfer the domain. Some providers will ask you to use the EPP yourself, and some will ask you to hand it over to the new customer so that they can manage the transfer on their own.

• The updated contact details of the new owner have to be 100% correct; without that, they will not receive the email verifications and authorizations, and you will not be able to transfer the domain.

• Make sure you use a trustworthy payment system so that you don’t get scammed by the customer.

Transferring Domain Name in SiteGround

• For transferring your SiteGround domain to someone else, the first thing you need to do is to open your SiteGround’s control panel. From there, click on the Client Area. After that, from the menu that pops up, click on Marketplace, followed by Domain Services. Now, click on the option transfer domain in the domain extras tab and then click on get.

• After that, you will see a type-in box where you will be asked to enter your domain’s name. Type in the name of your domain there and click on check status. The status of your domain name will be checked and all the information that you will need to transfer your domain name will be provided.

Requirements for Transferring Your Domain

Different sets of domains have different requirements for transferring them. There are two broad sets of domain names: gTLDS ( generic top-level domains such as .com, .org. .biz, .info) and ccTLDs ( country code top-level domains such as .us, .uk .ca, .in). Here we are going to discuss the gTLDs and their requirements for transferring a domain.

• The status of a domain should be active. Most domain names have their default status as locked, which is done by the registrar. Before you initiate a transfer process, you will have to make sure that the domain is unlocked.

• The domain should have more than 15 days before it expires, and the domain must be bought at least more than 60 days ago.

• You will need to have the authorization code, also known as the EPP code, for the domain transfer. You can get it easily from your current registrar.

Initiating the Domain Transfer Process

To make the transfer, you need to have the authorization code. The authorization code is a type of id that is unique to each domain and is used as a security measure to protect your domain from an authorized transfer by a third party.

Once you have the code, update the owner details as provided by the individual to whom you are transferring the domain. Make sure that you enter the details correctly, and then enter the authorization code to complete the transfer. However, the only catch here is that your domain will be transferred only if the EPP code is correct. Else, you will receive an email on your registered email id through which you will have to confirm the transfer once again. When the transfer is completed, you will again get a confirmation email.

Transferring Domain Name in Bluehost

• Open your Bluehost control panel or dashboard and from the top-bar menu, select Domains. From the list that drops down, select the domain you want to transfer.
• Next, click the several tabs for the domain that you have selected, then click on the contacts icon.
• Click on the boxes registrar, admin, and billing to access the information of all three.
• Update all these boxes with the new information of the customer you are selling the domain to. Double-check all the information because the contact info has to be 100% accurate.
• Check the box to opt out of the 60-day transfer lock. Although this is completely optional, we highly recommend it to maintain the authenticity of the transfer.
• Click on the update button, and all the new information changes that you have just made will be saved.
• You will receive a verification email through which you will have to click on the link to approve the transfer.
• The new owner will also receive a verification email with a link that he/she will need to click on to continue the transfer process.

Preparing the Domain for Transfer

Most domain owners would like to transfer the domain to a new registrar so that they can access and use the domain without the previous owner’s intrusion. In that case, you will need to keep a few things in mind while transferring the domain that are as follows:

• You will need to disable the privacy settings. Without doing so, you cannot transfer the domain name. To disable the settings, click on the privacy tab on the menu, and if it is enabled, click on Pause Domain Privacy.

• You need to ensure that the domain status is active and not locked ( as most domains are locked by default). To do that, simply click on Domains on the top-bar menu, and from the drop-down list of domains, select the domain you are transferring. In the info window of the domain, which appears on the right side of the domain, select the lock tab. Click on unlock your domain and that’s it, your domain is unlocked.

Obtaining the EPP CODE

The final step is to obtain the EPP code, also known as the authorization code. This unique code will protect your domain from forced and unauthorized transfer. To obtain it, just click on the Transfer EPP tab and copy the code.

Share the code with the new owner and let them know that you have done your part of the job and they can transfer the domain to their name whenever they want.

Note: This information is for the Bluehost provider. Be careful because Bluehost has two branches, often referred to as the Legacy and the Rock. Legacy indicates Bluehost while Rock indicates BlueRock.

Transferring Domain Name in BigRock

• Open the control panel in BigRock.
• Click on the Manage Orders tab, followed by Transfer Domain.
• Now, select the domain that you want to transfer and click on the transfer button. Double-check the domain name before hitting the transfer button.
• Since you are the original owner of the domain, it will automatically have your contact information. So click on the contact icon to update that information and also change the nameservers (if required).
• Proceed to payment with the invoice.

There aren’t any such specific requirements to transfer your domain to BigRock. Just make sure that your domain is active and it does not have to be renewed.

Obtaining the EPP and Completing the Transfer

You will get the EPP code or authorization code from your control panel. Select the domain name you want to transfer, add the info of the new owner and enter the EPP code and click on the submit button.

The customer you are transferring the domain to will get a notification regarding the transfer. The current registrar will email the registrant’s contact, i.e. you, and let you know that they wish to continue the transfer. If neither of the two parties objects, the domain will be transferred within the next five days.

Transferring Domain Name in NameCheap

• From the control panel, select the Domain List on the left sidebar and click on Manage.
• Next, choose Sharing &Transfer and select Change Ownership.
• Enter the email address of the new owner and click on Change.
• For the EPP code, you will need to enter your password and select Registrant Contact in the modal window.

After this, the customer will get an email to approve the ownership change. If the customer has enabled the “Automatically approved ownership change” option, no email verification will be required.

If the details of the new owner have been entered correctly, the transfer will be done immediately.

Conclusion

So that was all about the process of transferring domains in the four most popular domain registrars. We have tried our best to keep the process simple so that everyone is able to understand the steps and transfer their domain on their own. We hope this article was helpful to you and if you have any suggestions or feedback, feel free to share them through the comment section below.