Transfer Domain Ownership: A Step-by-Step Guide | Hover Blog (2024)

Transfer Domain Ownership: A Step-by-Step Guide | Hover Blog (1)

There are many reasons why you may need to transfer ownership of a domain name. Whether you sold a domain name, bought a domain as a gift, or want to change domain ownership to someone else in your organization, you must follow a process to make sure it’s done right. Thankfully, all of this is made simple with our step-by-step guide.

Transfer a domain name to another person

First, you have to identify whether you are transferring your domain between two registrars or within the same domain registrar.

Transferring from one registrar to another

The exact steps you’ll need to take will vary depending on which registrar your domain is currently registered with and where the domain is being transferred to, but it will consist of these essential steps:

1. Disable WHOIS/domain privacy.

The new registrar will need to verify who owns the domain name, which won’t be possible if you have WHOIS privacy enabled so make sure that privacy setting has been switched off.

2. Ensure admin email is up-to-date.

Double-check that the domain’s current registrar has the most up-to-date administrative email address so they’ll be able to contact its owner during the transfer process. Note that changing this field can result in a 60-day transfer lock on the domain (to prevent fraudulent activity), so having an outdated admin email could delay the transfer process.

3. Unlock the domain.

The domain likely has a transfer lock applied to prevent unwanted or accidental transferring of the domain. In this case, it will need to be unlocked.

4. Get the transfer authorization code.

This is like a password that, in theory, should only be accessible by the true owner of a domain name. Some registrars may use a different term, like EPP key, secret code or auth code.

5. Request a domain transfer.

Have the new domain owner request a domain transfer. This will typically involve purchasing an additional year of registration, which will begin once all the remaining time on the domain name is used up. The authorization code from step 4 will be needed in order to request a transfer.

6. Approve transfer request email.

When the new domain owner requests a transfer, the email address on file for the current domain’s owner will receive an email (this is why it’s important not to skip step 2). Simply approve this request and the transfer process will begin.

Transferring from one Hover account to another

To transfer ownership of a domain name between two Hover accounts, the process is a lot more straightforward:

1. Contact Hover.

Email help@hover.com or call 1-866-731-6556 and let us know that you’d like to transfer your domain.

2. Obtain a one-time PIN.

We’ll email you a unique PIN to the primary email contact within your Hover account.

3. Provide Hover with your PIN.

Contact us and verify the PIN that we sent you.

4. Tell us the account you’d like to transfer the domain to.

If the domain’s new owner already has a Hover account, we can verify that account by sending another unique PIN to the primary email address in that account. If the new owner does not have a Hover account, we can create a new one for them. Follow the steps above to transfer your domain name. Once you do that, you might need a new domain name for yourself and we definitely have you covered on that front. Check out the hundreds of domains available and get started on a new online journey with a brand new domain name, customized to you and your brand.

Transfer Domain Ownership: A Step-by-Step Guide | Hover Blog (2024)

FAQs

How do I transfer a domain from one owner to another? ›

How to Transfer a Domain
  1. Update your contact information.
  2. Set up your email sending domain name.
  3. Unlock your domain.
  4. Request an authorization code.
  5. Make sure your domain is eligible for a transfer.
  6. Create an account with your new registrar.
  7. Enter the authorization code.
  8. Authorize the domain transfer.
Jan 16, 2023

How long does it take to transfer a domain to a new owner? ›

The reality is that domain transfers can take a few minutes to a few weeks, depending on many factors. Firstly, if your domain transfer is taking longer than you expected, don't panic. Depending on the domain registrar, the process can take up to 7 days to complete. Sometimes, it can take even longer.

What are the rules for domain transfer? ›

Domain(s) must be valid and registered with another registrar. The domain(s) must have been registered for at least 60 days and in unlock status. Admin contact and domain registrant information must be up-to-date. You have your transfer authorization, or EPP code, from the registrar you're moving away from.

How do I transfer ownership of a domain in Wordpress? ›

Visit your site's dashboard. Navigate to Upgrades → Domains (or Hosting → Domains if using WP-Admin) to find a list of all domains associated with your site. Click on the registered domain that you wish to transfer. Click on the “Transfer” button on the right side of the screen.

How much does it cost to transfer domain ownership? ›

How much does it cost to transfer my domain? The transfer itself is free, but a paid one-year extension of your domain registration is required.

Will my website go down during a domain transfer? ›

No, the domain transfer is a process of changing domain name registrars. By default, a domain name transfer does not include a modification of the name servers of the domain. Assuming no changes are made on the name serves used by the domain, no downtime will be observed.

Is transferring domain easy? ›

While domain transfer is an easy process, you'll need a reliable service provider to transfer and register the domain for you. Nexcess simplifies the process by providing seamless service and assistance throughout the domain name transfer process.

What happens to my email when I transfer my domain? ›

However, typically, email hosting/mail servers are not "tied" to a domain registration. You should be able to transfer your domain to another domain registrar without any loss of email, as long as the name servers that your domain point to will continue to run during (and after) the domain transfer.

What happens when you transfer a domain? ›

A domain transfer refers to the process of changing the designated registrar of a domain name. Once a transfer has been made, the new registrar will maintain all relevant information regarding the domain and the registrant.

What are two types of domain transfer? ›

4 Types of Domain Transfer
  • Transfer In. This means that you already registered a domain name with another Registrar and you would like to transfer the registration and DNS management to Vodien. ...
  • Transfer Out. ...
  • Internal Transfer. ...
  • Domain Ownership Transfer.
Jul 1, 2020

What is the 60 day domain transfer rule? ›

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) requires domain providers to lock most domains for 60 days after registration, transfer, or as an option when changing contact information. When your domain is locked, you can't transfer it to a different provider.

Why is domain transfer prohibited? ›

Domain names can be locked to protect against unauthorized changes. This status may be called "Registrar lock" or "Client Transfer Prohibited" (or a similar term). If your registrar does not allow you to unlock your domain name yourself, please contact your registrar to have it unlocked.

Does it cost money to transfer a domain to WordPress? ›

As you're starting a domain transfer, we'll waive the transfer cost for you (by using the free domain credit). We'll also renew the domain for a year after the transfer is completed. So you only pay for the WordPress.com Business plan for the first year. The domain transfer cost is included.

Is it better to transfer domain to WordPress? ›

Overall, transferring your domain to WordPress.com can be a good choice if you are looking for an easy-to-use platform that offers a lot of features and tools to help you create and manage your website. However, you should consider your specific needs and goals before making a decision.

How much does it cost to transfer a domain to WordPress? ›

What does it cost to transfer a domain? All annual WordPress.com plans include a free domain for one year, which you can use to transfer your domain to WordPress.com for free.

Is it easy to transfer domain to another host? ›

Your existing domain registrar initiates the process, and it takes five to seven business days to move the domain to a new host. After the process is complete, you'll need to pay your new hosting company for the domain transfer.

Can I transfer ownership of a GoDaddy domain? ›

You can transfer a domain name from your GoDaddy account to another GoDaddy account so long as the domain is eligible. Domains aren't eligible for an account transfer if they're pending a contact update approval, within one day of expiration, expired or already pending a transfer.

Can a domain have multiple owners? ›

The domain could be considered as one of the assets, so in case the domain gets sold, all partners would be entitled to their share. As stated above there can only be one registrant, but the registrant could be an entity or corporation with many directors/officers responsible for the domain.

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