Moving your website’s domain name to GoDaddy from another web hosting provider involves several steps. The process, known as domain transfer, requires some preparation and attention to detail. Here’s a simplified guide to help you through the transition:
- Prepare for Transfer
- Unlock Your Domain: Access your current registrar’s control panel and unlock your domain. Domain locks are security measures that prevent unauthorized transfers.
- Get Your Authorization Code: Also known as an EPP code or transfer key, this code is necessary to initiate the transfer process. You can usually find it in your current registrar’s dashboard.
- Verify Contact Information: Ensure that your administrative contact information is up-to-date. GoDaddy will use this information to contact you about the transfer.
- Check Transfer Eligibility: Domains must be at least 60 days old and not recently transferred between registrars within the last 60 days.
- Initiate Transfer on GoDaddy
- Purchase the Transfer: Go to GoDaddy’s website, search for the domain transfer section, and enter the domain you want to transfer. You’ll be prompted to purchase the transfer service.
- Enter the Authorization Code: After purchasing, you will be asked to enter the authorization code you obtained from your current registrar.
- Verify Domain Contact Information: Review and confirm the contact information. It’s crucial as it will be used for the domain’s WHOIS records.
- Approval and Confirmation
- Approve the Transfer: GoDaddy will email the administrative contact’s email address after initiating the transfer. You must approve the transfer by following the instructions in the email.
- Wait for the Transfer to Complete: Domain transfers can take 5 to 7 days. You can check the status of your transfer on GoDaddy’s website.
- Verify the Transfer
- Check Domain Status: Once the transfer is complete, log into your GoDaddy account and go to the ‘My Domains’ section to ensure the domain is listed there.
- Update DNS Settings (If Necessary): If your website and email services were hosted elsewhere, you might need to update your DNS settings within your GoDaddy account to point to your existing hosting services.
- Cancel Services with Previous Registrar – Close Account or Remove Domain: After successfully transferring your domain, you might want to cancel any remaining services or close your account with your previous registrar to avoid unnecessary charges.
Additional Tips
- Backup Your Website: Before starting the transfer process, ensure you have a complete backup of your website and email data.
- DO NOT Cancel Your Old Hosting Prematurely: Wait until the domain transfer is complete and your website is fully operational with GoDaddy before canceling your old hosting account to avoid downtime.
- Check for Any Transfer Lock: Some registrars might place a temporary lock on your domain after certain actions (like changing contact information). Ensure these locks are removed before initiating the transfer.
Transferring a domain can seem daunting, but by following these steps carefully, you can ensure a smooth transition to GoDaddy. Remember, if you encounter any issues during the transfer process, GoDaddy’s customer support is there to assist you.
