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This article provides the information you need to transfer a domain from another registrar to hosting.com.

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Transferring a domain

If you already have a domain name registered with another web hosting company or domain registrar, you can transfer it to hosting.com. When you transfer a domain, its billing and administration also move to hosting.com.
You cannot transfer a domain to hosting.com if you do not own the domain. However, even if we cannot transfer the domain, you can still use hosting.com as your hosting provider. Instead of transferring the entire domain, you can update the domain’s name server settings to point to hosting.com. For information about how to do this, please see this article.

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Ensuring a smooth transfer

You can start the domain transfer process when you first sign up as a hosting.com customer, or at a later time as an existing customer. In either case, to make sure the transfer process goes as smoothly as possible:
  • The domain must be unlocked. If you need assistance unlocking your domain, contact the domain’s current registrar.
  • The domain’s contact information must be current. A domain name record contains an Administrative Contact and a Technical Contact. Both of these contacts can be the same person, but at least one of them should be you. When a domain transfer request is initiated, the Administrative Contact and Technical Contact are notified by e-mail.
    🚧 Important Additionally, if your domain has WHOIS privacy protection enabled, you should temporarily disable it before the migration. Doing this helps ensure that you receive the domain transfer verification e-mail message.
  • You must obtain an EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) code from the current registrar or hosting company. This code is an identifying number for the domain that indicates you are authorized to transfer it. In some cases, there may be a time delay between when the domain is initially registered and when it can be transferred.
    📘 Note If you are unsure what your EPP code is, or how to find it, contact the domain’s current registrar. The EPP code may also be called an EPP key, an AuthInfo code, a transfer secret, or something similar.
When you initiate the domain transfer process, hosting.com sends a domain transfer request to the domain’s Administrative and Technical contacts. The amount of time to complete the domain transfer depends in large part on how quickly these contacts approve the transfer request. If the Administrative or Technical contact approves the authorization promptly, the domain may be transferred in as little as 2 days, depending on the domain extension.
ImportantWhile a domain transfer is in progress, you cannot change the domain’s nameservers until the transfer is complete. Therefore, we recommend you change the nameserver settings before you start a domain transfer. If you do not do this, you will have to wait until the domain transfer is complete to update the nameserver settings.

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Transferring a non-United States domain

If you have a non-United States domain name (such as .co.uk or .org.uk), some additional steps may be required to transfer the domain. For example, .uk domain transfers are a “push and pull” process. You must initiate a transfer request with hosting.com and submit a request to the losing (current) registrar.
ImportantFor a .uk domain transfer, in your request to the losing registrar, ask them to retag the domain name to the IPS tag HOSTINGUK.
For other non-United States domain names, please contact your registrar for information about how to transfer your domain.

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Initiating the domain transfer

To begin the domain transfer process, follow these steps:
  1. Log in to https://my.hosting.com/.
  2. From the left-hand menu, click All Products & Services.
  3. Click Domains, then select Transfer Domain.
  4. You will be taken to the Transfer Domain page. In the Start with a domain text box, enter the domain you want to transfer, then click Search.
  5. Locate your domain in the search results, then click clicking here.
  6. Review the product configuration, select your preferred billing term, then click Add to Basket.
  7. Proceed to Checkout to complete your order.What to do if a domain transfer is unsuccessful
If a domain transfer is unsuccessful, you have two options:
  • You can have hosting.com attempt to transfer the domain again. If you want to do this, please do not order another domain transfer through our web site. Instead, open a support ticket with the transfer request at https://my.hosting.com.
  • Alternatively, you can update the domain’s name server settings to point to hosting.com’s name servers. For information about how to do this, please see this article.