1. Check if the Domain Is Eligible for Transfer
The first step of transferring your domain away from GoDaddy is to check that the domain is eligible for transfer. Domain registries typically require a domain to meet specific transfer requirements, such as being registered for at least 60 days, not being within 60 days of a previous transfer, and not being subject to a registry or registrar transfer lock.
Checking your domain's eligibility for transfer is important because it protects against failures, delays, and rejected transfer requests. This early verification gives you time to address any eligibility issues without disrupting your planned transfer timeline.
To check your domain's eligibility, sign in to your GoDaddy account and review your domain settings, including the registration date, recent transfer history, and transfer lock status. If your domain meets the registry's transfer requirements, proceed to the next step of unlocking your domain for transfer.
2. Back Up Your DNS Records
The second step is to back up your DNS records before making any changes to your domain settings. This process includes making a backup of your existing DNS records, which are entries that tell the Domain Name System (DNS) where to direct your domain’s web, email, and other internet traffic. DNS records include Address Record (A record), IPv6 Address record (AAAA), Canonical Name (CNAME), Mail Exchange (MX), Text Record (TXT), and Nameserver (NS). By maintaining your existing DNS settings, you reduce the risk of website and email disruptions during the transfer.
Backing up your DNS records is important to prevent website downtime and email disruptions by giving you a complete copy of your existing DNS configuration. This lets you quickly restore the same records and keep your services running without interruption if you need to recreate or verify your DNS settings after the transfer.
To back up your DNS records, sign in to your GoDaddy account, open your domain's DNS Management page, and save a copy of all DNS records. Store the backup as a screenshot, PDF, spreadsheet, or text file in a location you can easily access during the transfer.
Domain owners often wonder, ‘how do I transfer my domain away from GoDaddy without downtime?’ You need to transfer your domain without changing your existing DNS configuration until the transfer is complete to prevent downtime. A domain transfer only changes the registrar and does not affect your website hosting or email services. By maintaining DNS settings, your website and email remain available throughout the process.
3. Unlock Your Domain at GoDaddy
The third step is to unlock your domain at GoDaddy to allow the transfer request to proceed. GoDaddy locks domains by default to prevent unauthorized transfers and changes. To move your domain to another registrar, you must first disable the domain transfer lock in your GoDaddy account.
Unlocking your domain at GoDaddy is important as it allows the receiving registrar to submit a valid transfer request. If the transfer lock remains enabled, the registrar cannot process the transfer, which causes delays or a rejected request.
To unlock your domain, sign in to your GoDaddy account, open Domain Settings, locate the Domain Lock or Transfer Lock option, and switch it off. After unlocking the domain, you can request your authorization (EPP) code and continue with the transfer.
Many domain owners also ask whether GoDaddy charges a fee for releasing a domain. GoDaddy does not charge a fee to unlock or release your domain for transfer. The new registrar usually charges a domain transfer fee, which often includes a one-year extension to your domain registration.
4. Obtain the EPP/Auth Code from GoDaddy
The fourth step is to obtain your EPP/Auth code from GoDaddy, which authorizes the transfer to your new registrar. The Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) code, also known as the authorization (Auth) code, is a unique security code required to verify that you have permission to transfer your domain to another registrar.
Obtaining the EPP/Auth code from GoDaddy is important as it authorizes the transfer and protects your domain from unauthorized transfer requests. The receiving registrar cannot initiate the transfer process without a valid authorization code, even if the domain has already been unlocked.
To obtain your EPP/Auth code, sign in to your GoDaddy account, open Domain Settings, and locate the option to retrieve or send the authorization code. GoDaddy will either display the code in your account or send it to the registrant's email address, which you need to provide to your new registrar when you start the transfer.
5. Disable WHOIS Privacy Protection for the Domain
The fifth step is to check if you need to disable WHOIS Privacy Protection for the domain. WHOIS Privacy Protection is a service that hides a domain registrant’s personal contact information from public WHOIS records. This may need to disabled before transferring your domain away from GoDaddy, depending on your domain extension and the registry's transfer requirements.
Disabling WHOIS privacy protection is important as it prevents domain transfer delays caused by hidden or inaccessible registrant details. The requirement varies by domain extension and registrar, so you should only disable WHOIS privacy when it is required for your transfer.
To disable WHOIS privacy protection, sign in to your GoDaddy account, open your domain settings, and locate the WHOIS Privacy or Privacy Protection option. Turn off the privacy service if required for your domain extension and verify that your registrant contact information is accurate. Re-enable privacy protection after the transfer is complete and if it is available with your new registrar.
6. Initiate the Domain Transfer at the New Web Host
The sixth step is to initiate the domain transfer at the new web host. This involves submitting your domain name and the EPP/Auth code obtained from GoDaddy to your new web host or domain registrar.
Initiating the transfer is important as it allows the receiving registrar to verify your authorization and submit an official transfer request to GoDaddy and the domain registry. Once the request is submitted, GoDaddy receives a transfer notification and begins processing the request.
To initiate the domain transfer, sign in to your new web host or registrar's account, select the Transfer Domain option, enter your domain name, provide the EPP/Auth code, and complete the payment if a transfer fee applies. After the request is submitted, monitor your email for any transfer confirmation messages or additional instructions from the new registrar.
Many users also ask, 'Can I cancel a domain transfer from GoDaddy?' Yes, you can usually cancel a domain transfer, depending on the stage of the transfer and the policies of both registrars. Once the transfer has been finalized by the registry, it generally cannot be reversed. You should carefully review your transfer details before confirming the domain transfer request.
7. Approve the Domain Transfer at GoDaddy
Once your new registrar submits the transfer request, the final step is to approve the outgoing domain transfer at GoDaddy. GoDaddy requires you to approve the outgoing domain transfer before the transfer is completed. GoDaddy then sends a confirmation email or displays a transfer request in your account for your approval after your new registrar submits the transfer request.
Approving the domain transfer is important because it confirms that you authorized the transfer and allows the registry to continue processing the request. If you do not approve the request, the transfer may be delayed until it is automatically approved or expire if the required action is not completed.
To approve the domain transfer, sign in to your GoDaddy account or open the transfer confirmation email, review the transfer request, and follow the prompts to approve it. Once approved, GoDaddy will release the domain, and the transfer will proceed to your new registrar.
One concern domain owners have is 'Can GoDaddy stop me from moving my domain away?' No, GoDaddy cannot prevent you from transferring your domain if it meets the registry's transfer requirements and you authorize the transfer. The transfer is delayed if your domain is locked, within the 60-day transfer restriction, or missing the required authorization (EPP) code.
What Do I Do After Moving My Domain Away from GoDaddy?
Complete the 4 post-transfer tasks listed below after moving your domain away from GoDaddy.
- Verify Your DNS Records: Verify your DNS records by comparing those listed in your new registrar’s DNS management page with the backup you created before the transfer. Confirm that all A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, and other required records are correctly configured to ensure your website, email, and other domain services continue working without interruption.
- Enable Domain Security Features: Enable domain security features by turning on domain locking, enabling WHOIS privacy protection if available, and reviewing your domain contact information. These settings protect your domain from unauthorized transfers and reduce exposure of your personal information.
- Cancel Unused GoDaddy Services: Cancel unused GoDaddy services such as hosting, business email, or other services after you have successfully migrated your website and email to a new provider and confirmed they are working correctly. Cancelling these services too early can cause website downtime, email disruptions, or permanent data loss if your files and mailboxes have not been backed up.
- Configure Renewal Settings: Configure renewal settings by reviewing your domain's expiration date, enabling auto-renewal if required, and updating your payment details with the new registrar. Keeping your renewal settings up to date helps prevent accidental domain expiration and ensures uninterrupted ownership.
Why Should I Transfer My Domain from GoDaddy to CLDY?
You should transfer your domain from GoDaddy to CLDY to get comprehensive domain security, reliable domain management, transparent pricing, and dedicated customer support. CLDY makes domain transfers simple by offering domain transfers with eligible hosting plans starting from S$20 per year, depending on your selected plan. CLDY provides the tools and support needed to simplify domain management and maintain your online presence across different domain extensions, including .com, .sg, and .com.sg.
What Are the Benefits of Transferring Domains to CLDY?
4 benefits of transferring domains to CLDY are listed below.
- Transparent Pricing: CLDY displays domain transfer and renewal pricing upfront, allowing you to understand the full cost of ownership before completing your domain transfer. This clear pricing helps you budget for future renewals without relying on introductory promotional rates.
- 24/7 Customer Support: CLDY provides 24/7 customer support to help you with domain transfers, DNS configuration, domain management, and other technical questions whenever you need assistance. If you need assistance, our team can also manage the transfer process on your behalf and keep you updated until it is complete.
- Comprehensive Domain Security: CLDY helps protect your domain with comprehensive security features such as domain locking, EPP code management, WHOIS privacy protection for supported extensions, and DNSSEC support where available.
- Simple Domain Management: CLDY enables simple domain management through an intuitive control panel that lets you manage DNS records, nameservers, renewals, forwarding, and other domain settings from a single dashboard. CLDY’s centralized management saves time and simplifies day-to-day domain administration.
How Much Does It Cost to Move Domains to CLDY?
Domain transfers to CLDY start from S$20 per year, depending on the top-level domain extension (TLD). For example, a .com domain costs S$20 per year, while a .sg or .com.sg domain price starts from S$39 per year. CLDY displays transfer pricing transparently so you can review the applicable fee for your domain extension before starting the transfer. GoDaddy does not charge a fee to release your domain, but you need to pay the email hosting fee charged by CLDY based on your selected TLD.