Transferring a domain to your account

If you have your existing domain(s) registered with a different registrar, you can easily transfer them to us, so you can manage all of your services from one place, your Deluxe Hosting client area. Here is a guide on transferring a domain in your client area.

What you need to do before starting a transfer

Before you can transfer a domain, there are a few things you will need to do first.

  1. Ensure that the contact email address is a valid email address. If the email is not valid, the transfer will fail. (see note below)
  2. Contact the current domain registrar or their control panel and ensure that the domain is unlocked and available for transfer.
  3. Disable any domain privacy features.
  4. Request an EPP or transfer authorization code from the registrar. You will need to provide this to the new registrar before the transfer can be initiated.

Note If you update the contact information in any way, it is possible that the domain will be locked from transfer for 60 days. This is part of ICANN policy and there is no way to avoid it. If you need to update your contact your contact information, you will need to plan accordingly.

Transferring your domain to Deluxe Hosting

To transfer a domain to your account, you first need to ensure that the domain is ready to be transferred (see this section above).

You will now need to log into your client area.

If you do not know how to access your client area, you can find out here.

Deluxe Client Area

Once you are logged into your client area, click on Order New Services from the Shortcuts menu on the left-hand side.

Products - DIY Logomaker

On the left hand side of the screen, you will see Transfer in a Domain in the Actions menu. Click on this to begin.

Domain - Transfer In

Type in the domain you wish to transfer and enter the EPP Code you received from the current registrar. Once entered, complete the reCaptcha an click on Add to Cart. This will bring you to the order screen.

Domain Configuration

Here you can add hosting to the domain or ID protection. You will also be able to set the name servers for your domain.

Once you have entered the correct information, click Continue to be brought to your check out area.

This will create an invoice for the domain transfer. This invoice is for renewing the domain for one year. While this is called a “Transfer Fee”, your domain registration will be pushed out one year as well, so there is no additional charge.

Transferring your domain to a different registrar

To transfer a domain to a different registrar, the process is mostly the same as transferring a domain in.

If you do not know how to access your client area, you can find out here.

Deluxe Client Area

When you are logged into your client area, go the domains section. You can access this either by clicking on the Domains block or by using the menu bar at the top of the screen. Under the Domains menu, you should see My Domains.

My Domains

Once at the My Domains screen, click on the domain you wish to transfer (click anywhere on the bar of the domain but the domain name, clicking this will take you to your website).

Domain EPP Code

You now be at the domain management page. On the left-hand side of the screen, you will see a menu called Manage. There are a few things you will need to do here before you can transfer the domain.

  1. First, select the Contact Information and ensure that the email address is current and valid. If the email is not correct or is not accessible, you will not be able to transfer the domain until it is updated. You can find out how to update your contact information here. Unfortunately, updating the email address will cause a 60 day lock on the domain, where the domain will still be functional, but you will not be able to transfer it. This is ICANN policy and cannot be waived.
  2. Next, click on Registrar Lock and ensure that this is disabled. The registrar lock will stop the domain from being transferred.
  3. Now, check to ensure that Domain Privacy is disabled, if you have purchased it for this domain. This service will also prevent the domain transfer from succeeding.
  4. Finally, click on Get EPP code. Depending on the registrar or domain TLD, you will either see the EPP code displayed on the screen, or it may be mailed to the email account on the domain registration. The receiving registrar will need that code to begin the process.

You will now need to contact the new registrar and request the transfer. Once you have started the process, you should receive an email to the account on the domain registration asking you to verify the transfer. Once verified, the transfer should complete within 5 to 10 business days.

The domain transfer process

There is a set process that occurs when transferring a domain name from one registrar to another. While this process is not the same for all domain TLD’s, this will be to process for most.

Before starting the transfer

  • The domain owner contacts the current registrar and ensures that the contact email is valid. If the email is not valid, the customer will updated it. This will cause the domain to lock and they will need to wait 60 days before they can proceed.
  • Next, the owner ensures that the domain is unlocked and any domain privacy is disabled.

The transfer is initiated

  • Once the domain is ready for transfer, the owner requests the EPP code or transfer authorization code from the current registrar. This is typically emailed to the contact email address.
  • Now, the domain owner will contact the new registrar and request the domain transfer by providing the domain name and the EPP code or transfer authorization code. This typically will generate an order and invoice.
  • Once the order is completed, the new registrar will contact the old registrar and request the domain be transferred.
  • The old registrar will send a verification request to the email on file for the domain.
  • The domain owner then verifies that they requested the transfer. If this is not verified, the transfer fails.
  • Once the verification is complete, the old registrar approves the transfer and the transfer is initiated. This will change the status of the domain to pendingTransfer.

The transfer is now pending

  • The transfer should complete within 5 to 10 business days, from the time it was verified. This is ICANN policy and cannot be expedited.
  • Once the transfer completes, the domain owner should receive an email from the new registrar advising that the transfer is completed.

If you are still having issues, and need further support, please reach out to our support team using any of these methods.

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