Maybe your current registrar's renewal prices keep climbing, their support never answers, or you simply want your domain, hosting and email managed in one place. Whatever the reason, you do not have to start over with a new name. You can transfer a domain to a new registrar and keep the same address your customers already know, as long as you prepare properly and follow the steps in the right order.
What a domain transfer is, and what it is not
A registrar is the company you pay to register and renew your domain name. A domain transfer moves the management of your domain from one registrar to another. Your domain name stays exactly the same.
It helps to separate three things that people often mix up:
- Registrar: where the domain is registered and renewed.
- DNS hosting: where the records that point your domain to your website and email are stored. This is controlled by your nameservers.
- Web and email hosting: the servers where your website files and mailboxes actually live.
You can transfer the registration without moving your website, and you can move your website without transferring the registration. Knowing which one you want avoids unnecessary work and downtime.
Check you are eligible to transfer
Before you start, confirm these points. Most failed transfers come from skipping this stage.
- The domain is not too new. For common extensions like .com, .net and .org, domains generally cannot be transferred within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer. Some registrars also apply a similar lock after you change the owner's contact details.
- The domain has not expired. Renew it first if it is close to expiry or already in a grace period. Ask your current registrar about their policy for domains near expiry.
- You have access to the admin email. Transfer approvals and codes are often sent to the registrant email address. If that is an old address nobody checks, update it first.
- You are the registered owner. If a former developer or employee registered the domain in their own name, sort out ownership before anything else.
- There are no disputes or unpaid bills with the current registrar.
Prepare before you start the transfer
A little preparation keeps your website and email running smoothly during the move.
Record your current DNS settings
Log in to your current registrar and note your nameservers. If your DNS is hosted at the registrar, export or screenshot every record: A records, CNAME records, MX records for email and TXT records such as SPF, DKIM and verification codes. Some registrars stop serving DNS for a domain once it leaves them, so you need these records to recreate them elsewhere.
Decide where DNS will live
If your nameservers already point to your hosting provider, a registrar transfer usually does not affect your website at all, because DNS stays where it is. If DNS is at the old registrar, set it up at your hosting provider or new registrar first, change the nameservers, wait for the change to settle, and only then start the transfer.
Check privacy and contact details
Make sure the owner name and organisation are correct. Some registrars ask you to switch off WHOIS privacy temporarily so that transfer notices reach you. You can turn it back on afterwards.
Step by step: transferring a common domain like .com
- Unlock the domain. In your current registrar's dashboard, find the setting often called "registrar lock" or "transfer lock" and turn it off.
- Get the authorisation code. Request the EPP code, also called the auth code or transfer key. It may be shown in the dashboard or sent by email. Treat it like a password.
- Start the transfer at the new registrar. Enter your domain name, choose transfer, paste the authorisation code and complete payment. For many extensions, the transfer includes a one year extension of your registration, added to your existing expiry date.
- Approve the transfer. Watch the registrant email for confirmation messages from either registrar and approve them promptly. Some old registrars also let you approve the release early from their dashboard.
- Wait for completion. Transfers can take anywhere from a few hours to around a week, depending on the extension and how quickly approvals are given.
- Verify everything. Once complete, log in to the new registrar, check the expiry date, nameservers and contact details, re-enable the transfer lock and turn WHOIS privacy back on if you use it.
Transferring a .ug domain
Country code domains such as .ug, .co.ug and .or.ug follow the rules of their own registry rather than the generic process above. The steps can differ, for example in how authorisation codes are issued and how ownership is confirmed.
- Ask your new registrar to explain the current .ug transfer process before you begin.
- Have proof of ownership ready, such as the registrant details, and for companies, documents showing the business name.
- Check the domain's expiry date and renew first if needed.
- Confirm with both the old and the new registrar who handles each step, so nothing is left waiting.
At Baasa Cloud we regularly help customers move .ug and generic domains, and we can walk you through the current requirements.
Common problems and how to fix them
- "Invalid authorisation code": copy the code carefully without extra spaces, or request a fresh one. Codes can expire or change.
- Transfer rejected because of the lock: check that the registrar lock is fully off. Changes can take a little time to apply.
- No approval email arrived: check spam folders, confirm the registrant email is correct and ask the old registrar to resend.
- Website or email stopped working: usually a DNS issue. Compare your current records with the ones you saved earlier and recreate anything missing.
- Old registrar is unresponsive: keep written records of your requests. If you cannot get your code, escalate through the registrar's complaint process or seek advice from your new registrar.
Frequently asked questions
Will my website go down during a domain transfer?
Not if you plan properly. Keep your nameservers and DNS records unchanged during the transfer, and your site and email should keep working throughout.
Do I lose the time left on my registration?
For most generic extensions, remaining time is kept and an extra year is usually added. Confirm with the new registrar, as policies differ by extension.
Can I transfer a domain that has expired?
Usually you need to renew it first. Domains in redemption or deletion stages often have extra fees and steps, so act early.
Do I need to move my hosting too?
No. Registration and hosting are separate. Many people still choose to keep both with one provider for simpler billing and support.
Conclusion
Transferring a domain is straightforward once you check eligibility, save your DNS records, unlock the domain and keep an eye on your email for approvals. Take it one step at a time and your customers will never notice the change. If you would like help moving your domain, hosting and business email under one roof, the Baasa Cloud support team is happy to guide you.