Top 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Transferring Your Domain

• Why it Happens:

Domain locking is a crucial feature to prevent unauthorized transfers, so it's typically enabled by default. However, many users forget this step when initiating a transfer.

• Consequences:

If your domain remains locked, the transfer request will be denied, delaying the process and causing frustration.

• How to Avoid It:

Before you initiate the transfer, log in to your domain registrar account and ensure the domain is unlocked. Each registrar has its own process, but you can usually find the unlock option in the domain management settings. Once unlocked, your transfer request can proceed without hiccups.

• Why it Happens:

Many users don’t realize they need to request an authorization code from their current registrar. Sometimes, it’s not immediately available, leading to delays.

• Consequences:

Without the correct authorization code, the transfer will not proceed. This can result in your website being down longer than necessary, causing potential losses in traffic or revenue.

• How to Avoid It:

When you’re ready to transfer your domain, contact your current registrar to obtain the authorization code. Many registrars allow you to generate the code within your account dashboard, but if not, customer support should be able to help. Make sure you enter the code correctly when prompted by your new registrar to avoid delays.

• Why it Happens:

Many users think that transferring a domain is solely about moving the name, forgetting that DNS settings, email, and other services linked to the domain may be affected.

• Consequences:

If your new registrar doesn’t carry over DNS settings or if there’s a misconfiguration during the transfer, your website could go offline, and you may lose access to email accounts associated with your domain.

• How to Avoid It:

Before you transfer your domain, make sure you have a backup of all important website files, email accounts, and DNS settings. You should also check with your new registrar to ensure that your DNS settings will be transferred or that you can reconfigure them quickly after the transfer. This ensures minimal downtime for your website and email services.

• Why it Happens:

Domain owners often wait until the last minute to transfer their domain, not realizing that an expired domain cannot be transferred.

• Consequences:

If your domain expires before the transfer is complete, your website and associated services may go offline. Additionally, expired domains may enter a redemption period, during which you’ll have to pay extra fees to recover the domain.

• How to Avoid It:

Plan your domain transfer well in advance. Ideally, you should begin the process at least 30 days before the domain’s expiration date. Most registrars allow you to transfer domains without any issues as long as they are renewed. If your domain is nearing expiration, renew it first, then initiate the transfer. This will prevent your domain from expiring mid-transfer.

• Why it Happens:

Many domain owners are unaware that domains less than 60 days old, or domains that have been transferred within the last 60 days, cannot be transferred again according to ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) policies.

• Consequences:

Initiating a transfer before the 60-day window has passed will result in the request being rejected, wasting time and possibly incurring fees.

• How to Avoid It:

Check when you first registered or last transferred the domain. Most domains are subject to a 60-day lock following a new registration or transfer, per ICANN rules. If your domain is still within this window, wait until the 60 days have passed before attempting to transfer. Additionally, review your registrar’s transfer policies to ensure there aren’t any other unique restrictions.