A domain transfer in 2026 takes about 5-7 days end-to-end and costs nothing extra — you pay the new registrar a 1-year renewal, which gets added to your existing expiry. Done correctly, your website and email keep working throughout.
The whole process has 7 steps. Skip any of them and you risk a 5-day "Pending Transfer" limbo where the wrong nameservers take over.
Before you start: the prerequisites
ICANN rules require all of these before a transfer can begin:
- ✅ The domain must be at least 60 days old at the current registrar (anti-hijacking rule)
- ✅ The domain must NOT have been transferred in the last 60 days
- ✅ You must have registrant email access (the email on WHOIS — make sure it works, you'll get a verification link)
- ✅ The current registrar's account must be in good standing (no unpaid invoices, no suspended status)
If any of these fail, fix them first or wait out the 60-day clock.
The 7 steps
Step 1 — Unlock the domain at the current registrar
Every registrar has a "Domain Lock" or "Transfer Lock" toggle. While locked, no transfer can proceed (this is the protection against unauthorized transfers).
- GoDaddy: Domain Settings → Transfer → "Domain Lock" → toggle off
- Namecheap: Domain List → Manage → "Lock" → switch to off
- Cloudflare: Domains → Configuration → Transfer Lock → off
- REXO HOST: domains are unlocked by default; no action needed
Step 2 — Get the auth code (EPP code)
Same registrar dashboard, usually right next to the lock toggle:
- "Get Auth Code" / "EPP Code" / "Transfer Code"
- The registrar emails it to you (sometimes with a small delay; check spam)
- The code looks like a random string:
aB3$xY9!kP2@
Copy it exactly — these codes are case-sensitive.
Step 3 — Disable WHOIS privacy temporarily (some registrars)
Older registrars require WHOIS privacy to be off so the auth-code email reaches the registrant. Modern registrars (Cloudflare, REXO HOST, Namecheap) handle this transparently — privacy stays on.
If your registrar tells you to disable privacy: do it, complete the transfer, re-enable at the new registrar.
Step 4 — Start the transfer at the new registrar
At REXO HOST: search the domain at /search. When you search a domain you already own, the result shows a "Transfer in" option. Paste the auth-code, pay the 1-year renewal (₹399 for .com), and we kick off the transfer.
Step 5 — Approve the registrant email
You'll get an email titled something like "Approve Domain Transfer". Click the link to approve. Some TLDs (.org, certain ccTLDs) require this; .com and .net no longer do but you'll still see the email.
If you don't approve within 5 days, the transfer auto-cancels.
Step 6 — Wait 5-7 days
ICANN-mandated waiting period to give you a chance to cancel if the transfer wasn't authorized. Some registrars let you "Accept transfer immediately" — if so, you can complete it in minutes.
Meanwhile, leave the nameservers alone. They'll keep pointing to your existing site/email throughout the transfer.
Step 7 — Confirm at the new registrar
Once the transfer completes, the domain shows in your new registrar's dashboard. Your existing expiry got extended by 1 year. Nameservers, email, and website continue to work — nothing visible to your visitors changed.
What NOT to do during a transfer
- ❌ Don't change nameservers until after the transfer completes — risk of orphaned site
- ❌ Don't cancel the old registrar's account until the transfer shows "Complete"
- ❌ Don't delete WHOIS contacts — registry needs them to confirm the transfer
- ❌ Don't initiate transfers near the renewal date — pay the renewal first if it's within 30 days
Common transfer problems
"Authentication code is invalid"
Copy-paste error or the code expired (most expire after 7 days). Get a fresh one from the current registrar.
"Domain is locked"
The current registrar's lock is still on. Toggle it off and wait a few hours for the change to propagate.
"Transfer rejected — registrant email mismatch"
The email on WHOIS doesn't have access to the inbox. Update WHOIS contact email at the current registrar first, wait 60 days, then transfer.
"Pending transfer for more than 7 days"
Either you missed the approval email, or the current registrar is sitting on the request. Contact both registrars to chase. We follow up on your behalf for transfers into REXO HOST — WhatsApp us.
Frequently asked questions
Will my website go down during transfer?
No, as long as you don't change the nameservers. The transfer is a registry-level ownership change — your DNS keeps resolving to the same servers throughout.
Will my email keep working?
Yes, same reason. MX records live on your DNS, which is independent of the registrar. Don't touch nameservers until the transfer completes.
Do I lose the time left on my existing registration?
No. The new registrar adds 1 year to your existing expiry. So if you had 8 months left, after transfer you have 1 year + 8 months = 20 months.
How much does it cost?
The 1-year renewal at the new registrar's rate. At REXO HOST: ₹399 for .com, ₹399 for .net, ₹499 for .org, ₹349 for .us. No transfer fee on top.
Ready to move?
Search your existing domain at REXO HOST — if you own it, the result shows a "Transfer in" option. Or WhatsApp us for bulk transfers (10+ domains).
Keep reading
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