How to Transfer Your Domain Without Breaking Everything: A Complete Guide
Here's what usually happens when someone transfers a domain: They click "transfer," wait for it to complete, and suddenly their website is down. Their email stops working. Customers can't find them. Panic ensues.
The actual fix? Move your DNS first, then transfer the domain. Not the other way around.
But here's the thing: even when you do everything right, domain transfers can still go sideways. Some providers don't let you set up DNS in advance. Some transfer your records, some don't, and some transfer half of them just to keep things interesting.
The key isn't avoiding chaos—it's being prepared for it.
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What Actually Happens During a Domain Transfer (In Plain English)
Think of your domain (like yourbusiness.com) as your business's street address on the internet. Right now, you're paying one company to manage that address—that's your domain registrar.
When you transfer your domain, you're moving who manages that address from one company to another. Simple enough, right?
Here's the catch: Your domain doesn't just point people to your website. It's also connected to instructions that tell the internet:
Where your website lives (so browsers can find it)
Where your email goes (so messages reach you)
How your subdomains work (like shop.yourbusiness.com)
These instructions are called DNS records. They're basically a phone book that tells the internet where to send people and information when they type in your domain.
The problem? When you transfer your domain, sometimes these instructions come with it and sometimes they don't. If they don't transfer and you haven't set them up at your new provider, everything just stops working until you recreate them.
Why Domain Transfers Go Wrong
Common issues during domain transfers:
Your website goes offline for hours (or days)
Email bounces back to people trying to reach you
Parts of your site (like your online store) stop working
Third-party tools you use disconnect
You spend hours trying to figure out what broke
All of this happens because those DNS instructions didn't make it to your new provider, and now the internet doesn't know where to find your stuff.
The Right Way to Transfer a Domain (Step by Step)
Step 1: Save All Your Current Settings
Before you change anything, you need to document how everything is currently set up. This is your safety net.
Log into the company that currently manages your domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, whoever you're paying right now). Look for a section called "DNS," "DNS Management," or "Nameservers."
You're looking for records that look something like this:
A records - These point your domain to your website. They'll have your domain name and a series of numbers separated by periods (like 192.168.1.1). Those numbers are your website's address on the internet.
MX records - These handle your email. They point to your email provider (like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365).
CNAME records - These manage additional addresses like www.yourbusiness.com or shop.yourbusiness.com.
TXT records - These verify that you own the domain and help with email security. They look like random strings of text.
Don't worry about understanding what each one does—just take screenshots of everything you see. Copy it into a document. Save it somewhere safe.
This is the most important step because if something breaks, you'll know exactly what needs to be fixed.
Step 2: Set Up the Same Settings at Your New Provider
Log into the company you're transferring your domain to. Find their DNS or DNS Management section.
Now recreate every record you saved in Step 1. Copy the information exactly—same type of record, same values, same everything.
Some companies let you do this before your domain actually transfers over. If yours does, do it now. If not, be ready to do this the second your domain finishes transferring.
Why this matters: You're setting up the instructions before you move the domain, so nothing breaks during the switch.
Step 3: Point Your Domain to the New Instructions (If Possible)
This step is ideal but not always possible. Some companies don't let you do it.
Your domain currently uses nameservers—these tell the internet which set of instructions to follow. Think of them as signs pointing to your instruction manual.
If your current provider lets you, change those nameservers to point to your new provider. Your new provider will give you the addresses to use—usually something like:
ns1.newprovider.com
ns2.newprovider.com
By doing this first, your website and email keep working throughout the transfer because the internet is already following the instructions at your new provider.
Step 4: Wait for the Changes to Take Effect
DNS changes don't happen instantly across the entire internet. It takes 24-48 hours for the new information to spread everywhere.
During this time, your website and email keep working normally because you set everything up in advance. You're just waiting for the internet to catch up.
You can check if the changes have spread using tools like WhatsMyDNS—just enter your domain and it'll show you what different parts of the world are seeing.
Step 5: Actually Transfer the Domain
Now you can safely move the domain registration:
Unlock your domain - Log into your current provider and find the option to unlock your domain. Domains are locked by default to prevent accidental transfers.
Get your authorization code - Your current provider will give you a special code (sometimes called an EPP code or transfer key). This proves you own the domain.
Start the transfer - Give this code to your new provider and start their transfer process.
Confirm via email - You'll get an email asking you to approve the transfer. Click the link to confirm.
The transfer usually takes 5-7 days to complete. Because you already set up your DNS at the new provider, nothing breaks when the transfer finishes.
What to Do When Companies Don't Cooperate
Sometimes your current provider won't let you change those nameservers before transferring. Some new providers won't let you set up DNS until the domain actually arrives.
This happens more than it should. Even the best plan only works if the companies let you follow it.
In this case:
Transfer the domain with your saved settings ready to go
The moment the transfer completes, log into your new provider
Check what transferred automatically
Compare it to your saved screenshots
Manually add anything that's missing or wrong
This approach means your site might go down temporarily, but having everything documented means you can fix it quickly. You're not scrambling to remember how things were set up—you're just matching what you already saved.
How to Fix the Most Common Problems
Your Website Goes Down
What broke: The A record that points your domain to your website is missing or wrong.
How to fix it: Log into your new provider, go to DNS settings, and add the A record from your saved documentation. It's the one with the numbers separated by periods.
Email Stops Working
What broke: Your MX records didn't transfer, so email doesn't know where to go.
How to fix it: Add your MX records exactly as they appear in your saved documentation. If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another email provider, they have specific settings that need to be exact.
Parts of Your Site Stop Loading
What broke: CNAME records for things like shop.yourbusiness.com or blog.yourbusiness.com are missing.
How to fix it: Add the missing CNAME records to point each subdomain to the right place.
Third-Party Tools Break
What broke: TXT records that verify your domain for various services disappeared.
How to fix it: These often break silently—you might not notice right away. Check your TXT records and add back any that are missing.
The good news: Because you saved everything in Step 1, you know exactly what should be there. You're not guessing—you're copying what worked before.
Why This Matters for Your Business
This isn't just about technical details. When your domain transfer goes wrong, it costs you real money.
What happens during downtime:
Customers can't find your website and go to competitors
People trying to email you get bounce-back errors
Online orders can't be placed
Appointments can't be booked
People assume you went out of business
Every minute your website is unreachable, you're losing customers.
The difference between 10 minutes of downtime and 3 hours is having those DNS records saved. You can fix problems fast instead of trying to figure out what's wrong while your business is offline.
Your Domain Transfer Checklist
Before you start:
Save screenshots of all your DNS settings
Copy all records into a document
Make sure your domain is unlocked at your current provider
Get your authorization code
Update your contact email if it's outdated
Set up DNS at your new provider (if they let you)
Change nameservers first (if your current provider allows it)
After the transfer:
Check that all DNS records made it over
Visit your website to make sure it loads
Send yourself a test email
Check any shop or blog subdomains
Verify your SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser) still works
Choosing Companies That Make This Easier
Not all domain companies handle transfers the same way. Some make it painless, others make it a nightmare.
Look for companies that:
Let you set up DNS before the domain arrives
Automatically copy your existing settings during transfer
Offer actual support (not just help articles)
Don't lock you into long-term contracts
Include free privacy protection
Make it easy to unlock your domain and get transfer codes
Companies known for smooth transfers include Cloudflare, Namecheap, Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains), and Hover. GoDaddy works but tends to make things more complicated than necessary.
When to Ask for Help
Domain transfers sound straightforward until you're in the middle of one and everything's broken.
If you're looking at your DNS settings thinking "I have no idea what any of this means," that's completely normal. Managing domains is tech stuff that has nothing to do with actually running your business.
Get professional help if:
Your business can't afford to be offline at all
You're transferring multiple domains at once
Your setup is complicated (lots of subdomains, custom email)
You've already started a transfer and things are going wrong
You just want someone to handle it so you don't have to worry
This is exactly what we help with—making sure your website stays up and everything keeps working, even when transfers get messy. If you need to move a domain and want someone to handle it (and deal with whatever problems might pop up), send us a message.
No pressure. Just someone who's done this enough times to know where things break and how to fix them fast.
Common Questions About Domain Transfers
How long does a domain transfer take?
Usually 5-7 days, sometimes as fast as 1-2 days. It depends on both companies and what type of domain you have (.com, .org, etc.).
Will my website go down?
Not if you set up DNS first and change nameservers before transferring. If you can't do those steps, there might be brief downtime.
Can I transfer a domain right after buying it?
No. You have to wait 60 days after registering or transferring a domain before you can transfer it again. This is an internet rule, not just one company's policy.
Do I have to move my website when I transfer my domain?
No. Your domain (the address) and your website (the actual files and content) are separate. You can move the domain to a new company while your website stays exactly where it is.
What happens to my email?
If the DNS records transfer correctly, nothing changes. If they don't, email will stop working until you fix the MX records. This is why saving everything first matters.
Will I lose my website content?
No. Transferring a domain only moves who manages the address. Your website files, photos, and everything else stay wherever they currently live.
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