A domain transfer – switching your domain provider – can seem technical and risky at first glance. Many companies fear website or email outages and therefore postpone the move for longer than necessary.
The reality is: A well-prepared domain transfer is usually trouble-free and possible without any interruption. The key is to observe a few fundamental points.
This article explains how a domain transfer works, when to be cautious, and how to avoid typical mistakes – specifically from the perspective of SMEs and non-technical decision-makers.
1. What is a domain transfer?
A domain transfer refers to changing the so-called registrar. The registrar is the provider where your domain is managed – not to be confused with hosting or the website itself.
- The domain remains the same
- The name does not change
- Website and email are not automatically affected
2. Reasons for a domain transfer
- Support is unreachable or unreliable
- Prices are non-transparent or have increased significantly
- Domain, hosting, and email are spread across multiple providers
3. The most important insight
A domain transfer only causes outages if DNS or email are handled incorrectly.
4. Requirements for a smooth transfer
- Access to the current domain account
- Domain is not locked (Transfer Lock)
- Valid Auth-Code is available
- Domain is not about to expire
5. DNS – the crucial point
The DNS (Domain Name System) determines where your domain points: to the website, the email system, or other services (A-Records, MX-Records, TXT-Records).
6. Step-by-step checklist
- Back up DNS settings: Document or export all existing entries.
- Unlock domain & request Auth-Code: Release the transfer at the old provider.
- Start transfer at the new provider: Enter domain and Auth-Code.
- Verify DNS: Check website and email entries.
7. Typical mistakes
- Forgetting MX-Records
- DNS not fully migrated
- Transferring too close to the domain expiration date
8. Domain transfer and email
Learn more: Email & Security
