Transfer domain from Infomaniak to CURIAWEB: change nameservers or transfer domain

If your domain is registered with Infomaniak and you want to use CURIAWEB hosting, you do not necessarily have to transfer the domain to CURIAWEB.

You can continue to manage the domain with Infomaniak and simply change the DNS configuration or the nameservers. Alternatively, you can transfer the domain completely to CURIAWEB and also handle the domain management there in the future.

Briefly explained: If you only want to move your hosting to CURIAWEB, the domain can remain with Infomaniak. If you also want to transfer the domain management, you need a domain transfer and the authorization code provided by Infomaniak.

Option 1: Leave domain with Infomaniak and use CURIAWEB hosting #

Domain registration and web hosting do not have to be with the same provider.

Your domain can therefore continue to be registered and renewed with Infomaniak, while your website and, if applicable, email are hosted via CURIAWEB.

There are basically two options available for this:

• You enter the CURIAWEB nameservers at Infomaniak.
• You keep the existing DNS management at Infomaniak and only change the required DNS records there.

We explain the fundamental differences under Keep domain with another registrar and connect to CURIAWEB Hosting.

Register CURIAWEB Nameservers at Infomaniak #

Infomaniak allows you to change the nameservers directly in the Infomaniak Manager.

Proceed as follows:

1. Log in to Infomaniak Manager and open your domain management.
2. Click on the name of the domain in question.
3. Open in the left menu DNS server.
4. Click on Edit DNS server.
5. Choose Custom nameservers.
6. Enter the CURIAWEB nameservers.
7. Confirm the change.

The CURIAWEB nameservers are:

ns1.curiaweb.ch
ns2.curiaweb.ch

Following this change, the domain will remain registered with Infomaniak. However, authoritative DNS management will henceforth be handled via the registered CURIAWEB nameservers.

You can find more information at Finding and correctly using CURIAWEB nameservers.

Check existing DNS records before changing the nameserver #

Before you change the nameservers, you should definitely check which DNS records are currently required for your domain.

In addition to the website, this may include, for example:

• MX records for email
• SPF
• DKIM
• DMARC
• Subdomains
• Verification entries
• Entries for external services

With the CURIAWEB DNS-Check can you get an overview of publicly visible DNS information.

You can find a detailed guide on this at Check DNS records: View current DNS configuration of a domain.

Attention: Changing the nameserver does not mean that the existing DNS zone at Infomaniak is automatically copied to CURIAWEB. All records that continue to be required must be correctly present on the future authoritative DNS infrastructure.

Can I keep the Infomaniak nameservers? #

Yes.

You do not necessarily have to switch to the CURIAWEB nameservers.

If you want to continue managing the DNS zone with Infomaniak, you can keep the existing nameservers and only change the DNS records that should point to your CURIAWEB hosting.

This can be particularly useful if the domain is already connected to several external services and you deliberately want to keep the existing DNS management.

Which DNS records do I need to change at Infomaniak? #

That depends on your specific CURIAWEB hosting and which services should be migrated to CURIAWEB.

Typically, the A-record and, if applicable, an AAAA- or CNAME-record are relevant for the website.

You should consider the email configuration separately from that.

For example, if you want your emails to continue running through Infomaniak or another external provider, the required MX and other DNS records must not simply be removed.

We explain the meaning of the individual record types under DNS Records Explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, and CAA.

Important: For A, AAAA or other hosting records, use exclusively the details of your specific CURIAWEB hosting. Do not adopt any IP address from a general guide.

What happens after the DNS or nameserver change? #

DNS changes are not necessarily visible to all users at the same time.

In its current documentation, Infomaniak points out that DNS changes or additions may take time to become visible across the network.

The reason for this includes DNS caches and the respective TTL.

We explain how this process works technically at What is DNS propagation and why does a DNS change take time?.

Option 2: Transfer domain from Infomaniak to CURIAWEB #

If you want to transfer your domain management from Infomaniak to CURIAWEB in addition to hosting, you will need a domain transfer.

Infomaniak provides an authorization code for this purpose.

Infomaniak uses terms such as the following for this:

• Authorization code
• Transfer code
• EPP code
• AuthCode
• AuthInfo

These terms refer to the same fundamental security mechanism in the context of the registrar transfer.

Request transfer code at Infomaniak #

According to the current Infomaniak documentation, you receive the authorization code via the domain management.

Proceed as follows:

1. Log in to Infomaniak Manager and open your domain management.
2. Click on the name of the domain in question.
3. Click on Manage.
4. Choose Transfer to another registrar.
5. Disable if necessary Domain Privacy, if Infomaniak requires this for the transfer.
6. Unlock the domain if this is required for the domain in question.
7. Proceed with the transfer process.

Infomaniak will then send the authorization code by email.

Important: According to the current Infomaniak documentation, the authorization code is sent exclusively to the domain owner's email address listed in the domain's WHOIS data. Therefore, make sure you have access to this email address.

What do I do if the transfer code does not arrive? #

First, check the domain owner's email address and the associated inbox, including the spam or junk folder.

Infomaniak points out that the code will be sent to the owner address specified in the WHOIS.

If you need the code again, the corresponding process can be performed again in the domain management.

Do I need to disable domain privacy? #

Infomaniak calls the deactivation of Domain Privacy as a potentially necessary step when requesting the authorization code.

Whether this step is necessary for your specific domain will be shown to you by the transfer process in the Infomaniak Manager.

We therefore do not recommend disabling domain privacy as a precaution for all domains. Follow the requirements that Infomaniak displays for the domain in question.

Do I need to unlock the domain at Infomaniak? #

According to Infomaniak, an unlock may also be required before the transfer can be carried out.

Whether this is actually necessary depends on the respective domain or domain extension.

For domain extensions with a corresponding registrar lock, a transfer lock can prevent the registrar change, for example.

We explain the background at Unlock domain for transfer: Registrar Lock and transfer lock explained.

Does this transfer procedure apply to every domain extension? #

No.

Infomaniak itself points out special features for certain domain extensions. These include, for example, special procedures for individual country-code extensions.

Therefore, the general transfer instructions should not be applied blindly to every TLD.

Important: If Infomaniak displays a different transfer process for your specific domain extension, this takes precedence. The rules of a .com-domains, for example, do not automatically apply identically to .ch, .de or other country code extensions.

What do I do with the authorization code? #

You use the code received from Infomaniak to authorize the domain transfer to CURIAWEB.

The code is security-relevant and should be treated confidentially.

Do not publish it in screenshots and do not send it to unknown recipients.

We explain the complete technical process at Domain transfer to CURIAWEB: How the transfer works.

Do I need to change the nameservers before the transfer? #

No.

Domain transfer and nameserver change are two different processes.

If the website and email are currently working correctly, it may even make sense not to change the existing DNS configuration during a pure registrar transfer.

This avoids making multiple technical changes at the same time.

What happens to my website at Infomaniak? #

A domain transfer does not automatically transfer your website to CURIAWEB.

Website files, databases, and domain registration are technically separate components.

If your website is also to be switched to CURIAWEB, it must be migrated to the new hosting environment and set up there.

The previous Infomaniak hosting should not be terminated hastily as long as the migration has not been completely finished and checked.

What happens to my email accounts at Infomaniak? #

Even email mailboxes are not automatically transferred to CURIAWEB by a domain transfer.

If your email accounts are also to be migrated, accounts and existing messages must be migrated separately.

If the email is to continue being hosted with Infomaniak, the required DNS records must be kept.

This applies in particular to MX records and, where applicable, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and other entries required for the Infomaniak mail service.

You don't want to migrate your website and emails yourself? #

If not only your domain but also your website and email accounts are to be transferred from Infomaniak to CURIAWEB, you do not need to carry out the technical migration yourself.

CURIAWEB handles the migration of a website, including databases and email mailboxes, for new customers as part of the Free moving service.

The new hosting environment is being prepared before the domain is switched to the new hosting.

Practical Tip: If you want to use our moving service, do not change nameservers or DNS records prematurely and do not cancel your previous Infomaniak hosting yet. The existing environment is required for a controlled migration.

Can the domain remain with Infomaniak even though the website and email are moving to CURIAWEB? #

Yes.

The domain registration can continue to be hosted with Infomaniak.

The DNS configuration then determines which infrastructure is used for the website and email.

A domain transfer is therefore only necessary if the domain management itself is also to be switched to CURIAWEB.

Can only the website be moved to CURIAWEB while the email stays with Infomaniak? #

Yes.

Website and email can be hosted by different providers.

In this case, the web records will be pointed to CURIAWEB hosting, while the MX and other DNS records required for Infomaniak email will be retained.

Especially with such a configuration, it is important not to replace DNS records wholesale.

What is the safest order for a complete move? #

If domain, website, and email are to be transferred from Infomaniak to CURIAWEB, the migration should be carried out in a controlled manner.

1. Document the existing DNS configuration.
2. Set up the CURIAWEB hosting.
3. Transfer website and databases.
4. If necessary, prepare the email accounts and mail migration.
5. Check which DNS records are still needed.
6. Decide whether the domain will stay with Infomaniak for now or if it will be transferred as well.
7. Request the authorization code for a transfer via the Infomaniak Manager.
8. Execute the domain transfer or DNS change in a controlled manner.
9. Then check website, HTTPS, email, and DNS.
10. Do not terminate Infomaniak services that are no longer needed until they have been successfully checked.

How long does the domain transfer from Infomaniak to CURIAWEB take? #

The duration depends on the respective domain extension and the associated transfer procedure.

Infomaniak points out that once the transfer has been initiated, the new registrar is responsible for information regarding the remaining transfer duration.

Therefore, a general timeframe for all domain extensions would not be reliable.

You can find more information at How long does a domain transfer to CURIAWEB take?.

How do I check the domain after the transfer? #

After a nameserver change or a completed domain transfer, you should check which DNS information is publicly visible.

With the CURIAWEB DNS-Check Can you check the DNS configuration?.

If the CURIAWEB nameservers are to be used, you expect:

ns1.curiaweb.ch
ns2.curiaweb.ch

Then check additionally:

• Website
• HTTPS
• Email reception
• Email dispatch
• Subdomains
• Forms and other important website features

Change nameservers or transfer domain? #

If you only want to use CURIAWEB hosting, a suitable DNS configuration is sufficient. The domain can remain registered with Infomaniak.

If you also want to transfer domain management and renewal to CURIAWEB, you perform a domain transfer.

Note: Hosting change, domain transfer, and nameserver change are three different processes. You do not automatically have to perform all three.

Summary #

A domain registered with Infomaniak can be used with CURIAWEB without necessarily having to be transferred.

If the domain is to remain with Infomaniak, you can do so in the Infomaniak Manager under DNS Server -> Edit DNS Server enter custom nameservers and ns1.curiaweb.ch as well as ns2.curiaweb.ch use. Alternatively, you can keep the Infomaniak nameservers and only adjust the required DNS records.

If the domain management should also be transferred to CURIAWEB, you will receive the authorization code according to the current Infomaniak instructions via Domain → Manage → Transfer to another registrar. If necessary, domain privacy must be disabled and the domain unlocked in the process.

The authorization code will be sent by Infomaniak to the domain owner's email address listed in the WHOIS.

If the website and email are also switching to CURIAWEB, these services should be prepared or migrated prior to the final DNS switchover. This allows the transition to be carried out in a controlled manner without mixing domain transfer, DNS, and hosting migration together.