What happens when you transfer a domain to GoDaddy

When you transfer a domain to GoDaddy, you are moving the registration records from your current registrar to GoDaddy's servers. GoDaddy becomes the company that manages your domain renewal, DNS settings, and contact information. The domain itself stays the same — your website keeps working, your email keeps running — but GoDaddy now handles the backend administration.

The transfer process takes between 5 and 7 days from start to finish. During that time, your domain continues to work normally. You will need an authorization code from your current registrar, access to the email address on file with that registrar, and the domain's current renewal fee (usually $8.99 to $12.99 per year, depending on the extension).

Key Takeaways

  • You must unlock your domain at your current registrar and request an authorization code before GoDaddy can begin the transfer.
  • GoDaddy will send a confirmation email to the address listed with your current registrar; you must click the link in that email to approve the transfer.
  • The transfer typically completes within 5 to 7 days, and your domain will renew with GoDaddy for one additional year.
  • If your domain is within 60 days of expiring, you may not be able to transfer it until you renew it at your current registrar first.

Getting the authorization code from your current registrar

Before GoDaddy can accept your domain, your current registrar must unlock it and give you an authorization code (also called an auth code, transfer code, or EPP code). Log into your account with your current registrar and look for a section labeled "Domain Management," "My Domains," or "Domain Settings."

Find the domain you want to transfer and look for an option to unlock it or disable WHOIS privacy protection. Some registrars require you to disable privacy before unlocking; others do both at once. Once unlocked, request the authorization code. The registrar will either display it on screen or email it to you within minutes. Copy this code exactly as shown — it is case-sensitive and usually contains letters and numbers.

Do not close your account or delete anything at your current registrar yet. You will need it to confirm the transfer when GoDaddy sends the verification email.

Starting the transfer at GoDaddy

Go to GoDaddy.com and click "Domain Transfer" in the top navigation menu. Enter your domain name in the search box and click "Transfer Domain." GoDaddy will check whether the domain can be transferred and show you the renewal price (usually one year added to your registration).

Add the domain to your cart and proceed to checkout. You will be asked to enter the authorization code from your current registrar. Paste it exactly as you copied it. If the code is incorrect or expired, GoDaddy will reject it and ask you to go back and request a new one.

Complete the payment. GoDaddy will then send a transfer request to your current registrar and a confirmation email to the address listed in your domain's WHOIS record (the administrative contact email). This email is critical — without your response to it, the transfer will not proceed.

Approving the transfer via email confirmation

Within a few hours of starting the transfer at GoDaddy, you will receive an email from your current registrar asking you to confirm that you want to move the domain. The email will contain a link or a code. Click the link or follow the instructions in the email to approve the transfer. This step prevents someone else from stealing your domain by initiating a transfer without your knowledge.

If you do not see the email within 24 hours, check your spam folder. If it is not there, log back into your current registrar's account and look for a "Pending Transfers" or "Transfer Requests" section where you can approve it manually.

Once you approve, the transfer moves into the final phase. Your current registrar will release the domain, and GoDaddy will pull it into their system.

Tracking the transfer and what to expect during the wait

Log into your GoDaddy account and go to "My Domains." You will see your domain listed with a status like "Pending Transfer" or "In Progress." GoDaddy's transfer status page will show you where things stand — usually it updates once per day.

Your domain continues to work normally during the transfer. Your website stays online, your email keeps running, and visitors can still reach you. Do not make changes to DNS records or other settings during this time; wait until the transfer completes and the domain shows as "Active" in your GoDaddy account.

The transfer usually finishes within 5 to 7 days. Once it is complete, GoDaddy will send you a confirmation email, and your domain will appear as fully active in your GoDaddy account. At that point, you can manage all settings through GoDaddy.

What to do if the transfer stalls or fails

If your transfer is still showing "Pending" after 7 days, log into GoDaddy and check the status page for error messages. Common reasons for delays include: the authorization code was entered incorrectly, you did not approve the confirmation email from your old registrar, or your domain is too close to its expiration date.

If the domain is within 60 days of expiring, most registrars will not allow a transfer. You will need to renew it at your current registrar first, then start the transfer process over. If the authorization code expired (usually after 5 to 10 days), request a new one from your current registrar and start the GoDaddy transfer again.

If you approved the confirmation email but the transfer still has not gone through after 10 days, contact GoDaddy support with your domain name and the date you started the transfer. They can check the status with your old registrar and push it through if it is stuck on their end.

Managing your domain after the transfer completes

Once your domain is fully transferred to GoDaddy, you can manage it entirely through your GoDaddy account. You can update DNS records, change nameservers, renew the domain, add privacy protection, or set up email forwarding — all from the GoDaddy dashboard.

Your domain will renew automatically one year from the transfer date unless you turn off auto-renewal. You can change the renewal setting in your GoDaddy account under "Domain Settings." If you ever want to move the domain again in the future, you can unlock it and request an authorization code from GoDaddy the same way you did with your previous registrar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my website go down during the transfer?

No. Your website and email continue to work normally throughout the transfer. The domain registration is moving behind the scenes, but the actual service stays live. You should not see any interruption.

What if I do not receive the confirmation email from my old registrar?

Check your spam folder first. If it is not there, log into your old registrar's account and look for a "Pending Transfers" section where you can approve it manually. You can also contact your old registrar's support to resend the confirmation email.

Can I transfer a domain that is about to expire?

If your domain expires within 60 days, most registrars will not allow the transfer. Renew it at your current registrar first, then start the transfer to GoDaddy. The transfer will add one additional year to your registration.

How much does it cost to transfer a domain to GoDaddy?

GoDaddy charges the standard renewal price for your domain extension, usually $8.99 to $12.99 per year. Some extensions cost more. The transfer includes one year of registration added to your domain's expiration date.

What if I entered the authorization code wrong?

GoDaddy will reject it when ready and ask you to try again. Go back to your current registrar, request a new authorization code, and re-enter it carefully. Authorization codes are case-sensitive.