What happens when you transfer a domain to GoDaddy

Transferring a domain to GoDaddy means moving the registration from your current registrar (the company that currently owns your domain record) to GoDaddy's servers. The domain itself stays the same — your website address does not change, and your email does not stop working. What changes is which company manages the registration and renewal.

The transfer process takes 5 to 7 days from start to finish. During that time, your domain keeps working normally. At the end, GoDaddy becomes your registrar of record, and you renew through them going forward. You will pay a transfer fee (usually $0.99 to $8.99 depending on the domain extension) plus the cost of renewing the domain for one additional year.

Before you start, you need three things from your current registrar: the authorization code (also called an auth code or transfer code), confirmation that WHOIS privacy or domain privacy is disabled, and the ability to unlock the domain. If you cannot find these in your current registrar's control panel, you will need to contact their support team by phone or email.

Key Takeaways

  • You must unlock your domain and get an authorization code from your current registrar before GoDaddy can accept the transfer.
  • WHOIS privacy or domain privacy must be turned off at your current registrar, or the transfer will fail or stall.
  • The transfer takes 5 to 7 days and your domain keeps working the whole time, but you cannot make changes to it during the transfer.
  • You will pay a transfer fee plus one year of renewal fees to GoDaddy, which extends your domain registration by one year from its current expiration date.
  • After the transfer completes, you manage the domain through GoDaddy's control panel, not your old registrar's.

Getting the authorization code and unlocking your domain

Log into your current registrar's control panel and find the domain you want to transfer. Look for a section called "Domain Settings," "Domain Management," or "Security." You need to perform two actions here: unlock the domain and retrieve the authorization code.

Unlocking the domain prevents anyone from transferring it without your permission. Most registrars lock domains by default. Find the option that says "Unlock Domain" or "Unlock This Domain" and click it. Some registrars require you to confirm this action by email. The unlock usually takes effect within minutes, but check your email to be sure.

Next, find the authorization code. It is usually displayed on the same page as the unlock option, or in a section labeled "Transfer Domain" or "Get Auth Code." The code is a string of letters and numbers — copy it exactly and save it somewhere you can find it. If you cannot find the authorization code in your control panel, contact your registrar's support team and ask them to send it to you. They will verify your identity and email it to the address on file.

Disabling WHOIS privacy before you transfer

WHOIS privacy (also called domain privacy or private registration) hides your personal information from the public WHOIS database. If your domain has this service turned on, you must disable it before the transfer can complete. GoDaddy's system checks whether privacy is active, and if it is, the transfer will be rejected or delayed.

In your current registrar's control panel, find the domain and look for "WHOIS Privacy," "Domain Privacy," or "Private Registration." Click the option to disable or turn off this service. Some registrars charge a fee for privacy, so disabling it may also stop that charge. The change takes effect within a few minutes. You can re-enable privacy at GoDaddy after the transfer is complete if you want to keep your information private.

Starting the transfer at GoDaddy

Go to GoDaddy.com and click "Transfer Domain" in the top navigation or search for "transfer domain" in their help section. Enter your domain name in the search box and click the button to check if it can be transferred. GoDaddy will tell you whether the domain is may be able to access and show you the transfer fee and renewal cost.

Add the domain to your cart and proceed to checkout. You will need to enter the authorization code you copied from your current registrar. Paste it exactly as it appears — spaces and capitalization matter. You will also create or log into a GoDaddy account. If you already have one, use those credentials. If not, you can create a new account during checkout using your email address.

Review the total cost. The charge includes the transfer fee plus one year of renewal fees. For example, if your domain costs $12 per year to renew and the transfer fee is $0.99, you will pay $12.99 total. Complete the payment using a credit card, debit card, or other payment method GoDaddy accepts.

What happens during the 5 to 7 day transfer window

After you complete the purchase, GoDaddy sends a transfer request to your current registrar. Your current registrar then has up to 5 days to approve or deny the request. Most registrars approve transfers automatically if the domain is unlocked and the authorization code is correct. Some require you to click a confirmation link in an email.

During this time, your domain continues to work normally. Your website stays online, email keeps flowing, and DNS records function as they always have. However, you cannot make changes to the domain's settings, nameservers, or DNS records while the transfer is in progress. If you need to make changes, wait until the transfer completes and you have full control in GoDaddy's system.

You will receive emails from both your current registrar and GoDaddy at each step. The current registrar will send a confirmation request or approval notice. GoDaddy will send updates as the transfer progresses. If the transfer stalls or is denied, GoDaddy will tell you why — usually because the authorization code was incorrect, the domain was not unlocked, or privacy was still enabled.

After the transfer completes

Once GoDaddy confirms the transfer is complete, you will receive a final email. At that point, GoDaddy is your registrar of record. Log into your GoDaddy account and navigate to "My Domains" to see your domain listed there. You can now manage all settings through GoDaddy's control panel.

Your domain renewal date has been extended by one year from its previous expiration date. For example, if your domain was set to expire on March 15, 2025, it now expires on March 15, 2026. You can set up auto-renewal in GoDaddy so you do not have to manually renew each year. You can also enable WHOIS privacy, update nameservers, manage DNS records, or make any other changes you need.

If you had services tied to your old registrar — such as email forwarding, SSL certificates, or website hosting — those do not transfer automatically. You will need to set them up again at GoDaddy or keep them with your old registrar and point your domain's nameservers to that service. GoDaddy's support team can walk you through this if needed.

Common reasons transfers fail or get stuck

The most common reason a transfer fails is that the domain is still locked at the current registrar. If you see an error message saying the domain cannot be transferred, go back to your current registrar's control panel and confirm the unlock went through. Some registrars require you to click a confirmation email before the unlock is active.

Another frequent issue is WHOIS privacy still being enabled. Even if you thought you disabled it, double-check your current registrar's control panel to be absolutely sure. If privacy is still on, disable it and wait a few minutes for the change to take effect, then contact GoDaddy support to retry the transfer.

An incorrect or incomplete authorization code will also block the transfer. Copy the code directly from your registrar's control panel rather than typing it from memory. If you are unsure whether you have the right code, contact your current registrar and ask them to resend it. They can also confirm that the domain is unlocked and ready to transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my website go down during the transfer?

No. Your website, email, and all services continue to work normally during the 5 to 7 day transfer. The only limitation is that you cannot make changes to the domain's settings or DNS records while the transfer is in progress. Once it completes, you have full control again.

Can I transfer a domain if it is less than 60 days old?

Most registrars, including GoDaddy, do not allow transfers of domains registered less than 60 days ago. If your domain is newer than that, you will need to wait until the 60-day window has passed. Your current registrar's control panel usually shows when the domain becomes may be able to access to transfer.

What if my current registrar denies the transfer?

If your registrar denies the transfer, they will tell you why in an email. The most common reasons are that the domain is still locked, the authorization code is wrong, or WHOIS privacy is still enabled. Fix the issue at your current registrar and ask GoDaddy to retry the transfer. If the problem persists, contact GoDaddy support — they can sometimes work with your registrar to resolve it.

Do I lose my domain name during the transfer?

No. Your domain name stays the same throughout the process. The transfer only changes which company manages the registration. Your website address, email, and all services tied to the domain remain unchanged.

Can I transfer a domain that is about to expire?

Yes, but it is not recommended. If your domain expires before the transfer completes, the transfer will fail. If your domain is expiring soon, renew it at your current registrar first, then start the transfer. The transfer will add one more year to the renewal date.