Have you been planning to transfer your domain to Namecheap but worried that it seems too complicated or time-consuming? Worry no more, we’re here to help.
Below are a few easy-to-follow instructions that will guide you through the transfer process so you can conquer your fear and your to-do list.
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1. Preparation Is Key
The truth about any domain transfer is that it takes time—between 30 minutes and 8 days to complete, depending on certain technical and administrative factors. The good news is that your work is pretty minimal. It’s like doing laundry: you can’t rush the wash cycle, but the machine is doing most of the work for you.
At this stage, it’s important to assemble all the things you need in advance to ensure a smooth and easy domain transfer.
To make sure your domain is ready to move from your old registrar, first ask yourself these questions:
- Has it been at least 60 days since I registered my domain (or transferred from another host)? ICANN regulations require this waiting period for all transfers.
- Is my domain currently unlocked at my current registrar? Your Whois status should say “OK” or “Active.” In some cases, you’ll also need to turn off the Transfer Lock on the domain. Otherwise, your registrar can’t release it for transfer. These steps can all be done by visiting the Settings menu of your current registrar and selecting “Manage” next to the domain you want to transfer.
- Is the admin email (as shown in my Whois information) current and valid? This is a big deal since that’s the address your transfer verification will be sent to.
If the answer to all of these questions is “yes,” congratulations! You’re clear to move ahead with the next step of your transfer.
EXTRA CREDIT: While you’re in Account Settings managing the Whois and lock settings mentioned above, look for the “Authorization Code” button or field (also sometimes called the Auth or EPP code). Take a moment to generate and/or copy this code. You’ll be glad you did, trust me.
2. Place Your Order
To begin your transfer order to Namecheap, head over to NameCheap’s Transfers page, enter your domain in the search bar and click “Transfer.” Most domains are eligible for transfer but click here if you discover yours isn’t.
If your domain is eligible for transfer, that’s awesome! Now it’s just a matter of following these steps:
- Check the boxes to verify that all the steps mentioned above are taken care of and your domain is ready to be transferred. Nice to be prepared, isn’t it?
- Enter the Auth/EPP code you so wisely copied from your current registrar in the Settings > Transfer section of your current registrar. This code is required as a verification step in the transfer. (See? Aren’t you glad you planned ahead? You really are on top of your game.)
- Review the transfer details, add it to your cart, and make your purchase using the payment method of your choice. And that’s it… for now.
This is the stage in the process where you’ll have to wait a while. It’s also a great chance to get those other little chores done while you wait. Clean under the stove, alphabetize your catalog collection–multitasking has its benefits.
EXTRA CREDIT: Log in or create a Namecheap account ahead of time to expedite the checkout process.
3. Sign Here, Please
Some time has passed, you’ve taken care of all those other little tasks you’d been avoiding, and now you’ve finally received your transfer verification. This email should come from an address like [email protected] or [email protected].
If you haven’t gotten a verification email after about two weeks, make sure you’ve checked your spam folder and that your Whois admin email is correct. If you still don’t get an email after that, it may be time to contact your current registrar to see what’s up.
Once the email does arrive, simply confirm the transfer by clicking the link or button within the email. Your current registrar has 5 days to approve the transfer (it’s automatically approved if they do nothing), after which you’ll get a friendly confirmation email welcoming you to Namecheap. You did it!
Learn More
It’s important to note that, since domain registration and hosting plans are two different products, transferring your domain shouldn’t affect your hosting (and vice versa). If you’re transferring a live domain and minimizing downtime is critical to your business, though, it’s a good idea to double check the transfer policies with your current hosting and domain providers ahead of time to ensure your domain transfer doesn’t cause unexpected disruption.
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