How to Transfer a Domain from Google Domains to Bluehost

Key highlights

• With Google transferring all domains to Squarespace, it’s the perfect time to explore better options for managing your domain. 
• Bluehost makes managing your domain and hosting a breeze, with everything accessible from a single, easy-to-use dashboard, saving you time and hassle.  
• Transferring your domain to Bluehost before or after the Squarespace transition can help you save on costs. 
• The Google to Squarespace transition may come with higher domain management fees, but transferring your domain to Bluehost can help you avoid those extra costs 
• By consolidating your domain and website hosting with Bluehost, you’ll benefit from 24/7 expert support. 

Introduction

With Google Domains shutting down and transitioning its services to Squarespace, many users are now seeking alternatives for managing their domains. This is a significant change, especially considering Squarespace isn’t the cheapest place to manage a domain. 

If you’ll be affected by the shutdown and are considering moving your domain elsewhere, you’ll appreciate this step-by-step guide on how to transfer a domain from Google Domains. In addition, you’ll catch up on the latest developments and how they affect you. 

Additionally, as you are transferring your domain, if you are also looking for a platform that simplifies both domain management and content creation, Bluehost WordPress Content Creator solutions simplify the process. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced creator, you get everything you need in one place that eliminates the hassle of juggling multiple services. 

Let’s get started with everything you need to know! 

The Google Domains shutdown: Explained

In 2023, Google announced that it would shut down Google Domains and transfer all its domain registrations to Squarespace. For millions of users who have domains with Google, this means a forced migration to Squarespace’s domain management system. 

What does this mean for you? Essentially, Google Domains will no longer allow new domain registrations or renewals and existing domain owners will be automatically transferred to Squarespace. While Squarespace may offer some attractive features, its domain pricing is higher than other registrars. Moreover, you can host your site anywhere and use any platform, even if your domain is now managed by Squarespace. 

After the change, your domain management tools will be from Squarespace. Your Google Workspace services will be managed by Squarespace as well. 

Notably, you can transfer your domain to any other registrar before or after the changes occur. This can save you money and prevent any disruption in your website’s management. 

Why is Bluehost a great choice for your domain and hosting?

There are a few reasons to look for a domain registrar besides Squarespace. 

It’s very convenient to have your domain and hosting settings accessible from a single, intuitive website dashboard. But you can’t import your existing website to Squarespace, making it discouraging to transition unless you enjoy rebuilding all your pages from scratch. 

And while Squarespace will honor your domain pricing for the next 12 months, prices may increase afterwards. Moreover, Squarespace’s domain pricing is more expensive than that of other registrars. 

So, if you’re looking for a domain registrar that offers ease of use and affordable prices, switch to Bluehost. 

Registering your domain with Bluehost comes with many perks: 

• A free domain or domain transfer for new accounts. Bluehost offers competitive domain pricing, especially compared to Squarespace, which could increase pricing after the first year. 
• Competitive pricing on dozens of domain extensions. By hosting your site with Bluehost, you can manage both your website and domain in one easy-to-use dashboard. 
• In-depth domain management from the intuitive Bluehost dashboard. Bluehost offers 24/7 expert customer support to assist with any issues you may encounter.  
• Automatic renewal so you never lose your domain. With Bluehost, you can set up automatic renewal to ensure you never lose control of your domain. 
• Free email with your domain registration Bluehost includes a free email account with all domain registrations so that you can create a professional email address tied to your domain.   
• 24/7 expert customer support to help solve any problem at any time. 

Transferring your domain isn’t just a switch in management, it’s an opportunity to boost your site’s SEO and increase visibility. Yoast SEO helps you optimize your content for search engines, improving keyword targeting and readability. You can easily manage your domain and enhance your SEO, ensuring better rankings and more organic traffic. 

Step-by-step process to transfer Google Domain to Bluehost

Transferring a Google Domain to Bluehost is quick, easy and simple. Let’s dive right into how to set up and manage your domain with Bluehost.

Step 1: Prepare your domain for transfer

Before you start the domain transfer process, there are several steps you’ll need to take to ensure everything goes smoothly. 

First, note that some restrictions may prevent you from transferring your domain to another registrar. 

• Some domain extensions require transfer authorization. Request the EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) code, which is required to authenticate the transfer request. You will receive this code via email. 
• If there is a pending admin action from Google against your domain, you must first resolve it. 
• Avoid transferring your domain for 45 days after renewal, as you could lose your renewal year due to the ICANN auto-renew grace period policy. 
• Make sure the email address listed for your domain is current, as important notifications regarding the transfer will be sent there. 
• If you purchased or transferred your domain within the last 60 days, you must wait. This is due to a transfer lock mandated by ICANN, the organization that coordinates domain accessibility across the internet. 

Second, note that Bluehost accepts transfers from an array of domain extensions: .com, .org, .net, .biz, .us, .co and .info. 

If you don’t already have one, create a new account with Bluehost. Make sure to choose a hosting plan if you plan on hosting your site with them as well.   

Step 2: Log into Squarespace

To begin the transfer, log into your Squarespace account and go to Settings > Domains. This is where you can manage your domain registration settings. 

Find the domain you wish to transfer to Bluehost and click on it to open its management page. 

Step 3: Unlock your domain

In the domain settings, look for the option to unlock your domain. By default, domains are locked to prevent unauthorized changes. You need to unlock it in order to transfer it. 

Locate the Domain Lock setting and toggle it to unlock your domain.

Step 4: Request the Authorization Code

After unlocking your domain, go to the Transfer Domain section. Here, you can request the Authorization Code (EPP code). This code will be sent to the email address associated with your domain. 

Once you receive the transfer code in your inbox, keep it secure, as you will need it to complete the transfer to Bluehost. 

Step 5: Log in to Bluehost

Now, you’ll need a Bluehost account to complete the transfer. If you don’t already have one, create an account and choose a hosting plan if you plan to host your website with Bluehost. 

Once your account is set up, log in to your Bluehost control panel and go to the domain Manager section. 

Step 6: Start the transfer on Bluehost

In the Bluehost control panel, follow these steps to initiate the domain transfer: 

1. Click on the domains tab and select Transfer from the dropdown menu. 
2. Enter your domain name (without “www”) and click Continue. 
3. On the next screen, input the Authorization Code you received from Squarespace. 
4. Bluehost may offer additional features like domain privacy, SSL and auto-renewal for your domain. Choose these options based on your needs. 
5. Proceed to payment to complete the transfer process. 

Step 7: Wait for the transfer to complete

After submitting the payment, Bluehost will begin processing the domain transfer.  

Domain transfers can take anywhere from a few hours to 24-48 hours, although in some cases, it may take up to 5 days to fully complete. 

You can monitor the progress of the transfer by logging into your Bluehost account and navigating to Domains > Transfer. Here, you’ll be able to see the status of your domain transfer. 

While you wait for the transfer to complete, Bluehost WordPress Content Creator Solution offers the ability to create a staging environment for your site. This feature allows you to safely test updates or changes to your site without affecting the live version. You can experiment with new content, themes or plugins while ensuring your visitors are not impacted by any potential issues during the transfer process. 

Step 8: Troubleshoot potential issues

If your domain transfer isn’t successful, it could be due to a few common issues. Here’s a checklist to troubleshoot: 

• Ensure that the code you entered is correct and hasn’t expired. 
• Double-check that your domain is unlocked. 
• Did you leave privacy protection on? Is your domain info incorrect? 
• Is your domain still locked? 
• Did you register or transfer your domain less than 60 days ago? 
• Did your payment processor chargeback or fail? 

If these questions don’t give you any clues, contact Bluehost’s 24/7 support team to get a solution. 

Step 9: Manage your domain with Bluehost

Once the transfer is finished, confirm that it went smoothly and your website works correctly. You can check your new domain status from the Bluehost dashboard. If your website is down, make sure your nameservers are updated. 

Manage your DNS records and other domain settings within the hosting provider dashboard. 

In particular, re-enable the features you used with Google Domains, such as domain forwarding and email forwarding. 

If you used Google Workspace with your domain, consider signing up for a Google Workspace subscription via Bluehost. You’ll get access to Google’s productivity tools and an email matching your domain, which integrates with the Bluehost dashboard. 

Maximize your domain with Bluehost WordPress Content Creator Solution 

When transferring your domain from Google Domains to Bluehost, why stop at just domain management? Bluehost WordPress Content Creator Solution offers a complete toolkit to build, optimize and grow your website all in one place. 

• Yoast SEO: Optimize your website for search engines with this powerful tool, ensuring your content ranks higher and reaches the right audience. 
• WonderBlocks: Design beautiful, responsive pages easily using WonderBlocks’ drag-and-drop editor, making website creation intuitive and stress-free. 
• YITH Membership: Build and manage exclusive membership areas to monetize your site or provide premium content to your audience. 
• CreativeMail Email Marketing: Stay connected with your audience by creating, automating and sending professional email campaigns directly from WordPress. 
• WooCommerce Paid Courses: Sell and manage online courses seamlessly with this WooCommerce extension, perfect for educators or creators. 
• YITH WooCommerce Affiliates: Create and manage an affiliate program to drive more traffic and sales for your online store. 
• Staging Environments: Test changes, plugins and updates in a secure environment before going live, ensuring your website runs smoothly without any downtime. 

By transferring your domain to Bluehost, you’re not just gaining a registrar, you are getting a fully integrated solution designed to save time, reduce complexity and help your website thrive.

Common issues and troubleshooting while transferring your domain

When transferring a domain from Squarespace to Bluehost, you may encounter a few common issues along the way, such as domain locking, invalid or missing authorization codes or delays in the transfer process.  

Here’s how to quickly troubleshoot these problems and keep your transfer on track. 

1. Domain locking: What to do if the domain is still locked or the authorization code is missing

If your domain is still locked, it can’t be transferred. To unlock it: 

• Check your email: The authorization code (also called the EPP code) is sent to the email address registered with your domain. Make sure to check both your inbox and spam/junk folders. 
• If you can’t find the code: Log into your Squarespace account and request the authorization code again.  

If you can’t access the authorization code, check the email linked to your Google Domains account. It’s usually sent there. Don’t forget to check your spam or junk folder! 

2. Authorization code issues: What to do if the code is invalid or not received

Double-check for typos or extra spaces. The code is case-sensitive. If it still doesn’t work, request a new one from Google Domains. 

If you don’t receive the code after requesting it, check your spam or junk folder. If it’s not there, request it again from Squarespace. If the issue persists, reach out to Squarespace Support for further assistance. 

3. Transfer delays: What to do if the transfer is taking longer than expected

Domain transfers can take 5-7 days. If it’s taking longer, it could be due to issues with eligibility or the registrar. Be patient and check your email for updates. 

Ensure the domain is unlocked in Google Domains and that you have the correct authorization code. 

Both Google Domains and Bluehost may have scheduled maintenance that could cause delays. Check their status pages for any outages. 

Sometimes, you’ll receive an email asking you to approve the domain transfer. Ensure you’ve confirmed the transfer request by clicking on any links in the emails sent by Google Domains or Bluehost. 

If the transfer is still delayed after the expected timeframe, contact Bluehost or Squarespace support to inquire about the status and troubleshoot any issues.  

While waiting for your domain transfer, if you’re also planning to transfer your website, InstaWP Migration Tool makes the process much easier. InstaWP allows you to smoothly migrate your website to Bluehost platform. You can continue working on your site and make updates ensuring everything is ready once the domain transfer is complete. 

4. Emails not working: Solutions for users who experience email disruptions during the transfer

During a domain transfer, you might experience email disruptions or lose email forwarding if it’s tied to the domain you’re transferring. 

• Before starting the transfer, back up any important emails that may be tied to your domain, especially if you use Squarespace’s email forwarding service. 
• If you’re using email forwarding, consider setting up forwarding with Bluehost or your email provider before initiating the transfer to avoid disruptions during the process. 
• If email services stop temporarily during the transfer, you can set up a new email service with Bluehost or another provider to ensure continuity. 
• Typically, email services will be fully restored once the domain transfer is complete. To avoid interruptions, it’s a good idea to switch email hosting or forwarding to Bluehost prior to initiating the transfer.  

Final thoughts

Google Domains is now part of Squarespace. Squarespace’s higher pricing and limited flexibility have led many to explore alternative options if you’re considering transferring to a new registrar, now’s the time to act. 

Registering your domain with Bluehost is a great alternative to Squarespace. It’s easy to set up or migrate your old Google Domain and the elegant control panel lets you manage it without fuss.  

The transition to Squarespace may feel disruptive, but it’s also an opportunity to improve your website management experience. If you want the convenience of keeping your domain and hosting services managed all in one place, consider signing up for web hosting from Bluehost. Browse plans for websites of all shapes and sizes and know that getting set up is effortless. 

Whether you’re starting a blog, running an e-commerce store or building a professional portfolio, Bluehost WordPress Content Creator Solution is designed to meet all your needs in one place. With seamless domain management, staging environments for testing updates, built-in SEO tools to optimize your site and fast WordPress installation, Bluehost makes website creation and management simple and stress-free. 

FAQs

How long does transferring a domain from Google Domains to Bluehost take?

Domain transfers typically take 5-7 days. However, it may vary depending on your current registrar and any pending actions on your account.

Will I lose my website or email during the transfer?

No, you won’t lose your website or email. However, there might be brief disruptions during the transfer process. Make sure to back up your data before starting.

Can I transfer a domain that’s near its expiration date?

Yes, you can transfer a domain even if it’s close to expiration. When you transfer, your domain’s registration is extended by one year.

What happens to my Google Workspace services when I transfer my domain to Bluehost? 

Your Google Workspace services will remain active and functional. However, you may need to reconfigure your DNS settings in Bluehost to ensure your email and other services work seamlessly after the transfer. 

Can I transfer my domain to Bluehost after it’s moved to Squarespace? 

Yes, you can transfer your domain to Bluehost even after it has been migrated to Squarespace. The process remains simple and Bluehost provides clear instructions and support to guide you through the transfer.