How to Transfer a Domain Name to a New Registrar

Transferring a domain name to a new registrar allows you to manage your domain and related services under a provider that best fits your needs. Whether for better pricing, improved features, or convenience, the process is straightforward when the necessary steps are followed. These steps include unlocking the domain, reviewing and updating contact information, obtaining the EPP code, and starting the transfer process with the new registrar. This process also applies to domains transferred to or from our MX partners.

This article outlines essential preparation steps, explains key policies such as the 60-day transfer lock, and offers tips to minimize downtime. By following this article, your domain transfer will be smooth and secure, while you can also maintain full control over the settings of your domain.

Here are the topics discussed in this article.

• Prepare Your Domain
• Initiate the Domain Transfer
• Approve the Domain Transfer
• Related Articles
• Summary
   

Prepare Your Domain

Before you transfer your domain name to a new registrar, you’ll need to access your domain settings in your Bluehost Portal and complete a few important tasks. Please follow the steps below:

• Review Your Domain Contact Information
• Update Your Name Servers
• Unlock Your Domain
• Obtain the EPP Code

Review Your Domain Contact Information

Your contact information is listed in your domain’s RDAP database, as required by ICANN. When you transfer a domain name to a new registrar, the gaining registrar uses this contact data—especially the registrant email address—to send authorization emails and verify the transfer request. To prevent delays, make sure this information is accurate and up to date.

Using an email address associated with the domain name is not encouraged. Instead, use a public and accessible email service like Gmail to ensure you receive important notifications throughout the transfer process.

If editing your contact details triggers a Change of Registrant request, we don’t support the ability to opt out of the 60-day transfer lock. We recommend waiting to update your contact details after it’s transferred, unless completely necessary.

Follow these steps to update your domain's contact information:

1. In your Bluehost Portal, click Domains in the left menu.

   
    

2. Click the Contacts tab.

   
    

3. Based on your user role (Owner, Admin, or Tech), follow the steps outlined for each user.
   • Primary Contact (Owner or domain registrant):
     1. Click EDIT next to Domain Contacts.

        
         

     2. In the Edit Domain Owner pop-up, click the Change button.

        
         

     3. Make the necessary updates.

        
         

        As required by ICANN, when you select Organization, you will have the option to decide whether you want your Organization to be published in the RDDS (formerly WHOIS) as the Registered Name Holder of the domain.

        • To publish the Organization, check the box.
        • To keep it unpublished, leave the box unchecked.

        
         

     4. Click CONTINUE.
     5. Once done, you will see the banner notification.

        
         

   • Admin or Tech:
     1. Click the Manage Admin and Tech Contacts link.

        
         

     2. In the Edit Contacts pop-up window, select the tab of your current role - Admin or Tech, and then click on CHANGE.

        
         

     3. Select the existing user for whom you want to make the Admin or Tech under the Select User menu.

        
         

     4. If you need to add a new user as your Admin or Tech, click the Add new link.

        
         

     5. Enter the new user's details and select their role, then click ADD.

        
         

4. Check your email for the verification message and click the link provided to approve the changes.

Update Your Name Servers

If you’ve registered your domain with Bluehost but are hosting your website elsewhere, it’s possible to keep your domain here while managing your site through another provider. However, if you’ve already moved your website files to a new host, it’s important to update your name servers before you transfer your domain name to a new registrar.

Updating your name servers early helps minimize potential downtime, as DNS changes cannot be made once the transfer process is in progress. Taking care of this step in advance ensures that your website and related services remain accessible during the transition.

The Bluehost Portal allows you to update your nameservers. Once you save your new DNS settings, the changes may take 24-48 hours to be completed due to propagation.

Refer to the How to Navigate the Nameservers Tab in Bluehost Portal article to learn how.

Unlock Your Domain

Domains are automatically locked by default to help protect against unauthorized changes. However, to transfer your domain name to a new registrar, you’ll first need to unlock it. Unlocking your domain ensures that the transfer request can be processed without interruption.

You can unlock your domain from your Bluehost Portal.

Please visit the Understanding the Different Types of Domain Locks article for more information.

Obtain the EPP Code

To transfer your domain name to a new registrar, you’ll need to obtain the EPP code—also known as the Authorization or Auth code—from your current registrar. This unique code, made up of letters, numbers, and special characters, serves as a security measure and is required by the new registrar to approve and complete the domain transfer.

You can request your EPP code from your Bluehost Portal.

Remember, the EPP Code is case- and character-specific, so if you choose to copy/paste the code, make sure there are no additional spaces at the beginning or end. Please note that the system will send the authorization key/ EPP code to the registrant's email address, not the email on file. Refer to the How to Get Your EPP Code from Bluehost article for the instructions. 

Initiate the Domain Transfer

Once you have taken the necessary steps to prepare your domain in your Bluehost account, you can begin the domain transfer process. To transfer your domain name to a new registrar, you will need to initiate the transfer directly with the new registrar.

While the exact process may vary depending on the registrar, here’s a general idea of what you’ll need to do:

1. Log in to your account with the gaining registrar.
2. Begin the domain transfer process according to their instructions.
3. Please provide them with the EPP code that was sent to your registrant email address.
4. Follow any additional steps and/or validation the gaining registrar requires.

Want to switch your domain to Bluehost? Follow our guide on how to easily transfer it: How to Transfer A Domain Name to Us.

Approve the Domain Transfer

After you initiate the process of transferring your domain name to a new registrar, you'll need to approve the transfer request. A verification email sent to the domain registrant is usually the method involved in verifying your identity and confirming the transfer.

The domain transfer may take a few days to complete, so be sure to monitor your email associated with the domain you want to transfer and follow any instructions provided by your new registrar to ensure a smooth transition.

Related Articles

• Domain Transfer Status: What It Means & What You Should Do
• How to Get Your EPP Code from Bluehost
• How to Transfer A Domain Name To Us
• How to Troubleshoot Common Domain Transfer Issues
• How to Update Contact Information
• How to Update Domain Owner Contact Details

Summary

To successfully transfer your domain name to a new registrar from Bluehost, it's important to prepare ahead of time to avoid delays or disruptions.

Start by verifying that your domain's contact information is accurate, as this will be used throughout the transfer process. Avoid making changes to registrant details right before the transfer, as this could trigger a 60-day transfer lock per ICANN policy.

Your domain must be unlocked, and you’ll need to request the EPP (Authorization) code—this unique code is required by the new registrar to authorize and complete the transfer. If you’ve already moved your site or email services, updating your name servers before initiating the transfer can help minimize downtime.

Once everything is in place, simply provide the EPP code to your new registrar and follow their instructions to complete the process.

We hope this guide has helped you better understand how to transfer a domain name to a new registrar smoothly and with confidence.