Prepare Your Domain

In preparation for the transfer, you need to update your domain settings with the current registrar. Please contact them if you need assistance.

1. Review Your Contact Information

Your contact information is included on your domain's record in the WHOIS database, as required by ICANN. Upon transfer, the gaining registrar will use the information on the domain's record to email critical information regarding the transfer to the administrative contact, so you need to make certain it's correct. It's best to avoid using an email address that’s associated with the domain; use a public email service, like Gmail, instead.

Updating the registrant contact information (name, organization, or email address) for a general top-level domain (gTLD) will initiate a Change of Registrant process, which requires additional verification before the new information is saved. Each registrar handles this process a bit differently, so check with yours to see what you need to do.

2. Disable Privacy

The next step is to disable domain privacy. Privacy masks your contact information from being made public in the WHOIS database, but the gaining registrar needs that information to know where to send the code(s) authorizing the transfer. Once privacy is disabled, the registrar can view the contact information on your domain's WHOIS record and send the domain transfer emails to the administrator; otherwise, those emails will go to a Privacy Protection inbox that cannot be accessed.

3. Update Your Name Servers

Name servers direct the traffic for your domain to the host server. If you’ve already moved the website to your Lebcloud account, you'll want to update your name servers now to minimize downtime during the transfer; otherwise, you'll have to wait until the transfer is complete. You cannot make DNS changes while the transfer is in progress, so it is important that you do it now.

Your new DNS settings will begin to propagate as soon as you save your changes. Each ISP updates at a different rate, usually taking 24 - 72 hours to complete worldwide. During this time, your emails will be down, and your web traffic will be directed to either the old or new host, depending on the visitor's ISP.

4. Unlock the Domain

The next step is to unlock your domain, making it available for transfer. Some registrars allow you to unlock your domain manually while other registrars will do it for you.

5. Obtain the EPP Code

Finally, you need the EPP code, also called the Authorization or Auth code. It's essentially a unique password for the domain, made up of letters, numbers, and special characters, which is required to authorize the transfer.

Initiate the Transfer

Now you’re ready to begin:

1. Log into your client area.
2. Click Transfer a domain in the submenu at the left of the page.
3. Enter the domain you want to transfer to your account, without www, and the EPP code click Continue.
4. Our system will check the domain's status to determine if it’s ready for the transfer. Remember, the transfer won't be approved if it's still locked. Enter the EPP code and click add to cart.
5. As part of our verification process, we've emailed a confirmation link to the domain's administrator. Confirm the verification by email.
6. Here you have the option to change your name servers, set your renewal preference, and choose if you want to add domain privacy.
7. Finally, check the box agreeing to the Terms of Service, then complete the order.
8. ICANN requires the gaining registrar to renew the domain for one year upon transfer, which you'll see in the Shopping Cart. Process the payment to initiate the transfer.