123 Reg Support

What are domain name transfers?

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This article will tell you all about domain transfers and how to complete them.

Simply click on a title below to skip to the most appropriate FAQ. You can also click the Top button to return and make another selection.

What is a domain name transfer?

When you move your domain to another registrar, like 123 Reg, this is known as a domain transfer. You may wish to do this if you’re unhappy with your current provider or want to manage multiple domains from one place.

What domains can I transfer to 123 Reg?

If you’re not sure which domains you can transfer to 123 Reg, check out our dedicated Domain Transfers page for a complete list. Depending on your domain’s extension, a fee may be included with the transfer process.

Please note: it can take between five to seven days for a domain transfer to be completed.

You won’t be able to transfer a domain if it was purchased or transferred within the last 60 days.

Is it safe to transfer domain names?

As long as you know exactly who and where you’re transferring your domain(s) to, there’s no reason to be concerned.

You may also lock your domain to protect it from any unauthorised transfers.

Will my website go down during a domain transfer?

In some circumstances, transferring a domain name could cause downtime for your associated website or email address.

If you’re using a third-party provider for web hosting and/or email, the information that links these services to your domain should be copied across as part of the transfer. That way, you shouldn’t face any disruption to your services.

If you’re using your current registrar’s default nameservers, you may experience some downtime after the transfer is complete. Generally speaking, these default nameservers will stop working when you move to a new registrar.

Please note: we recommend that you make a note of your existing nameserver records before starting the domain transfer process, since you won’t be able to view your original records once the transfer has been completed.

 

It’s also important to remember that you may lose access to any free services, provided by the registrar you’re leaving, that are associated with your domain. For example, if you have email forwarding associated with your domain, this service would stop after the transfer, which could result in you missing out on emails. As such, you may want to purchase and set up email hosting ahead of the transfer.

Please note: if you have web hosting services with the company you want to transfer your domain away from, then it’s likely that you won’t experience any downtime. However, remember that transferring your domain name won’t change who your website is hosted with.

If you’re concerned about the prospect of downtime, then you may want to contact your existing registrar to find out what will happen when you move away from them. The registrar you’re transferring to will also be able to guide you through what happens during and after the transfer process.

How do I transfer a domain name to 123 Reg?

The following articles will explain how you can transfer most domain extensions to 123 Reg:

You can also check these step-by-step guides on how to transfer a domain name from:

Once you’ve placed your order for a domain transfer, your domain name will appear on the domain transfer page. This page lists all recent domain transfer activity and allows you to check on the status of all your transfers.

How do I transfer a domain to another registrar?

If you’ve decided that you want to use another provider, then the following guides can help you move your domain:

What does my domain transfer status mean?

The standard domain transfer statuses are listed below:

  • Domain locked: Your domain is locked at your current registrar. As such, you will need to unlock your domain and restart the transfer.
  • Missing auth code: You have not provided the authorisation code needed to complete the transfer. For details on how to do this, please read the following article: How do I enter the authorisation code for my domain transfer?

  • Invalid auth code: The authorisation code you provided is incorrect. Please double-check and update this code within your 123 Reg account.
  • Registrant eligibility unverified: Please contact our Support team so that they can verify your eligibility as a registrant for this domain.
  • Registry lock: Please unlock your domain with your current registrar and restart the transfer process.
  • Transfer denied: Your current registrar has rejected the domain transfer. Please speak with them to resolve this.
  • Unknown error: Please contact our Support team so that they can understand why your domain transfer was unsuccessful.
  • 60-day lock: Since your domain was registered or transferred within the last 60 days, you will not be able to continue with your transfer until after this 60-day period is over, due to ICANN regulations.
  • In progress: Your transfer is being processing and should be completed within 5-7 days.
  • Complete: Your domain transfer is complete.
  • Cancelled: Your domain transfer was cancelled.
  • Expired: Your domain transfer expired due to inaction.