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How to Transfer a Domain Name From goDaddy to NameCheap

I just finished doing this with one of my domains so I thought I’d write it down while it was still fresh in my mind. I should actually say, “while the wound is still bleeding”. Yes, there was some pain to it.  goDaddy is a lot like trying to sell something on eBay — you’ll have to dig deep to figure out how to do it.  But the good news is, when you do it once it will go a lot smoother the next time around.

Feb. 12, 2010 – Friday:  I did another transfer today and made a few minor modifications to these instructions to reflect some changes.  So these instructions are up-to-date at this time.  The total time from initiating the transfer to final DNS resolution was only 3 hours.  Blew me away.  Last time it took days. 

March 17, 2010 – Wednesday:  I did another transfer of four domains.  I did it in the morning and it took 9-1/2 hours from start to finish.  I know, I should have waited until the weekend, but I was approaching the 14-day limit.  Here’s a sweet new feature, NameCheap is now bringing over the DNS settings from goDaddy so there was NO DOWNTIME during the transfer!

 July 7, 2010 – Wednesday:  I did another transfer.  I started it at 8:00 a.m. and it was finished at 11:15 a.m. without any downtime.  Not bad!  I updated these instructions with a few minor changes.

July 17, 2010 – Saturday:  I transferred another domain.  I started at 7:30 a.m. 45 minutes later I already had the transfer request from NameCheap.  10 minutes later I got the final approval request from goDaddy.  It was finished at 11:16 a.m.

Before Your Start

• You cannot transfer a domain once it hits 14 days prior to expiration so get the process started before then.
• If you can, do this on a Saturday or Sunday because it goes so much faster. 
• Once the transfer is in motion, it can take from a couple of hours to a couple of days to complete.  Like I said, do it on the weekend if you can.  However, I should note that transfers go dramatically faster than they used to and they don’t take days anymore.
• NameCheap will copy your DNS settings from goDaddy and you should have NO downtime. 
• According to Joe in the comments below, if you have a newly registered domain name at goDaddy that isn’t yet 60 days old, wait a few days before you transfer it so NameCheap isn’t stuck waiting on goDaddy’s lock.

First Things First – In Your DomainsByProxy Account

You only need to do this if you have the privacy manager enabled on the domain.  Login to http://DomainsByProxy.com  Can’t remember your login junk?  It’s in a welcome email from them that you received at the same time you bought your domain name.  Once logged in, click on the Domains link.  Locate the specific domain name and disable the privacy protection on it.

In Your goDaddy Account

In My Products > Domains > Domain Manager:

1. Click on the domain name you wish to transfer.
2. In the Domain Information section:
   1. Locked:  If it’s locked, unlock it.  Click ‘OK’ to on the popup to process the change.
   2. Administrative Email:  Look down the page in the Nameservers section at the Administration settings.  Make sure the email address is correct as that’s where the auth code will be sent.  (I kept clicking to get the code and never got the email.  That’s when I saw the Admin email was old and no longer in use.)  If it’s wrong then change it and refresh.
   3. Authorization Code:  NOW you can click the Send by Email link to get the auth code.
3. In the Domain Enhancements section:
   1. I personally don’t buy any of that addon stuff, but if you have Domain Ownership Protection turned on, I’ll go out on a limb and say that you’ll need to cancel it in order to transfer it.

In Your NameCheap Account

If you haven’t already created a NameCheap account, do it now.

1. Transfer Your Domain:  In the top menu bar click Transfer Your Domain > Transfer Your Domains To NameCheap.  Enter the domain name to transfer in the white box (the one with all the words in it that makes it easy to miss).
2. Click the Transfer button.
3. You’ll see the domain name listed and to the right it should recognize goDaddy as the current registrar.
4. Click the Add to Cart button.
5. On the order page, enter the NameCheap coupon code to get a discount on the transfer.
6. Proceed with the order.

Check Your Email For The goDaddy Auth Code

Now go check your email for that authorization code from goDaddy and copy it.  Sometimes it comes immediately and other times it can take several hours.

Go Back To NameCheap

1. Enter EPP Code (Auth/Authorization):  If you logged out, log back in.  On the NameCheap menu bar, click Manage Transfers.  (It’s also located in the left vertical menu under Transfers > Pending Transfers.)  Then click on the domain name to enter the EPP code from goDaddy.  That’s the authorization code from the email goDaddy just sent.  Paste it and save it.
2. Domain Transfer Request:  In about an hour, you will get an email from NameCheap called a Domain Transfer Request. 
   1. Click the email link:  There is a link in the email.  Click on it. 
   2. Approve the request:  It takes you to a page where you have to approve the request.  Make it so.

Wait For the goDaddy Transfer Email

NameCheap will now notify goDaddy about the transfer so wait for goDaddy’s notification of transfer email.  This could take a few hours to get.  In the goDaddy email, they tell you how to cancel the transfer, but they don’t tell you how to accept the transfer.  I find that very irritating, but that’s part of why we’re leaving goDaddy.  

1. Go back to your goDaddy account and login.
2. Check for the Pending Transfer:  In your Domain Manager, at the top of the page in the black menu bar you’ll see a set of green menu tabs.  Hover your mouse over Domains tab and click on Pending Transfers.
3. Authorize the transfer:  Your domain name will display.  If not, keep waiting for the transfer notice.  If the domain name is there, click the checkbox to the left of the domain name.  When the checkbox gets checked, there is a green Accept/Decline check mark right ABOVE the domain name to authorize the transfer.  Click it and and make it so.
4. WARNING!  Don’t fall for this crap…There is a black Authorization button on the right side of the page.  DO NOT USE IT TO TRANSFER YOUR DOMAIN.  It requires a Transfer ID and a Security Code.  Beats the hell out of me where you get that from.  I can’t find a single bit of information on it.  Don’t even futz with it.  Just click on the green check mark above the domain name to finish the transfer.  For some reason it doesn’t ask for those numbers.  (You see, that’s one of the many things I hate about goDaddy.  They hide stuff and make their inferface practically impossible to use.)

Wait For NameCheap

Now let the transfer cook and NameCheap will email you when it’s done.  This took a little over two hours after I approved the transfer at goDaddy.

Check Your DNS Setting At NameCheap

NameCheap will bring over your DNS server settings from goDaddy.  This is so sweet because that means you’ll have no downtime during the name transfer.  However, check them anyway to make sure they came over.

If you want a new web hosting company at this point, let me suggest  SuperGreen Hosting.  Their nameservers are NS1.PIPEDNS.COM, NS2.PIPEDNS.COM, NS3.PIPEDNS.COM.   

Privacy Management at NameCheap

Once the domain transfer has been completed, you can also turn on the FREE privacy protection called WhoIsGuard.  I know, I know, goDaddy/DomainsByProxy charges about $9/year for it.  NameCheap gives it to you for free and you can enable/disable/re-enable it at any time without skipping a beat.  DomainsByProxy does NOT allow that and will charge you again if you want to re-enable it.  Once you turn it off it’s gone.  NameCheap also has a very nominal renewal fee on WhoIsGuard.  How does $2.88/year sound?  I know, I know, again.  DomainsByProxy has been ripping you off.

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