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Transferring a Domain 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.

UPDATE:  I did another transfer on Feb. 12, 2010 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. 

UPDATE:  I did another transfer of four domains on March 17, 2010.  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.

Before Your Start

• If you can, do this on a Saturday or Sunday.  The downtime will be drastically reduced.  It can make the difference between days vs. hours. 
• You cannot transfer a domain once it hits 14 days prior to expiration so get the process started before then.
• Once the transfer is in motion, it can take up to a week for it to complete.  Too bad it’s not as easy changing the DNS.
• Your domain will experience an outage while this takes place.

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. Administration 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. 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 Next button.
3. You’ll see the domain name listed and to the right is a checkbox for enabling WhoIs Guard.  It’s free.  If you want to protect your privates, check the box.  Plus, they only cost $2.88/yr at renewal time.
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 Auth Code

Now go check your email for that authorization code from goDaddy and copy it.

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. In about an hour, you will get an email from NameCheap called a Domain Transfer Request.  There is a link in there.  Click on it.  It takes you to a page where you have to approve the request.  Make it so.

Wait For the goDaddy Transfer Email

Now you wait for goDaddy’s notification of transfer email.  This could take a few hours to a few days 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.  Either way, email or not…

1. Go back to your goDaddy account and login.
2. 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. Your domain name will display.  If not, keep waiting for the transfer notice.  If the domain name is there, click on the domain name.
4. There is a green check mark on the page to authorize the transfer.  Click it and and make it so.
5. WARNING!  Don’t fall for this crap…There is a black Authorization button on the page.  If you click it and attempt the transfer from the by clicking on Begin Transfer Authorization.  You have to enter a Transferr 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 GO IN THERE.  Just click on the green check mark 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.

Change Your DNS

When the transfer is complete, be sure to go into NameCheap and change your DNS servers on the transferred domain to your web hosting company.  If you want a new web hosting company, let me suggest  SuperGreen Hosting.  Their nameservers are NS1.PIPEDNS.COM, NS2.PIPEDNS.COM, NS3.PIPEDNS.COM. 

The last time I did a transfer to NameCheap on March 17, 2010, the DNS servers were already set for me because the grabged the settings from goDaddy.  That was hella nice.  I had NO downtime at all during the transfer.

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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