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Node Creek

How to Transfer Your Domain to Node Creek

This guide walks you through transferring your domain registration so that Node Creek can manage renewals on your behalf.

What is a domain transfer?

A domain transfer moves your domain registration from your current registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.) to Node Creek’s registrar. After the transfer, Node Creek handles renewals automatically so your domain never accidentally lapses.

Your website and email keep working throughout the transfer. Transferring a domain registration is separate from hosting or DNS - nothing about your site goes down.

What you’ll need

  • Access to your domain registrar account (the service where you pay for the domain)
  • Access to the email address on file with your registrar (to receive the authorization code)

Before You Start

A few eligibility rules set by ICANN (the organization that oversees domain registrations):

  • The domain must have been registered or previously transferred more than 60 days ago
  • The domain must not be expired or within a few days of expiring - if it’s close to expiring, renew it for one more year first, then transfer
  • The domain must not be locked in a dispute or redemption period

If any of these apply, contact Node Creek and we’ll figure out the right timing together.

Note on renewal: Most domain transfers extend the registration by one year automatically. So if your domain had 8 months left, after the transfer it will have about 20 months left. This is standard practice.

GoDaddy Instructions

GoDaddy is the most common registrar, so these steps are detailed.

Step 1: Unlock the domain

  1. Sign in at account.godaddy.com

  2. Go to My Products: Click Domains in the left menu, then click the domain you want to transfer

  3. Find “Domain Lock”: Scroll to the Additional Settings section. You’ll see a toggle labeled Domain Lock (or “Transfer Lock”) - turn it OFF

  4. Confirm the change if prompted

Step 2: Get your authorization code

The authorization code (also called an EPP code or transfer key) is a password that proves you own the domain and authorizes the transfer.

  1. On the same domain settings page, look for “Get authorization code” or “Send authorization code”

  2. Click it. GoDaddy will email the code to the email address on file for your account

  3. Check your email and copy the code

  4. Send the code to Node Creek at [email protected]

Notes for GoDaddy users

  • GoDaddy may warn you that unlocking the domain “removes protection” - this is expected and safe for the short time it takes to complete the transfer
  • If you have Domain Privacy enabled, GoDaddy typically handles the verification automatically, so you usually don’t need to disable it
  • Once the transfer is underway you can re-lock the domain at the new registrar

Official Guide: Transfer my domain away from GoDaddy

Other Registrars

The process is the same everywhere - the labels just differ slightly.

General steps (Namecheap, Google Domains/Squarespace, Network Solutions, etc.):

  1. Sign in to your registrar account and find your domain

  2. Unlock the domain: Look for a setting called “Domain Lock,” “Registrar Lock,” or “Transfer Lock” and turn it off

  3. Disable WHOIS privacy (if required): Some registrars require you to temporarily disable privacy protection before releasing the auth code. Look for “Privacy Protection,” “WHOIS Privacy,” or “ID Protect” in your domain settings and turn it off. You can re-enable it after the transfer completes.

  4. Get the authorization code: Look for a button or link labeled “Get EPP Code,” “Authorization Code,” “Transfer Key,” or “Auth Code.” The code will be emailed to your account’s email address.

  5. Send the code to Node Creek at [email protected]

If you’re having trouble finding these settings, search your registrar’s help center for “transfer domain away” or contact their support team.

What Happens Next

Once Node Creek receives your authorization code:

  1. Node Creek initiates the transfer from our end

  2. You’ll likely receive an approval email from your current registrar asking you to confirm the transfer. This goes to the registrant email address on file for the domain, which may be different from your account login email. Open it and click Approve (or Accept) - this speeds things up considerably. GoDaddy will auto-approve after 5 days if you don’t respond, but clicking it can cut that wait down to a few hours. If you’re not sure which email address the domain is registered under, check your registrar’s domain settings before initiating the transfer.

  3. The transfer completes in 5 to 7 days. You’ll receive a confirmation email when it’s done.

  4. Node Creek confirms once we can see the domain on our end.

What not to do during the transfer

  • Don’t cancel your domain at the old registrar - canceling is permanent and is not the same as transferring
  • Don’t let it expire before the transfer completes
  • Don’t change nameservers or other DNS settings mid-transfer unless Node Creek asks you to

After the Transfer

Once complete, Node Creek will manage annual renewals going forward. You don’t need to do anything - we’ll handle it.

You’re welcome to keep viewing the domain details through your old registrar account, but you won’t be able to manage it there anymore.

Additional Resources

Need Help?

If anything looks different from these instructions or you’re not sure what to do, reach out to Node Creek at [email protected] before making any changes. We’re happy to walk through it with you.