Have you been wanting to transfer your .com domain name to another registrar because you’re not happy with your current one, but:
a) You’re afraid you don’t know the exact steps to do this?
b) You’re frustrated it kept failing for some reason?
Then you’ll no longer be feeling either. Because I’m going to reveal the exact process on how to transfer your domain name registration to another registrar…
…even if you’re “technically challenged”.
The entire process is actually?so darn?simple, you might kick yourself for not having figured this out sooner before starting that transfer and seeing it fail (if that happened to you already, that is).
As the title goes, it really boils down to 3 simple steps. Without further delay, let’s read through them to understand how to transfer your domain name to another registrar:
Step # 1 – make sure your domain name is eligible for transfer.
Certain requirements must be met before a domain name can be allowed to be transferred, namely: a) make sure they’re paid, although nowadays this isn’t exactly needed; b) turn off any “locks” or privacy services your domain name might have; and c) keep your domain name’s WHOIS contact details updated to allow you to eventually confirm the transfer request.
There are actually a couple more. But the ones I mentioned above are the most common details to watch out for.
Once you’ve crossed all the T’s and dotted the I’s, then proceed to the next step:
Step # 2 -?start and confirm the transfer request with the gaining registrar FIRST.
Current ICANN rules require the transfer be confirmed with the gaining registrar first and foremost before the losing registrar will let it go. Many registrars nowadays offer a pretty straightforward online method of getting the ball rolling, so starting an online transfer shouldn’t be too hard.
If you’re unsure, always ask the gaining registrar first for specifics before beginning the request. You’ll surely want to get everything done right the first time, especially if you’re really that anxious to leave your current registrar.
Many domain registrars also offer a phone option for you to call them and let them start the request for you. You might as well take advantage of this, although doing it online yourself is a better bet since your information is encrypted, and you’ll also understand how it works so you can do it again if need be.
More often than not, here’s how it’ll go:
State the domain name/s => Create an account or log inside an existing one, if any => Choose your payment term/s => Pay up!
After?you submit the payment, the gaining registrar will eventually “read” the WHOIS contact details of the current registrar and send an email requesting confirmation to the email address listed. Traditionally, the email is sent to the administrative contact email address on record.
If?the administrative contact’s email address has received the email, it’ll contain instructions how to confirm the transfer with the gaining registrar. Just follow it to the letter (and don’t be afraid!), and you’ll likely approve it with no worries!
Once you fully confirm the request with the gaining registrar, they’ll eventually send the request to another party called the Registry. I posted before the Registry is the authoritative database for a certain extension, and they receive any and all transfer requests before notifying the losing registrar about it.
When the Registry receives the request from the gaining registrar, they’ll also eventually notify the losing registrar. And this is where step 3 comes in:
Step # 3 – confirm the request with the losing registrar.
This third one is actually not necessary. But I emphasize you do this if you want to?speed up?the process.
The losing registrar (the one you’re moving away from) will eventually receive the transfer request from the Registry. Before letting it go, they’ll check if the domain name is eligible for moving out before sending their own notification to the administrative contact on record.
Depending on the losing registrar, they might send the email to the email address of either the registrant or the administrative contact. It’s up to them how they’ll go about it, but they will definitely notify you via email first.
Anyway, their email will also inform you your domain name is about to be transferred out. It’ll include instructions how to confirm or deny the transfer, and state the transfer will still proceed if no response is secured within 5 days.
This is the reason why I want you to actually confirm the transfer: if you don’t do anything and the domain name’s eligible, the losing registrar will eventually let it go without further questions. But this will happen within 5 days from the time the losing registrar sent out the email requesting a response.
From what I’ve gathered so far, it seems many registrars don’t include a link to confirm you’re transferring out the domain name. Rather, they’ll put in a link to deny it.
If that happens, then call your losing registrar and ask how to confirm it right away with no delays. Most if not all of them do have a mechanism to complete the process and finally allow it to go, but sometimes a little human intervention is needed.
And the sooner you confirm the transfer with the losing registrar, the sooner the domain name will be moved to the gaining one. When that day comes, pat yourself on the back for a job well done! 
