GoDaddy Domain Name Transfer: Unlock, Auth Code, 60 Days

By Umair Ali Sadaqat · Updated November 6, 2026 · Editorial policy

How to transfer a domain away from GoDaddy: unlock it, get the auth code, avoid the 60-day lock, and know what to expect on timing, with a step table.

Short answer: To transfer a domain away from GoDaddy, open the domain's settings in your GoDaddy account, turn off the transfer lock, remove privacy protection if it's on, and request the authorization (auth, or EPP) code. Then give that code to your new registrar, approve the request when the emails arrive, and wait roughly five to seven days. The domain must be outside ICANN's 60-day lock windows: 60 days after registration, after a previous transfer, or after a change of registrant.

GoDaddy's help center blocked automated access when I prepared this guide, so I could not re-read its current screens line by line. The menu names below describe the general flow that GoDaddy and third-party guides describe. The policy rules (the 60-day locks and the five-day code requirement) come from ICANN's transfer policy summary. If a screen looks different in your account, follow the on-screen checklist; it is the authority.

Before you start: the 60-day lock rule

ICANN's transfer policy lists three situations where a domain can't move between registrars for 60 days:

New registration. The domain is within 60 days of its initial registration.
Recent transfer. The domain is within 60 days of a previous transfer between registrars.
Change of registrant. The domain is within 60 days of a change of registrant. This is triggered by changing the registrant name, organization, or email address. Registrars may let you opt out of this lock, but they don't have to.

Check the date you registered or last transferred the domain, and check whether anyone on your team edited the registrant's name, organization, or email recently. Editing contact details "just to tidy up" right before a transfer is the most common way people lock themselves out.

Separately, ICANN's board approved a set of Transfer Policy review recommendations in 2026, but implementation was still pending when I checked in November 2026, so the 60-day rules above still apply.

Pre-transfer checklist

Copy this into your notes and tick it off:

[ ] The domain is more than 60 days past registration, a previous transfer, and any registrant change
[ ] I can log in to the GoDaddy account that holds the domain
[ ] I can read the email at the registrant's and admin contact address (approval emails go there)
[ ] The domain isn't expiring this week (renew first if it is)
[ ] I exported or screenshotted every DNS record (A, CNAME, MX, TXT)
[ ] I know where my nameservers point right now
[ ] I picked the new registrar and have an account there (see our registrar comparison)
[ ] I've read the new registrar's transfer price at checkout

Step by step: transfer a domain from GoDaddy

Back up your DNS. Open the domain's DNS page and record every entry. If email runs on this domain, the MX and TXT records matter most.
Unlock the domain. In the domain's settings, find the domain lock or transfer lock option and turn it off. It can take a few minutes to take effect.
Turn off privacy protection if needed. Some registrars require protected registration to be removed before the code can be issued or the transfer approved. The transfer checklist will tell you.
Start GoDaddy's transfer-away flow. In the domain's additional settings, look for the option to transfer the domain to another provider. GoDaddy shows a checklist and then reveals the code. It may also email the code to the domain's admin contact.
Copy the auth code. Get it just before you need it. Third-party guides report that codes can expire after a couple of weeks, so don't generate it days ahead.
Start the transfer at the new registrar. Enter the domain and paste the auth code. Pay the transfer fee at checkout.
Approve the transfer. Watch the registrant and admin inboxes, including spam, for approval emails from both registrars and approve promptly.
Confirm and re-check DNS. When the new registrar shows the domain as active, compare the DNS records against your backup. Only then change nameservers if you plan to.
Cancel what you no longer need. Remove leftover GoDaddy add-ons and set auto-renew at the new registrar.

Timeline: what happens and when

Stage	What you do	Typical time
Preparation	Backup DNS, unlock, remove privacy if required	Minutes to an hour
Auth code	Request it from GoDaddy	Often immediate; registrars must provide it or let you create it within five calendar days
Submit at new registrar	Enter domain and code, pay	Minutes
Approval	Respond to emails from both sides	Same day if you act; otherwise the process can wait out its approval window
Registry completes transfer	Nothing	Commonly up to five days overall
Post-transfer check	Compare DNS, confirm nameservers	Same day

Most transfers finish within about five to seven days, but treat the table as a planning guide, not a promise. Country-code domains such as .it can follow different procedures, and the code may need to come through GoDaddy support.

Troubleshooting common blockers

The auth code is rejected

Copy it again, with no trailing space. If it still fails, generate a new one. Codes are case-sensitive and expire.

The new registrar says the domain is locked

The lock may not have propagated yet. Wait a few minutes and retry. If it still shows locked, confirm the lock is actually off in GoDaddy's domain settings.

The 60-day lock applies

If the lock came from a change of registrant, wait it out or ask GoDaddy support whether it can review the case and remove it. Support requests like this have had mixed outcomes in forum reports, so don't plan around approval.

Nothing happens after you pay

Look for an approval email in the registrant or admin inbox. A transfer often sits waiting for a click.

Keep your site and email alive during the move

The registrar and the DNS host are separate jobs. If your nameservers point at GoDaddy's DNS, the domain keeps resolving after transfer until you change them. That is usually the safest sequence: finish the transfer first, then copy the DNS zone to the new host, then switch nameservers. If you'd rather avoid GoDaddy's DNS afterward, compare options in our GoDaddy alternatives guide.

For background on what a registrar controls, see what a domain name is. For renewal and transfer cost context, read how much a domain costs.

After the transfer: pointing the domain at a site

Once the domain sits at your new registrar, you can point it at wherever your site lives. We.Inc's free plan lets you publish up to three sites from ready-made templates; the AI builder that drafts a site from a prompt starts on the Starter plan at $20 a month. Sign up here if you want to try it on the domain you just moved.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to transfer a domain away from GoDaddy?

Most transfers finish within about five to seven days. The gaining registrar sends the request, the losing registrar (GoDaddy) can approve it early or let it lapse into approval, and the registry then completes the move. Starting with an unlocked domain and a fresh auth code is what keeps it near the short end. Some country-code domains follow their own rules and can take longer.

Why can't I transfer my GoDaddy domain right now?

The usual causes are a domain that is still locked, a wrong or expired auth code, a pending approval email you haven't answered, or a 60-day lock. ICANN's transfer policy lists three 60-day lock situations: within 60 days of initial registration, within 60 days of a previous transfer, and within 60 days of a change of registrant. Check each in that order before contacting support.

Does changing my contact details trigger the 60-day lock?

Changing the registrant's name, organization, or email address can. Under ICANN's policy this is the Change of Registrant lock, and registrars may offer an opt-out but are not required to. Edits to other contact fields, such as a phone number or street address, are generally not treated as a change of registrant, but confirm in GoDaddy's confirmation screen before you save.

Will my website and email go down during a transfer?

Not by default. A transfer changes the registrar that holds the domain; it does not change where the DNS records live unless you also change the nameservers. If your nameservers point to GoDaddy, copy your DNS records to the new registrar before the move, or keep the same nameservers until the transfer finishes. Then switch nameservers deliberately, as a separate step.

Do I need to pay GoDaddy to transfer a domain out?

The costs you should plan for are at the new registrar, which usually charges a transfer fee that includes a one-year extension for most common extensions. Prices change often, so read the receiving registrar's checkout page rather than relying on an old figure. Check your GoDaddy account for any open renewals or add-ons you want to cancel before you leave.

Can I transfer a domain that is about to expire?

Yes, but don't leave it to the last day. If the domain is close to expiring, renew it or start the transfer with plenty of margin, because a transfer that stalls on an approval email can run past the expiration date. A lapsed domain enters a grace and redemption process that is slower and more expensive to fix.

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