How do I transfer a domain into Google Domains?

Transfer a domain in

You can transfer a domain in to your account in Google Domains:

Note: The other owner must work with you to prepare the domain for transfer and must permit the transfer.

• A domain name you own at a different registrar
• A domain name owned by another user:
  • Within Google Domains
  • At another registrar

Start the transfer.

1. There are two ways to start a transfer:
   1. Search for the domain name you want to transfer, and then click the transfer button next to the domain in search results.
   2. Click Transfer In in the left navigation menu and enter the domain you want to transfer.
2. When you click Continue, the transfer process will start.

• If your domain is registered through Google Domains, follow the directions in Transfer a domain between Google Domains accounts.
• If your domain is registered with another registrar, follow the directions in Transfer a domain in from another registrar.

Before you transfer from another registrar …

Restrictions on transfers from another registrar

Please note the following:

• If you recently purchased or transferred your domain using your current registrar, you need to wait 60 days before you can transfer your domain to Google Domains.
• When transferring, ICANN requires you to register your domain for an additional year. If this will cause your domain to exceed the 10-year maximum registration period (5 years for .co domains), you cannot transfer your domain to Google Domains at this time.
  • .co.nz domains are an exception. Transferring a .co.nz dmoain requires a $20 transfer fee but does not include an extra year of registration.
• If a domain has been auto-renewed within the last 45 days (the auto-renew grace period), the renewal at the current registrar may cancel the renewal and receive a refund for the cost of the renewal. When this happens, you will not see an increase in the registration expiration date when Google Domains adds a year as part of transfer in. You are entitled to a refund of the auto-renewed registration from your current registrar. You may need to contact the registrar for this refund.
• If the registry responsible for your domain has an outstanding administrative action against your domain, you cannot transfer your domain until the matter is resolved.

Transfer Overview

Transferring your domain into Google Domains is a six-step process:

• Step 1: Prepare your domain for transfer
  • On your current registrar, prepare your domain for transfer.
  • In Google Domains, confirm the domain is prepared for transfer.
• Step 2: Import your domain’s web settings
• Step 3: Transfer!
• Step 4: Enter/verify contact information
• Step 5: Pay for one more year of registration
• Step 6: Confirm transfer in email

Step 1: Prepare your domain for transfer.

Perform these steps on your current registrar:

Tip: It is easier if you open another browser window or tab for the other Google Domains account or other registrar.

• Instructions for switching accounts in Google Domains to prepare your domain for transfer
• Instructions for logging in to other popular registrars to prepare your domain for transfer

Unlock your domain. A domain lock prevents it from being transferred. Most registrars call it a “domain lock,” “registration lock,” “transfer lock,” or just plain “lock.”

Find your current registrar in the List of instructions for other registrars and follow the instructions to unlock your domain for transfer and obtain an authorization code.

Make your WHOIS data public. Most registrars call it “private registration,” “WHOIS privacy,” “registration privacy,” or just plain “privacy.”

Note: Your WHOIS contact information will be publicly available while you complete the transfer process. After you have successfully transferred your domain, you can make your information private again.

Verify your Admin contact email. Log in to your current registrar make sure your contact email is up to date. Google Domains will mail the transfer confirmation notice to the Admin email in your WHOIS contact information.

Get the authorization code from your registrar. Most registrars call it an “authorization code,” “transfer code,” or “EPP code.” The authorization code is a unique string of characters, for example “5YcCd!X&W@q0Xozj”

Perform the next steps in Google Domains.

In Google Domains log in with the account you are transferring the domain to.

Verify the changes you made in your current registrar have taken effect:

If the screen still says the domain is locked, click the Refresh button.

It may take up to 20 minutes or more for the change to take effect. If, after 20 minutes the domain is still locked, go back to your current registrar and make sure the domain is unlocked.

If the screen still says the domain is private, click the Refresh button.

It may take up to 20 minutes or more for the change to take effect. If, after 20 minutes the domain is still locked, go back to your current registrar and make sure your registration privacy settings are set to public.

Click Confirm to verify your Admin contact email. Remember, this is the address to which Google Domains will mail the transfer confirmation notice.

Under Get authorization code enter the authorization code you collected in substep d above and click the Accept and proceed button.

Step 2: Import your domain’s web settings

Choose whether or not to have Google Domains detect and import your current web settings:

If you select Detect and import my domain’s current settings, Google Domains will display the DNS resource records it finds for you domain immediately below your selection.

Google domains will perform a DNS lookup to look up the resource records associated with the most common subdomains (@, www, blog, etc). Please note the following:

You can edit, delete, or add to the records to be imported by Google Domains:

Step 3: Transfer!

Google Domains will display the current expiration date of your domain with your current registrar, the price of adding one year registration (required for transfer), and the new expiration date of your domain after transfer.

Note:

Click to start the transfer and pay for one additional year of registration.

Step 4: Enter/verify contact information

In the Confirm contact information dialog.

Step 5: Pay for one more year of registration

In the payment method dialog.

Step 6: Confirm transfer in email

You will receive an email to the Admin email address for your domain (this is the address you confirmed in Step 5 above).

After you have approved the transfer, it can take up to 7 days for the previous registrar to release the domain. Check the status messages on the Transfer In page in Google Domains to check on the status of your transfer.