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Transfer Domain Ownership on GoDaddy: A Simple Guide

This will be the first in a series of simple how-to guides on domain names. DotSauce receives a lot of visitors each month who are looking for basic domain name information that is not covered in much detail.

I want to make sure aspiring domainers walk away with a clear understanding of domain ownership transfers and other common tasks associated with domaining.

Changing ownership of your domain name on GoDaddy is pretty simple. With hundreds of sales completed under their management, I have the process down to a science and almost never encounter any confusion from new owners.

Step 1. Get account details from the new owner

You will need two pieces of information from the new domain owner to begin a change of ownership.

1. Account username or ID#
2. Email address associated with the account

Communicate with the buyer to provide these details. If they do not have an account with GoDaddy you can instruct them to create one for free. No purchase is required to create an account.

Step 2. Access your domain manager

From GoDaddy.com you can access you domain manager by clicking the “My Account” tab (top right) and then click the “Domain Manager” link which will open in a new window.

Step 3. Select the domain you would like to transfer

Click the check-box next to the domain which is ready to change ownership. The buttons at the top of your manager will become highlighted. You can then click the “Account Change” icon.

Step 4. Enter new account information

Type in the customer number and email address provided in Step 1.

You will typically want to select the option to “Use details from specified customer account” so that their name will be associated with the domain and not yours. Sometimes this option will not work if the new owner has not setup their account information.

Congratulations, you’ve just transfered a domain to it’s new owner. You may also be interested in reading my guide on How To Sell Domain Names.

Accepting a Domain Ownership Transfer

The process is also quite simple for those accepting a domain transfer.

Within the GoDaddy Domain Manger you will notice green navigation tabs at the top of the page. Move your mouse over the “Domains” tab and select the “Pending Account Changes” link.

From this page you will be able to quickly accept any domains that are pending ownership transfer.

Transfering Ownership to a Different Registrar

The new owner may request to transfer a domain to a different registrar. They will typically have to pay a transfer fee and initiate the process themselves.

There are two things to remember when transferring to a different registrar.

1. The domain will need to be unlocked
2. The new owner will need the unique authorization code (also called an EPP or security key)

Both of these options can be found by clicking on the domain in question from your Domain Manager and reviewing it’s information page. You can see these features highlighted in the image below.

Check your email regularly for a notice from the new registrar. You will need to click a link within that email to approve the domain ownership transfer.

Any questions?

Domain transfers can sometimes be a tricky business, especially when a registrar doesn’t want to cooperate. Fortunately, GoDaddy has one of the best systems for ownership changes.

The DotSauce Q&A Forum is available to answer any questions you might have related to domain names. Our community of domain investors and developers would be happy to help with any problems you may be encountering.

Transfer Domain Ownership on GoDaddy: A Simple Guide

Tags: Domain Industry, Domain Names, Domain Sales, Godaddy, Registrars