How to Transfer a Domain to Maxinames

Transferring an existing domain to Maxinames is straightforward and usually completes within 5-7 days. Your website, email, and DNS records keep working throughout the transfer — there is no downtime when the steps below are followed in order.

Before you start

Make sure your domain meets the standard ICANN transfer requirements:

• The domain was registered or last transferred at least 60 days ago.
• The domain is unlocked at the current registrar.
• You have access to the registrant email address listed in WHOIS (transfer approval is sent there).
• You have the EPP / authorization code from the current registrar.
• WHOIS privacy is temporarily disabled at the current registrar (some TLDs require this).

Step 1 — Prepare the domain at your current registrar

1. Log in to your current registrar's control panel.
2. Find the domain in the domain list and open its management page.
3. Disable the Domain Lock (sometimes called "Transfer Lock" or "Registrar Lock").
4. Disable WHOIS Privacy / ID Protection on the domain.
5. Request and copy the EPP authorization code (sometimes labelled "Auth Info", "Transfer Code", or "Auth Code"). Most registrars email this to the registrant rather than displaying it on screen.
6. Verify the registrant email address in the WHOIS record is one you can access right now — transfer approval messages will be sent there.

Step 2 — Initiate the transfer at Maxinames

1. Go to maxinames.com/domains and search for your domain.
2. Choose the Transfer option for that domain.
3. Paste the EPP authorization code from Step 1.
4. Add the transfer to your cart and complete checkout. The transfer fee includes a one-year extension to your registration period.

Step 3 — Approve the transfer

Within a few minutes of checkout, you will receive an email at the WHOIS registrant address with a transfer approval link. Click the link and confirm — this tells the registry to proceed.

Some registrars also send a "transfer out" notification of their own. Approving it speeds the process up; ignoring it does not block the transfer (the request will complete automatically after 5 days).

Step 4 — Wait for the transfer to complete

Once approved, the transfer typically completes within 5 to 7 days. The current registrar can choose to release the domain immediately, but the registry waits up to 5 days before forcing the transfer through.

You will receive a confirmation email from Maxinames the moment the domain lands in your account, with a link to manage it from your dashboard.

What about my website and email?

Transferring a domain only changes who manages the registration. It does not change DNS records, hosting, or email — those stay exactly as they were. As long as your DNS continues to point at the same servers, your site and email keep working without interruption.

If you also plan to move hosting or email to Maxinames, do that before the transfer completes so DNS changes have time to propagate.

Common issues

• "Authorization code is invalid" — the code may have expired. Request a fresh one from the current registrar and retry.
• No approval email arrived — check spam, then verify the WHOIS registrant email is correct and accessible. Update it at the current registrar if needed and re-trigger the transfer.
• Transfer rejected by the current registrar — the domain is still locked or privacy is still enabled. Disable both, wait an hour for the change to propagate, then re-initiate.
• Domain is less than 60 days old — ICANN policy blocks transfers for the first 60 days after registration or after a previous transfer. Wait it out.

Need help?

If you get stuck at any point, contact our support team with the domain name and the error message you are seeing. We will check the registry status and walk you through whatever is blocking the transfer.