How to Transfer Namecheap Domains to Google Domains

Domains

If you run a website, at some point you will need to transfer domains to another registrar. This is true no matter how advanced you are, whether you’re a student, enthusiast, or business owner. In the past, this was a bothersome process with plenty of horror stories involving sore losers (old registrars). It’s more automated today. Follow along to see how easy a domain transfer truly is today.

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Is transferring a domain universal across all registrars? For the most part, yes.

There will be a few differences, including interface actions and locations, but the main process is the same. For this article though, we will be transferring a domain from Namecheap to Google Domains.

Important Security Tip

Before we get started we want to mention an important security bit, well, two actually.

Only register or transfer your domain with registrars you trust. Don’t choose a fly-by-night registrar, choose one that has been around for a while and is generally trusted. The cheapest one isn’t always better. Besides, we’re talking like $3 of potential savings a year anyway.

Otherwise, they may be a little loose with any domains you own, dragging you and your website’s reputation down. This happened with one of our bigger inactive domains. It was autoparked with some naughty imagery. Making money on us at the risk of losing everything? No thanks.

Keep your domains with a separate company than your hosting. If your host and registrar are with the same company and their servers go down, you can be in a world of hurt. This happened to us when we were with Godaddy several years ago. They had server trouble and EVERYTHING was down, all web properties and services for us and our clients.

Since they controlled our files and our DNS, we couldn’t just stand them up at a temporary host while they were fixing the issues. That was not a good month for us. This isn’t just a one time thing or just a Godaddy thing. This has happened several times before with other companies. Don’t risk it!

Transfer Domain Procedure

1. Under Domain List or Dashboard, go to the domain in question and click on Details link or Manage button.

Namecheap Dashboard Account Navigation

Make sure the domain isn’t new or recently transferred. At least 60 days need to have passed for either one.

2. Click on Sharing & Transfer.

Namecheap Web Asset Account Secondary Navigation

3. Scroll down and click the Unlock link under Transfer Out.

Namecheap Transfer Out Domain Lock

4. After you see the Domain unlocked successfully message, click on the Auth Code button.

Namecheap Domain Lock Unlocked Successfully

The domain lock or registrar lock is a security feature that prevents unauthorized domain transfers. Keep your domain yours. This feature is enabled by default with nearly all registrars.

You only need to turn this off when you initiate a transfer. Make sure it’s locked with your new registrar after the transfer is complete.

After you unlock your domain to be ready to transfer, you need an auth code, sometimes called an EPP code, to provide to your new registrar.

Auth codes, like domain locks, are an additional protection measure to make sure you are the only person able to transfer your domain. Auth/EPP codes are specifically required for these TLDs:

  • .com
  • .net
  • .org
  • .us
  • .biz
  • .info
  • .me
  • .co
  • .io
  • .ca
  • .tv
  • .in
  • .mobi
  • .cc
  • .tech
  • .top
  • .party
  • .loan
  • .faith
  • and other new gTLD, country codes

This code is unique, like a secure password you’ll see in a password manager. It’s assigned by the registrar at the time of registration. This leads to the next question, “If this auth code is like a password, should I even give this out?”

No, you shouldn’t, unless you are transferring your domain to another registrar like we’re writing about here. Then you provide the code to the new registrar in their automated transfer domain process.

If your host asks you for your domain’s auth code, tell them no. If they say that providing the auth code is the only way to verify the domain in order to tie the hosting account to the domain, then find a new host.

If verification is necessary (this is not typical for hosting, just point your domain via an A record [and maybe a CNAME] and voila), there are other methods in which you can do this, like changing your nameserver.

5. Fill out as much as you need to here, then click the Send Code button.

Namecheap Get Auth Code Via Email

6. The confirmation alert is under the domain sub-navigation menu. You’ll have to scroll back up to see it.

Namecheap Auth Code Email Success Notification

7. Check your email for the authorization code. This email will be sent to your registrant email:

Requested Authorization Code for [DOMAIN]

Hello [NAME],

Please find the requested transfer Authorization Code for your domain listed below.

The transfer Authorization Code (sometimes referred to as EPP or Authorization Key) is a security key generated by the current Registrar and verified through the global registries. These codes are updated periodically for security reasons, thus this key will only be valid for a limited time.

Your Authorization Code is: [LONG RANDOM CHARACTER CODE]
For Domain: [DOMAIN]

This is an automated response to provide your Authorization Code, please do not reply to this email.

Sincerely,
Team Namecheap
Namecheap.com

8. Go to Google Domains Transfer page.

Google Domains Transfer Start Page

9. Type your domain in the search field.

10. If you’ve followed along in the steps, you’ll see information about your current registrar, the cost to transfer, the lock status, and the authorization code field.

After the transfer at the new registrar is initiated and the auth code is provided, the transfer will be initiated at the Registry level. Registrar has 5 days to release your domain(s) per ICANN Transfer Policy.

Google Domains Transfer Preparation Enter Auth Code

11. Enter authorization code into the field.

12. Click the Continue button.

13. Review web settings.

We recommend you select the Copy and let Google manage my DNS settings (recommended) option. You can always make changes if you need to later. The good thing about managing DNS with Google is the DNS changes will propagate quickly.

Google Domains Import DNS Web Settings

14. Click the Continue button.

15. Review the Configure registration settings information.

You don’t have to wait until the time is nearly expired, you won’t lose any time by transferring now. The renewal date stays the same.

16. Keep Privacy protection on and Auto-renew on.

These are invaluable security features.

17. Click on the Proceed to checkout button.

18. Review contact information to make sure it’s correct or set up contact information if this is your first domain with Google.

There’s also a reminder here about Privacy protection.

19. Review purchase information and payment method or set up payment method if this is your first checkout with Google.

20. Click the Buy button.

21. You’ll now see the domain show up on your My domains page, near the top, listed as Pending.

Google now asks your previous registrar to release the domain. It could take up to a week and they may contact you for approval.

Google Domains Pending Domains Transfer in Progress

Here’s the email Namecheap sent to notify us about the transfer authorization:

Domain [DOMAIN] transfer confirmation request

STANDARDIZED FORM OF AUTHORIZATION

DOMAIN NAME TRANSFER – Confirmation of Registrar Transfer Request

Attention: WhoisGuard Protected
Re: Transfer of [DOMAIN]

received notification on [DATE] at [TIME] that you have requested a transfer to another domain registrar.

If you WANT TO PROCEED with this transfer, you do not need to respond to this message. If you WISH TO CANCEL the transfer, please go to our website.

If we do not hear from you by [DATE] (5 days) at [TIME], the transfer will proceed.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact [email protected]

Conclusion

That’s it. The whole process takes a week, but the actual hands on process is 10 minutes depending on email speed, and whether you know your DNS information. Pretty simple.

What do you have to add to transferring domains? The best registrars? The worst experiences? Let us know your thoughts.