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How To Transfer Domains from Dotster to GoDaddy

Donna Fontenot

Rumor has it* that Dotster may be in financial trouble. If so, it may be wise to move your domains to another registrar. Each registrar likely has its own process for transferring domains from one registrar to another, but I thought I'd document the process of moving domains from Dotster to GoDaddy in case anyone needs to know how to do so.

  1. Go to Dotster and make sure your administrative email address is valid, and that you can receive email at that address. If not, fix that. Unlock the domains you wish to transfer. (My domains didn't need to be unlocked because they weren't lockable in the first place). Remove any privacy features you may have for the domains. (I didn't have those).
  2. Go to GoDaddy and click on Transfer Now (look for it on the home page). Let them know the domains to transfer, and pay to do so.
  3. GoDaddy will send you a couple of emails. The first is a Transfer Acknowledgment, which lets you know that they have sent an request for approval email to the administrative contact currently associated with the domain name(s). The second is a Transfer email that contains the Transaction ID and Security Code for this transfer.
  4. Go to Dotster, place a check next to all the domains you are transferring, and then choose Retrieve Authorization Code from the dropdown at the bottom. Dotster will send an email with a new Auth Code for the domains you checked.
  5. Back at Godaddy, do the following. Log in to your Account Manager. From the Domain Names menu, select Manage Domains. Select Pending Transfers. Click the Authorization button and select Begin Transfer Authorization from the list. The Authorization button is located in the right corner of the toolbar. In the Transfer Authorization section, enter your Transaction ID and Security Code from the email that Godaddy sent you. Then, enter the Authorization Code that you received from Dotster.

    6. Now...just wait. It could take up to 5 days for the transfer to take place.

    *The above rumor is a RUMOR. Which means it may not be true. But it's worth keeping your ears open, just in case.