This article explains how to prepare your domain to be transferred from Bluehost to a new registrar. You will initiate the transfer itself with the gaining registrar, but you can do a few things to ensure the process goes smoothly.

This process includes transfers to/from our MX partners.

Are you transferring the ownership of your domain to another person? Read about Transferring Domain Ownership.

• Prepare Your Domain
• Review Contact Information
• Update Name Servers
• Unlock the Domain
• Obtain the EPP Code
• Initiate the domain transfer
• Approve the transfer

Prepare Your Domain

There are a few things you need to do before transferring your domain. First, follow these steps to access your domain settings:

Account Manager

1. Log in to your Bluehost control panel.
2. Click the Domains tab from the side navigation to the left.
   

Bluerock

1. Log in to your Bluehost control panel.
2. Select Domains from the side navigation menu to the left. 
   

Review Contact Information

Your contact information is included on your domain's record in the WHOIS database, as required by ICANN. Upon transfer, the gaining registrar will use the information on the domain's record to email critical information regarding the transfer to the administrative contact, so you need to make sure it's correct. It's best to avoid using an email address associated with the domain — use a public email service, like Gmail, instead.

You will only see the option to opt out of the 60-day transfer lock IF saving your changes will trigger a Change of Registrant request. If the option isn't there, the Change of Registrant process (steps 7, 9, and 10) will not apply.

Follow these steps to update your domain's contact information:

Account Manager

1. Click the Domain Contacts tab.
   
2. Click EDIT next to Domain Contacts.
   
3. You can view and edit each individually, depending on which tab you click on (Owner, Admin, Tech).

   Owner:

   

   Admin:

   

   Tech:

   
4. Select the contact you wish to update to, and SAVE changes.
   

   Note: If you need to add new contact information, you will need to click the Add a new domain contact link under Domain Contacts before you can make the changes to your contact settings.

5. Locate the verification email and click the link to approve the changes.

Bluerock

1. Next to the domain name you wish to update, click the ▼ icon next to Manage. 
2. Select the Contact info from the drop-down menu that appears.
   

Update Name Servers

It is entirely possible to register your domain with one company and host your website with another, so you can continue hosting your website here if you would like. But if you've already moved your website files to a new host, you may want to update your name servers now to minimize downtime during the transfer. You cannot make DNS changes while the transfer is in progress, so it is important that you do it now.

Account Manager

1. Click the Advanced Tools tab.
   
2. Click the MANAGE button next to Nameservers (DNS).
   
3. Enter the settings for your new hosting provider.
4. Click the SAVE button.
   

Bluerock

1. Click the Domains tab from the side navigation menu to the left. 
2. Next to the domain name you wish to update, click the ▼ icon next to Manage. 
3. Select the DNS option from the drop-down menu that appears.
   
4. Click the Edit button.
5. Select Custom.
6. Enter the new name servers provided by your new registrar.
7. Once done, click the Save button. 
   

Your new DNS settings will begin to propagate as soon as you save your changes. Each ISP updates at a different rate, usually taking 24 - 72 hours to complete worldwide. During this time, your emails will be down, and your web traffic will be directed to either the old or new host, depending on the visitor's ISP.

Unlock the Domain

Domains are locked by default to prevent unauthorized transfers. You must unlock the domain before it can be transferred to a new registrar.

Account Manager

1. Click the Transfer or Move Domain section.
   
2. Click the Domain Locked toggle.
   

Bluerock

1. Next to the domain name you wish to update, click the ▼ icon next to Manage, then choose Security from the drop-down menu that appears.
   
2. On the Security options, locate Transfer Lock, then click the switch icon on the right side to Unlock the Domain.
   

Obtain EPP Code

Next, you need the EPP code, which other registrars may refer to as the Authorization or Auth code. It is essentially a unique password for the domain, made up of letters, numbers, and special characters, which you'll give to the gaining registrar to authorize the transfer.

Account Manager

1. Click on the Transfer or Move Domain section.
   
2. Click the REQUEST AUTH CODE button to request the authorization (EPP) code.
   
3. You will be taken to a page where you will need to check that you acknowledge transfer agreements, then click the CONTINUE TRANSFER button.

Bluerock

1. Next to the domain name you wish to update, click the ▼ icon next to Manage, then choose Security from the drop-down menu that appears.
   
2. Scroll down, locate the Transfer Authorization / EPP Code, and then click the Send Code button.
   

Initiate Domain Transfer

Now, your domain is ready to be transferred. The transfer itself will be initiated with the gaining registrar, so you'll need to contact them for specific instructions, but here's a general idea of what you'll need to do:

1. Log in to your account with the gaining registrar.
2. Begin the domain transfer process according to their instructions.
3. Please provide them with the EPP code you copied from the Transfer EPP tab.
4. Follow any additional steps and/or validation they require.

Approve the Transfer

Domain transfers can take up to five days to complete, but you can expedite the process by approving it manually once the transfer is pending.
 

Account Manager

1. Click the Domain Name tab from the side navigation menu to the left.
   
2. Click the Transfer or Move Domain section.
   
3. Approve the transfer.

Bluerock

1. Click the Domains tab from the side navigation menu to the left.
2. Click the Transfer submenu. 
3. Scroll down and select the domain pending transfer from the list.
4. Click the Transfer EPP tab to the right.
5. Click Approve.