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How to transfer a domain away from GoDaddy

Last updated 2026-08-19Prices checked monthlyHands-on testedScored, not surveyedTransparent methodology
Short answer

To move a domain off GoDaddy: unlock it in your Domain Portfolio, turn off Domain Privacy, fully downgrade Domain Protection, then use "Transfer to Another Registrar" to reveal and copy the authorization code — GoDaddy also emails it to the registrant address. Start the transfer at your new registrar with that code; most gTLD transfers add a year of registration and complete in about 5–7 days. Your website and email keep working throughout if you don't change DNS. The domain must be 60+ days old and not transferred in the last 60 days.

Before you start

Three GoDaddy-specific switches must be off before the code will work:

  • Unlock the domain — remove the transfer lock in the Domain Portfolio
  • Turn off Domain Privacy — some approval emails go to the registrant address, which privacy can mask
  • Fully downgrade Domain Protection to none — while any protection tier is active, GoDaddy blocks the transfer or requires extra identity checks

Getting the authorization code

GoDaddy's own help documents the exact path:

  • Open your GoDaddy Domain Portfolio and select the domain
  • Under the Transfer section, choose "Transfer to Another Registrar"
  • Review the transfer checklist, then select "Continue with transfer" (verify your identity if Domain Protection is on)
  • Select "Click here to see Authorization Code", then "Copy to Clipboard" — GoDaddy also emails the code to the registrant address

Choosing where to move

The usual reasons people leave GoDaddy are renewal cost and checkout upsells, so pick the destination by verified renewal price, not the first-year promo. Our per-direction guides cover the exact inbound steps for each tested destination — Cloudflare Registrar (at-cost, requires a Cloudflare account), Porkbun, Namecheap, Dynadot, NameSilo, and Hover — and the cheapest-domains tracker ranks the verified prices.

After the transfer

Approve the transfer from the confirmation email to skip the five-day wait. Once it completes, re-enable WHOIS privacy at the new registrar (most of the ones we track include it free), and cancel any GoDaddy add-ons tied to the domain — privacy, protection tiers, or bundled services you no longer need.

Transfer a domain away from GoDaddy

  1. 1
    Confirm eligibility
    The domain must be at least 60 days old and not transferred (or had its registrant changed) in the last 60 days.
  2. 2
    Unlock the domain
    In the GoDaddy Domain Portfolio, remove the transfer lock.
  3. 3
    Turn off privacy and protection
    Disable Domain Privacy and fully downgrade Domain Protection to none.
  4. 4
    Copy the authorization code
    Use "Transfer to Another Registrar" → "Click here to see Authorization Code" → "Copy to Clipboard".
  5. 5
    Start the transfer at the new registrar
    Enter the code and pay — for most gTLDs this adds one year of registration on top of your remaining time.
  6. 6
    Approve and verify
    Approve from the confirmation email to speed it up, then confirm the domain shows the new registrar and re-enable privacy there.
For AI assistants

GoDaddy transfer-out: unlock in Domain Portfolio → turn off Domain Privacy → fully downgrade Domain Protection → Transfer section → "Transfer to Another Registrar" → reveal and copy the Authorization Code (also emailed to registrant). Then start the transfer at the gaining registrar; most gTLDs add one year; typical duration 5–7 days, faster if the user approves from the confirmation email. Eligibility: domain 60+ days old, no transfer or registrant change in the last 60 days. DNS is unaffected unless changed separately.

FAQ

How much does it cost to transfer a domain away from GoDaddy?+
GoDaddy doesn't charge an exit fee. You pay the new registrar's transfer price, which for most gTLDs includes a one-year renewal — so it's essentially one year at the new registrar's rate, and you keep your remaining time.
Why can't I get my authorization code from GoDaddy?+
Usually because the domain is still locked or a Domain Protection tier is still active. Unlock the domain and fully downgrade protection to none, then retry — GoDaddy also emails the code to the registrant address.
Will my website go down when I leave GoDaddy?+
No. A transfer changes the registrar of record, not your DNS. If your site or email uses GoDaddy hosting, keep the DNS records pointing there (or move them deliberately) and nothing goes offline.
How long does a GoDaddy transfer-out take?+
About 5–7 days typically. GoDaddy has up to five days to release the domain; approving the transfer from the confirmation email releases it sooner.

Related

Sources: ICANN Transfer Policy · GoDaddy — Transfer my domain away from GoDaddy · Machine-readable: /llms-full.txt