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How to Transfer a Domain From IONOS to NameSilo

The exact, ICANN-compliant steps — unlock at IONOS, grab the authorization code, and bring the domain into NameSilo. Mechanics grounded in each registrar's own documentation.

Last updated 2026-07-15Prices checked monthlyHands-on testedScored, not surveyedTransparent methodology
Short answer

To move a domain from IONOS to NameSilo: unlock it at IONOS, request the authorization (auth/EPP) code, then start the transfer at NameSilo and pay — for most gTLDs the fee adds a year to your registration. The domain must be at least 60 days old (ICANN rule), and the move typically takes 5–7 days.

Step 1 — At IONOS: unlock and get the auth code

First, clear the prerequisites: in domains, open renewal & transfer, select the domain, and disable the domain transfer lock, gtlds must have been registered under your name for at least 60 days (icann).

  1. Open Domains → Renewal & Transfer and select the domain
  2. Click "Show Authorization Code" — IONOS requests it from the registry, so it can take a few minutes to display
  3. Give the code to your new registrar

Source: IONOS transfer documentation.

Step 2 — At NameSilo: start the transfer

What it costs

A transfer renews the domain for one year at NameSilo's price. NameSilo's pricing is verified on this site — see its profile and the cheapest-renewals tracker.

The transfer adds one year to your registration (standard for most gTLDs), so you don't lose remaining time.

Source: NameSilo transfer documentation.

The full transfer process, step by step

These steps apply to every gTLD transfer between ICANN-accredited registrars, including IONOS → NameSilo.

  1. 1. Confirm the domain is eligible

    Under ICANN's Transfer Policy a domain can only move once it has been registered for at least 60 days and has not been transferred in the previous 60 days. A change of registrant can also start a fresh 60-day lock. A domain that recently expired and was renewed may need to wait ~45 days.

  2. 2. Unlock the domain

    Remove the registrar/transfer lock in your current registrar's dashboard. While locked, the gaining registrar cannot pull the domain.

  3. 3. Disable WHOIS privacy if needed

    Some registrars route the auth code or the transfer-approval email to the registrant address. If privacy masks that address, turn it off until the transfer completes.

  4. 4. Get the authorization code

    Request the authorization code (also called the auth code, EPP code, authInfo code, or transfer code) from your current registrar. These codes are time-limited, so use one promptly.

  5. 5. Start the transfer at the new registrar and pay

    Begin the transfer at the gaining registrar and enter the code. For most gTLDs the transfer includes a one-year renewal, so the fee is essentially one year at the new registrar's price.

  6. 6. Approve and wait

    Approve the transfer from the confirmation email (or in-dashboard) to speed it up; otherwise it auto-completes. Transfers typically take about 5–7 days.

What you gain by moving to NameSilo

We have not yet hands-on scored IONOS, so we don't publish a side-by-side score comparison here. NameSilo scores 8.1/10 overall in our testing — see its full review and the IONOS facts page for what we've verified.

NameSilo is one of the registrars we have hands-on tested and verified pricing for — a solid destination for a domain leaving IONOS. Scores use the same methodology applied site-wide.

Read the full NameSilo review →IONOS review →

FAQ

How long does transferring from IONOS to NameSilo take?+
Most gTLD transfers complete in about 5–7 days. You can speed it up by approving the transfer from the confirmation email instead of waiting for it to auto-complete.
Will I lose the time left on my registration?+
No. For most gTLDs the transfer includes a one-year renewal that is added on top of your remaining time, so you don't lose the period you already paid for.
Can I transfer a domain I just registered at IONOS?+
Not immediately. ICANN's Transfer Policy requires a domain to be at least 60 days old and not transferred in the previous 60 days before it can move registrars.
Is WHOIS privacy included after I move to NameSilo?+
Free WHOIS privacy, included on all domains.

Sources

See other moves on the switch-registrar hub.