Moving From Bluehost to Hostinger? How to Transfer Your Domain Safely

Transferring a domain from Bluehost to Hostinger involves unlocking the domain, obtaining its EPP authorization code, and submitting a transfer request through Hostinger.

For most eligible domains, the process can take up to seven days.

The domain transfer itself does not move your website files, databases, or email accounts, so you must plan those services separately to avoid interruptions.

The safest approach is to check your domain’s eligibility, back up your website, record your DNS settings, and decide where your website and email will operate before starting the transfer.

If you only want to host your website at Hostinger, you may not need to transfer the domain registration at all.

Domain Registration and Web Hosting Are Two Different Things

Before starting, understand what you are moving.

A domain name is the address people use to reach your website.

Web hosting is the service that stores your website’s files and makes them accessible online.

Bluehost and Hostinger can provide both services, but transferring a domain registration does not automatically migrate everything associated with that domain.

For example, suppose your domain is registered with Bluehost and your website is hosted there.

If you transfer the registration to Hostinger without moving the website, the domain can still point to Bluehost’s servers.

Your site may continue working as long as its DNS configuration remains correct and the Bluehost hosting service stays active.

If your goal is to move both registration and hosting to Hostinger, plan the website migration separately.

You should also account for email services, especially if you use an address such as contact@yourdomain.com.

This distinction determines which DNS settings you should select during the transfer.

What to Check Before Transferring Your Domain

Confirm the following requirements before opening a transfer request:

• Domain eligibility: At least 60 days must generally have passed since the domain was registered or last transferred.

• Domain status: The domain must be active and not suspended or in the redemption period.

• Transfer lock: The domain must be unlocked at Bluehost.

• Authorization code: You need a valid EPP, Auth, or authorization code from Bluehost.

• DNSSEC: Hostinger requires DNSSEC to be disabled before the transfer.

• Registrant email: You must be able to access the email address associated with the domain registrant.

• Expiration date: Hostinger recommends starting the transfer with at least seven days remaining before expiration.

• Recent renewal: Hostinger advises waiting at least 45 days after the domain’s last renewal to avoid a renewal-reversal issue that may affect the expected expiration-date extension.

The exact requirements can vary by domain extension.

Check the eligibility rules for your specific extension before paying for the transfer.

It is also wise to avoid changing the domain registrant’s contact information immediately before transferring it.

Bluehost warns that certain changes to registrant details can trigger an additional 60-day transfer restriction.

Step 1: Back Up Your Website and Record Your DNS Settings

Start by preparing your website and any services connected to your domain.

If your website is hosted at Bluehost, create a complete backup before making changes.

This should include website files, databases, and any configuration information needed to restore the site.

If you use a content management system such as WordPress, verify that your backup covers both its files and its database.

Next, record your current DNS settings.

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DNS, or the Domain Name System, directs visitors and services to the correct servers.

Its records can determine where your website loads, where your email is delivered, and how subdomains behave.

Pay particular attention to:

• A records and AAAA records that point to website servers.

• CNAME records that direct one hostname to another.

• MX records that route incoming email.

• TXT records used for domain verification and email authentication, including SPF and DKIM.

• Any additional records used by subdomains, third-party services, or business applications.

You do not necessarily need to change these records during the transfer.

Recording them gives you a reference if you need to recreate the DNS configuration later.

Important: Do not cancel your Bluehost hosting plan or delete your email service just because you are transferring the domain.

Keep any services you still depend on active until you have confirmed that the website and email work correctly at their intended destinations.

Step 2: Unlock Your Domain in Bluehost

Domain registrations are commonly protected by a transfer lock to prevent unauthorized transfers.

You must remove that lock before another registrar can process the transfer.

1. Sign in to your Bluehost account.

2. Open the Domains section.

3. Select the domain you want to transfer.

4. Open its domain management settings.

5. Locate the domain lock or transfer-lock setting.

6. Disable the lock if it is enabled.

The exact interface can change as Bluehost updates its account dashboard.

If you cannot find the setting, consult Bluehost’s current transfer instructions or contact its support team.

After unlocking the domain, allow time for the change to take effect.

Hostinger notes that a recently unlocked domain may still appear locked for a couple of hours.

Unlocking the domain does not complete the transfer.

You must also obtain the authorization code.

Step 3: Get Your EPP Authorization Code From Bluehost

An EPP code, also called an Auth code or authorization code, is a security credential used to authorize a domain transfer.

Hostinger requires the code for eligible domain transfers.

Bluehost’s published instructions give the following process for most supported domains:

1. Sign in to the Bluehost Portal.

2. Select Domains.

3. Open the domain you want to move.

4. Select the Move & Access tab.

5. Click Request Auth Code.

6. Select the reason for the transfer and continue.

7. Choose Continue With Transfer.

8. Click Send Auth Code.

9. Check the email address associated with the domain registrant.

Bluehost sends the authorization code to the registrant’s email address, which may differ from the email address you normally use to log in to your Bluehost account.

Bluehost says delivery may take up to 24 hours.

Copy the code carefully.

It may contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, or special characters.

An extra space or a mistyped character can cause Hostinger to reject it.

Treat the code as sensitive information.

Share it only through the official transfer process.

Step 4: Check DNSSEC Before Starting the Transfer

DNSSEC, short for Domain Name System Security Extensions, adds cryptographic verification to DNS responses.

It helps protect against certain types of DNS manipulation, but an incompatible DNSSEC configuration can interfere with a domain transfer.

Hostinger’s transfer requirements state that DNSSEC must be disabled before the transfer begins.

Check whether DNSSEC is active for your domain in Bluehost’s domain settings or through the DNS provider responsible for your current configuration.

If it is enabled, follow the provider’s instructions to disable it before proceeding.

Do not confuse DNSSEC with ordinary DNS records.

Disabling DNSSEC does not mean deleting all your A, CNAME, MX, or TXT records.

Those records may still be essential for your website and email.

If you are unsure which provider manages DNSSEC for your domain, ask the provider before making changes.

Step 5: Start the Domain Transfer at Hostinger

Once your domain is unlocked and you have the EPP code, begin the transfer through Hostinger.

1. Sign in to your Hostinger account, or create an account if you do not already have one.

2. Open Hostinger’s domain transfer page.

3. Enter the full domain name you want to transfer.

   

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4. Check whether Hostinger supports the domain extension and confirms that the domain is eligible.

5. Follow the checkout process and review the transfer price and any renewal options displayed.

6. Enter the EPP authorization code when prompted.

7. Choose the appropriate nameserver option.

8. Submit the transfer request.

9. Check your email for any confirmation or authorization message and complete the required steps.

Review the checkout details before paying.

Domain transfer pricing and renewal options depend on the extension and the current offer.

For many generic extensions, such as .com and .net, a transfer typically includes a one-year registration extension.

Country-code extensions may follow different rules, so check the terms for your particular domain.

Hostinger also offers a one-year renewal option for selected extensions during checkout.

If the option does not appear, it may not be available for that extension.

Step 6: Choose the Correct Nameserver Option

Your nameserver selection is one of the most important decisions in the transfer process.

Nameservers determine which provider manages the DNS records for your domain.

Hostinger explains that nameservers cannot be changed while a domain transfer is in progress, which can take up to seven days.

Choose the option that matches your current setup and migration plan.

Option A: Keep Your Existing Nameservers

Choose this option if your website or email still relies on services outside Hostinger, or if you plan to migrate those services later.

Keeping the existing nameservers allows the current DNS provider to continue managing the domain’s DNS zone while the registration transfer proceeds.

This can reduce the risk of disrupting existing services.

However, check whether your current provider will continue allowing you to manage DNS records after the registration moves.

If it will not, you may need to recreate the DNS zone with another provider.

Option B: Switch to Hostinger Nameservers

Choose Hostinger’s nameservers if your website and email are already configured at Hostinger, or if you are ready to move DNS management there.

Before selecting this option, make sure the required DNS records are available at Hostinger.

If your email is hosted elsewhere, its MX and authentication records must be preserved or recreated correctly.

Switching nameservers without preparing the necessary records can interrupt website access, email delivery, or other connected services.

Option C: Use Custom DNS Settings

Hostinger may offer an advanced custom configuration option, depending on the transfer flow and domain.

This can be useful if you want DNS managed at Hostinger while keeping services such as email with another provider.

The records must be configured correctly for each service to continue working.

If you are not sure which option is appropriate, keep the existing nameservers while you verify the destination setup.

Do not change nameservers simply because you are transferring the registration.

Step 7: Wait for the Transfer to Complete

After submitting the request, monitor your Hostinger account and email for status updates.

A domain transfer may take several days, and Hostinger says the process can take up to seven days.

The actual duration depends on the domain extension, the registrars involved, and whether additional confirmation is required.

If you receive an approval email, follow its instructions promptly.

Check the registrant’s email account rather than relying only on your regular hosting-account inbox.

Avoid making unnecessary DNS changes while the transfer is pending.

Hostinger states that nameservers are locked during this period, so you should make the key DNS decision before submitting the request.

If the transfer is delayed, check the domain’s status in Hostinger and confirm that the authorization code was accepted.

Also verify that the domain is unlocked and eligible.

If the problem persists, contact Bluehost or Hostinger support with the exact error message.

Step 8: Test Your Website, Email, and Other Services

Do not assume that a completed registration transfer means every service is working correctly.

Test each service connected to the domain.

Website: Open the domain in a browser and check the homepage, important pages, forms, images, and login areas.

If the website was moved to Hostinger, verify that it is using the correct hosting configuration.

HTTPS: Confirm that the site loads securely over HTTPS and that its SSL/TLS certificate is valid.

A domain transfer does not automatically guarantee that the destination hosting service has a correctly configured certificate.

Email: Send and receive test messages using each important domain-based email address.

If email is hosted by Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or another provider, verify that the necessary MX and authentication records remain in place.

Subdomains: Check any subdomains used for applications, stores, customer portals, staging environments, or other services.

Third-party integrations: Test services that verify domain ownership or depend on DNS records, including analytics tools, website verification, and email authentication.

If something stops working, compare the current DNS configuration with the records you recorded before the transfer.

Correct the affected records with the provider managing your DNS zone.

Keep the old hosting service active until you have confirmed that the replacement environment is working and that you no longer need the old service.

Common Problems When Transferring From Bluehost to Hostinger

Hostinger Says the Domain Is Locked

The transfer lock may still be enabled, or the unlock request may not have taken effect yet.

Check the domain settings in Bluehost and allow a couple of hours for the change to register before retrying.

The EPP Code Is Rejected

Check the code for typing errors, extra spaces, or an outdated authorization code.

Make sure you requested it for the correct domain.

If the problem continues, request assistance from Bluehost and obtain a valid code.

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The Domain Is Not Eligible for Transfer

A domain registered or transferred within the past 60 days may be restricted from transferring again.

Other issues can include an expired or suspended domain, a redemption-period status, or an unsupported extension.

Confirm the specific reason before attempting another transfer.

The Website Stops Loading

Check whether the domain is still using the intended nameservers and whether the required DNS records exist with the provider managing the DNS zone.

If you changed nameservers, confirm that the destination DNS zone contains the correct website records.

Email Stops Working

Email interruptions often result from missing or incorrect MX records, or from missing SPF, DKIM, or other provider-specific DNS records.

Compare the active DNS zone with your saved configuration and restore the records required by your email provider.

The Transfer Takes Longer Than Expected

Check the transfer status in Hostinger, review the registrant’s email for approval requests, and verify the domain’s eligibility.

Contact support if the status does not explain the delay or if the transfer has failed.

Should You Transfer Your Domain or Only Connect It to Hostinger?

The right choice depends on what you want to change.

If you want Hostinger to manage your domain registration, renewals, and related settings, transferring the registration makes sense, provided your domain is eligible.

If you only want to move your website to Hostinger, you can usually keep the domain registered at Bluehost and point it to the Hostinger hosting service by configuring the appropriate DNS records or nameservers.

That approach avoids the registration-transfer process and may be simpler when you want to change hosting providers first.

If you intend to move both your website and domain, plan the website migration and DNS configuration before initiating the registration transfer.

This gives you more control over the order of changes and helps reduce the risk of downtime.

The key is to separate three tasks: transferring the domain registration, moving the website, and moving or preserving email.

They can be coordinated, but they are not the same operation.