Moving Your Domain From GoDaddy to Hostinger? Follow These Steps to Avoid Downtime

Transferring a domain from GoDaddy to Hostinger involves unlocking the domain at GoDaddy, obtaining its authorization code, and initiating the transfer through Hostinger.

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The process typically takes several days, although eligibility requirements and delays can vary depending on the domain extension, registration history, and registrar policies.

The most important thing to know is that transferring a domain registration is not the same as moving a website. Your website files, WordPress installation, email accounts, and DNS records do not automatically move just because you transfer the domain.

If you prepare these components before starting, you can move your domain to Hostinger while reducing the risk of downtime or interrupted email service.

What You Need Before Transferring Your Domain

Before beginning, make sure you can access both your GoDaddy account and your Hostinger account.

You should also have access to the email address associated with your domain registration, because a transfer may require approval or verification.

Check these five things first:

• Domain ownership: You must have permission to manage the domain and authorize its transfer.

• Domain eligibility: Most generic domains, such as .com, can be transferred between registrars, but restrictions may apply to recently registered or transferred domains and certain domain extensions.

• Domain expiration date: If the domain is close to expiration, check the registrar's instructions before proceeding.

  Do not assume a transfer will finish before the expiration date.

• DNS configuration: Record your current nameservers and DNS records, particularly those used by your website and email provider.

• Website and email backups: Make sure you have a recent backup of your website and understand where your email is hosted.

If you only want to connect a GoDaddy-registered domain to a website hosted at Hostinger, you may not need to transfer the registration at all.

You can keep the domain registered at GoDaddy and point it to Hostinger by changing the relevant DNS settings.

That distinction matters: a domain transfer changes which company manages the registration, while a DNS change controls where the domain directs visitors and related services.

Step 1: Check Whether Your Domain Is Eligible for Transfer

Sign in to your GoDaddy account and identify the domain you want to move.

Check its registration date, expiration date, transfer status, and any restrictions displayed in the account.

Many generic top-level domains are subject to a 60-day transfer restriction after initial registration, certain changes to registrant information, or a previous registrar transfer.

The exact rules depend on the domain extension and the circumstances of the registration.

If your domain was registered or transferred recently, you may need to wait before moving it.

Certain changes to the registrant's name, organization, or email address can also trigger restrictions, so avoid making unnecessary ownership changes immediately before a transfer.

Country-code domains, such as some national domain extensions, may follow different rules.

Always check the eligibility requirements for your specific extension rather than assuming every domain follows the same process.

Before continuing, confirm that the domain is not subject to a transfer lock or another restriction that would prevent the request from succeeding.

Step 2: Back Up Your Website and Record Your DNS Settings

A registrar transfer does not automatically migrate the content of your website from one hosting provider to another.

If your website is already hosted at GoDaddy, you must handle the hosting migration separately.

If your website is hosted elsewhere, it may continue working during the registrar transfer, provided its DNS configuration remains intact and the relevant services stay active.

Before changing anything, document your existing DNS configuration.

Important records can include:

• A records: Direct a domain or subdomain to an IPv4 address.

• AAAA records: Direct a domain or subdomain to an IPv6 address.

• CNAME records: Point one hostname to another hostname.

• MX records: Identify the mail servers responsible for receiving email.

• TXT records: Often support domain verification, email authentication, and other services.

• Nameservers: Identify the DNS service responsible for managing the domain's DNS zone.

You do not necessarily need to recreate every record manually.

The purpose of recording them is to ensure you can restore the correct configuration if something changes during the transfer.

Protect your email before making changes

If your email uses Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or another external email provider, check which DNS records that provider requires.

Preserve the relevant MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records as applicable.

If your email is hosted with GoDaddy, determine whether the mailbox service will remain active after you transfer the domain registration.

The effect depends on your actual email product and subscription; transferring the domain does not automatically migrate existing messages or mailbox data to Hostinger.

Do not cancel your existing hosting or email service simply because the domain transfer has started. Keep essential services active until you have confirmed that the website and email work correctly with the intended configuration.

Step 3: Unlock Your Domain at GoDaddy

Most eligible domains must be unlocked before another registrar can accept the transfer.

1. Sign in to your GoDaddy account.

2. Open your domain management area.

3. Select the domain you want to transfer.

4. Find its domain settings or transfer settings.

5. Locate the domain lock or transfer lock option.

6. Disable the lock if it is enabled and the domain is eligible for transfer.

The exact labels and page layout can change as GoDaddy updates its interface.

If you cannot find the setting, use the domain management help available in your account.

A domain lock is a protection designed to help prevent unauthorized transfers.

Disabling it temporarily is part of the normal transfer process, but it should be done only when you are ready to proceed.

If the domain remains locked after you change the setting, allow time for the update to take effect and check whether another restriction applies.

Step 4: Obtain the Authorization Code From GoDaddy

The authorization code, also called an EPP code or transfer code, helps the receiving registrar verify that the transfer has been authorized.

In your GoDaddy domain settings, look for an option to transfer the domain away from GoDaddy or obtain its authorization code.

Follow the on-screen instructions to request the code.

Depending on the domain and GoDaddy's current process, the code may be displayed in your account or sent through an authorized communication channel.

Keep the code private.

Do not publish it, share it in a public support forum, or send it to anyone who does not need it.

If the authorization code does not arrive, check your account notifications and email, including spam or junk folders.

Confirm that you are using the correct domain and that no additional verification is pending.

If GoDaddy reports that the code is unavailable or the transfer cannot proceed, resolve that issue before starting another request at Hostinger.

Step 5: Start the Domain Transfer at Hostinger

Once your domain is unlocked and you have the authorization code, initiate the transfer through Hostinger.

1. Sign in to your Hostinger account.

2. Open the domain management or domain transfer section.

3. Choose the option to transfer an existing domain.

4. Enter your complete domain name.

5. Follow the eligibility and pricing instructions shown for that domain.

6. Enter the authorization code when requested.

7. Review the order and confirm the transfer request.

The available options, interface labels, and prices can vary by domain extension and account.

Check the current checkout details rather than relying on an advertised price that may not apply to your domain.

For many common generic domain extensions, a transfer includes a one-year registration extension.

However, the exact treatment depends on the extension's rules and the transaction.

Review Hostinger's displayed terms before paying.

A domain transfer is not necessarily free, even if you already pay for hosting.

Hosting and domain registration are separate services unless a specific plan or promotion says otherwise.

After submitting the request, monitor your Hostinger account and email for any required confirmation.

Step 6: Approve the Transfer if Required

Some transfers require additional approval from the current registrar, the domain registrant, or both.

Follow the instructions in the messages and account notifications you receive.

Check that the messages relate to your exact domain and come from a legitimate registrar or domain-management service before clicking links or submitting information.

If GoDaddy offers an option to approve or expedite an eligible outgoing transfer, read the explanation carefully before using it.

An approval option may allow a transfer to complete sooner than waiting for the ordinary process, but availability and timing depend on the domain and registrar rules.

Do not assume that entering the authorization code finishes the transfer immediately.

The request may still be pending verification, approval, or processing.

If the transfer is rejected, check the reason before submitting another request.

Common causes include an incorrect authorization code, a domain lock, an eligibility restriction, or incomplete approval.

Step 7: Choose the Correct Nameserver and DNS Option

This is one of the most important decisions in the transfer process because it determines where your DNS records will be managed.

Hostinger's transfer process allows you to keep your existing nameservers or switch to Hostinger's nameservers.

Depending on the options available for your domain, you may also be able to configure custom DNS settings.

Hostinger explains that the right choice depends on where your website and email are hosted.

Option A: Keep your existing nameservers

Choose this option if your website or email services are still managed by another provider and you want to preserve the existing DNS arrangement during the transfer.

For example, suppose your website is hosted at Hostinger, but your email runs through Microsoft 365.

If your existing DNS provider manages the records for both services, keeping the current nameservers can help preserve that arrangement while the registration moves.

However, confirm that your existing DNS provider will continue managing the DNS zone after the domain registration transfers.

Some providers may restrict DNS management once the domain is registered elsewhere.

Option B: Switch to Hostinger's nameservers

Choose Hostinger's nameservers if you want to manage your DNS zone through Hostinger and have prepared the records required by your website and other services.

This option can simplify management when your website and email are hosted at Hostinger.

It can also interrupt services that depend on existing DNS records if those records are not recreated correctly.

Before switching, verify that the Hostinger DNS zone contains the necessary website, email, verification, and other custom records.

Option C: Use custom DNS settings

If your website is hosted at Hostinger but your email is managed by a separate provider, custom DNS settings may be appropriate when the transfer workflow supports them.

This approach requires more careful configuration.

You need to ensure that the website records point to Hostinger while the email records continue directing mail to the correct provider.

The safest choice is the one that preserves your existing working configuration. Do not switch nameservers simply because you are transferring the domain.

First determine which service currently manages your DNS and which records your website and email need.

Step 8: Wait for the Domain Transfer to Complete

A domain transfer to Hostinger typically takes five to seven days, although the actual duration depends on the domain extension, verification requirements, and how quickly the current registrar processes the request.

Hostinger provides this general timeframe in its transfer guidance.

During this period, monitor your Hostinger account and the email address associated with the transfer.

Complete any outstanding verification or approval steps promptly.

If the transfer appears stuck, check its status in Hostinger before contacting support.

Look for messages indicating that the domain is locked, the authorization code is incorrect, or an approval is still required.

Do not repeatedly submit new transfer requests without understanding the reason for the delay.

A pending request may simply need a particular verification step to be completed.

You should also avoid changing nameservers during the transfer unless the registrar's instructions explicitly permit it.

Hostinger notes that nameserver changes may be restricted while the transfer is in progress.

Once the transfer is complete, Hostinger should become the registrar responsible for managing the domain registration.

Your website, however, still depends on the hosting configuration and DNS records being correct.

Step 9: Verify Your Website, DNS, and Email After the Transfer

When Hostinger confirms that the transfer is complete, perform a practical check of every service connected to the domain.

Test the website

Open the domain in a browser and confirm that the correct website loads.

Check both the root domain, such as example.com, and the www version if you use it.

Verify that important pages, images, forms, and navigation links work as expected.

If you use WordPress, log in to the administration dashboard and check that the site is functioning normally.

Test any important plugins, payment processes, customer forms, or other business-critical features.

Confirm HTTPS and the SSL certificate

Visit the site using HTTPS and verify that the browser does not display a certificate warning.

If the certificate is missing or invalid, check the SSL configuration in your hosting account.

A registrar transfer does not itself guarantee that the website's SSL certificate is installed or configured correctly.

Avoid treating a successful domain transfer as proof that the entire website migration is complete.

Test email delivery

If the domain is used for email, send a message from an external account to an address on your domain.

Then send a reply from the domain address to the external account.

If messages fail, review the MX records and any required SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.

The correct configuration depends on your email provider.

Also verify any other domain-dependent services, such as subdomains, application endpoints, third-party verification records, and business tools.

Check the DNS configuration

Compare the active DNS records with the configuration you documented before the transfer.

If you changed nameservers, confirm that the new DNS zone contains every record needed by your website and other services.

DNS changes can take time to become visible across different networks.

If the domain works for some visitors but not others, allow for propagation and investigate whether the records are consistent.

Hostinger's guidance distinguishes transferring a domain registration from connecting a domain to a hosting service, reinforcing why these checks matter after the transfer.

Step 10: Confirm Renewal, Ownership, and Security Settings

After the transfer, open the domain management area in Hostinger and confirm that the domain appears in your account.

Review the registration and expiration details, the registrant contact information, the renewal settings, and the available domain protection options.

Do not assume that every domain extension receives an additional year under identical conditions.

Hostinger states that generic extensions such as .com and .net are generally renewed for one year through a transfer, while some country-code extensions are not renewed as part of the transfer.

Check the terms for your specific extension and transaction.

Enable automatic renewal if that suits your needs, and keep your account's recovery information current.

Use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication wherever available.

Once everything is working, review the DNS records and make sure you know which provider is responsible for managing them.

This will make future website changes, email configuration, and troubleshooting easier.

Common Problems When Transferring a Domain From GoDaddy to Hostinger

Even when the steps are straightforward, a transfer can fail or take longer than expected.

The following are the most common issues to investigate.

The domain is still locked

GoDaddy says that an unlocked domain can take up to 90 minutes to reflect the change in its account.

If Hostinger still reports that the domain is locked, wait for the change to propagate through the registrar systems and try again.

Also check for a separate registry lock, a transfer restriction, or a protection setting that requires additional verification.

The authorization code is rejected

Check that you copied the correct EPP or authorization code for the exact domain.

Avoid adding spaces or characters accidentally.

If the code still fails, return to GoDaddy and request or verify the current code.

If you have just unlocked the domain, allow time for the change to take effect before retrying.

The domain is not eligible for transfer

A recently registered domain, a domain that was recently transferred, or a domain subject to a registrant-change restriction may be ineligible.

Hostinger also requires the domain to meet its extension-specific transfer requirements and be in an appropriate registration status.

Some extensions may not be supported for transfer at all.

If the extension is not supported, you may still be able to connect the domain to a Hostinger-hosted website without transferring the registration.

The website stops working after the transfer

The first thing to investigate is the nameserver and DNS configuration.

If the nameservers changed, confirm that the new DNS zone contains the correct records.

Check the website's A or AAAA records, any required CNAME records, and the hosting configuration.

If the domain resolves correctly but the website still fails, investigate the hosting account, web server, SSL certificate, and application configuration rather than assuming the registration transfer itself is the cause.

Email stops arriving

Email problems frequently occur when MX records are missing or incorrect after a DNS change.

Check the email provider's required DNS configuration, including any relevant authentication records.

If your mailbox is managed by a separate provider, transferring the domain registration does not automatically move those mailboxes to Hostinger.

The transfer takes longer than seven days

Five to seven days is Hostinger's general estimate, not a guarantee.

Check the transfer status, outstanding approval requests, and any extension-specific requirements.

If no action is pending and the transfer remains incomplete, contact Hostinger support with the domain name and the status shown in your account.

Contact GoDaddy as well if the issue appears to involve the outgoing transfer or authorization code.

Should You Transfer Your Domain or Just Point It to Hostinger?

The right choice depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Transfer the domain to Hostinger if you want Hostinger to manage the registration, renewals, and domain settings, and the extension is eligible for transfer.

Keep the domain at GoDaddy and point it to Hostinger if you only need to host your website at Hostinger.

This can avoid the registrar-transfer process entirely.

Pointing a domain to Hostinger generally involves changing nameservers or updating the appropriate DNS records at the current provider.

Hostinger supports both approaches, depending on the setup.

For example, a business might keep its domain registered at GoDaddy while hosting a WordPress website at Hostinger and using Microsoft 365 for email.

With the correct DNS configuration, these services can work together without moving the domain registration.

A transfer is therefore a choice about domain management, not a technical requirement for using Hostinger's hosting services.

• Typical transfer time: Five to seven days, according to Hostinger's published guidance.
• Authorization: Most standard transfers require an EPP or authorization code from the current registrar.
• Eligibility: Many common domain extensions have a 60-day restriction following registration or a previous transfer.
• Website continuity: A registrar transfer does not automatically migrate website files or email accounts.
• Alternative: A domain can remain registered at GoDaddy while pointing to a website hosted at Hostinger.

Sources

The following official documentation supports the transfer requirements, registrar procedures, and DNS guidance discussed in this article.

1. Hostinger — How to Transfer a Domain to Hostinger. Requirements, authorization codes, nameserver choices, DNS configuration, and extension-specific considerations.

   Hostinger Domain Transfer Guide

2. GoDaddy — Unlock or Lock My Domain. Domain-lock settings, transfer eligibility restrictions, and the time required for unlocking changes to take effect.

   GoDaddy Domain Unlocking Guide

3. GoDaddy — Get the Authorization Code for My Domain. Instructions for obtaining an authorization or EPP code before transferring a domain to another registrar.

   GoDaddy Authorization Code Guide

4. Hostinger — How Long Does a Domain Transfer Take? Published transfer-time estimates and reasons a transfer may take longer than expected.

   Hostinger Transfer Timing Guide

5. Hostinger — How to Point a Domain to Hostinger. Instructions for connecting a domain registered elsewhere to Hostinger hosting without transferring its registration.

   Hostinger DNS Connection Guide

6. Hostinger — How to Transfer a Domain for Free. Eligibility conditions for free transfers associated with qualifying hosting purchases.

   Hostinger Free Domain Transfer Guide

   

   Web Hosting

   Hostinger VPS

   4.3

   4.3

   Hostinger VPS delivers KVM virtualization, NVMe storage and full root access at prices that undercut most competing cloud providers.

   • Strong price to specification ratio overall
   • NVMe storage included on every tier

   • Renewal rates climb steeply after promo
   • Self managed means security is your job

   Read review Get Started Affiliate Link