How to transfer a domain to Hostinger (including from GoDaddy)

To transfer a domain to Hostinger, you unlock the domain at your current registrar, get its authorization (EPP) code, then start a transfer in the Domains section of hPanel and paste that code in. After you approve the transfer by email, it usually completes within about five to seven days, and your site and email keep working the whole time if you leave DNS alone.

Before you start, check two things: the domain must be more than 60 days old and not transferred in the last 60 days, and you need access to the email address on the domain’s contact record. If both are fine, the whole job takes a few minutes of your time plus a few days of waiting.

Transfer or just point it?

Many people searching for a Hostinger domain transfer don’t actually need one. Where a domain is registered and where a site is hosted are separate things. If you only want your website on Hostinger, you can keep the domain where it is and change its nameservers (or A record) to point at Hostinger. That takes effect within hours, not days.

A full transfer moves the registration itself, so Hostinger becomes the company you renew the domain with. Here’s how we’d choose:

• Just point the nameservers if you want the site live on Hostinger quickly, your domain is under 60 days old, or you’re happy with your current registrar’s renewal price and privacy settings.
• Transfer the domain if you want one bill and one dashboard, your current registrar is pushing expensive renewals or upsells, or you’re closing your account there.

A common middle path is to point the domain now, get the site running, and transfer the registration later when it suits you. If you’re moving hosting at the same time, our zero-downtime migration guide covers the site side.

Before you start

Most failed transfers fail because one of these wasn’t ready. Run through the list at your current registrar first.

• The 60-day rule: under ICANN rules, a domain generally can’t be transferred within 60 days of being registered or of its last transfer. Some registrars also apply a 60-day lock after certain contact changes.
• Domain unlocked: registrars lock domains by default to stop hijacking. Turn the transfer lock off.
• Authorization code: also called the EPP code, auth code or transfer key. You’ll paste it into hPanel.
• Reachable admin email: confirmation messages go to the registrant email on file. Make sure it’s an address you can read, and not one at the domain you’re transferring if that mail might break.
• Privacy, if needed: privacy protection hides your real email. Most transfers work with it on, but if the confirmation email doesn’t arrive, turning privacy off temporarily usually fixes it.
• Not about to expire: transfer well before the expiry date. A domain that’s expired or in a grace period can be harder to move.

Also write down your current DNS records: A, CNAME, MX and TXT. You probably won’t need them, but if anything changes during the move, that list saves you.

How to transfer a domain to Hostinger

The steps are the same for nearly every registrar. Hostinger’s interface changes from time to time, so we describe sections rather than exact button labels.

At your current registrar

1. Log in and open the domain’s settings page.
2. Turn off the transfer lock (sometimes called registrar lock or domain lock).
3. Check the registrant email is current, and disable privacy protection if your registrar requires it for transfers.
4. Request the authorization code. Some registrars show it on screen; others email it.

In hPanel

1. Log in to hPanel and go to the Domains section.
2. Choose the option to transfer a domain, and enter your domain name. hPanel checks whether it’s eligible.
3. Pay for the transfer. In most cases this includes an extra year of registration added to your current expiry date, so you don’t lose the time you already paid for.
4. Paste the authorization code when asked. If hPanel shows a pending transfer instead, look for an option to add the code there.
5. Watch your inbox for a confirmation email and approve it. Then check the old registrar too, since some send their own approve or reject message.
6. Wait for the status in the Domains section to show the transfer as complete.

Pricing for the transfer shows at checkout, and coupons rarely apply to it. If you’re also buying hosting, see our Hostinger coupons first, because some hosting plans include a free domain registration that may cover a new name instead.

Transfer from GoDaddy

GoDaddy is the registrar people most often leave for Hostinger, so here’s how to transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Hostinger specifically. GoDaddy also redesigns its dashboard now and then, so look for these settings by name if they’ve moved.

1. Sign in to GoDaddy and open your domain portfolio, then select the domain.
2. In the domain’s settings, find the domain lock and turn it off.
3. Find the option to transfer the domain away (or to another registrar) and request the authorization code. GoDaddy may ask you to confirm your identity first.
4. Start the transfer in hPanel’s Domains section and paste the code.
5. Approve the confirmation email. GoDaddy may then show a pending outgoing transfer that you can accept to speed things up; if you don’t, it typically completes on its own after the waiting period.

When you transfer a domain from GoDaddy to Hostinger, expect it to take up to five to seven days if you don’t accept it manually, and often less if you do. One thing to watch: if you use GoDaddy’s email or website builder on that domain, those services are separate from the registration. Plan where they’re going before you cancel anything at GoDaddy. Weighing up the two companies more broadly? Read Hostinger vs GoDaddy.

Your site during the transfer

A registration transfer doesn’t by itself move your website or email. What matters is your DNS, and in most transfers the existing nameservers carry over unchanged.

• Website: keeps loading from wherever it’s hosted now, as long as the nameservers stay the same.
• Email: keeps working as long as your MX records stay in place. The risk comes if your DNS is hosted by the old registrar and you close that account; copy the records first.
• SSL: your certificate is tied to the domain name, not the registrar, so it isn’t affected. Our free SSL explainer covers how renewal works.

Once the transfer is done and stable, you can switch the nameservers to Hostinger’s if your site is hosted there. hPanel shows which nameservers to use; confirm them there rather than copying from an old tutorial. Setting up a new WordPress site at the same time? Follow our Hostinger WordPress setup guide.

Troubleshooting

Wrong or invalid auth code

Codes are case-sensitive and often include symbols, so copy and paste rather than retyping. Watch for a stray space at either end. If it still fails, request a fresh code from the old registrar; some codes expire after a few days.

Domain still locked

Unlocking can take a little while to register. Check the lock setting again at the old registrar, then retry. A domain can also carry a registry-level hold that only the registrar can lift, which needs a support request on their side.

The 60-day lock

If the domain is new, was transferred recently, or had its owner details changed, you’ll have to wait out the lock. In the meantime, point the nameservers at Hostinger so your site can go live anyway.

Stuck on pending

Pending usually means someone hasn’t approved yet. Search every inbox, including spam, for the confirmation email, and check the old registrar for an outgoing transfer you can accept. If it’s still pending after a week, contact Hostinger’s customer service with the domain name and the date you started.

FAQ