Key takeaways:
- A domain transfer involves moving your domain from one registrar to another, and can take anywhere from a few hours to up to 14 days, depending on several factors.
- Key factors such as registrar policies, domain lock status, EPP code accuracy, and ICANN’s rules impact the speed of the transfer.
- To avoid delays, ensure your domain is unlocked, your contact info is up-to-date, and you’ve requested the necessary authorization code before starting the transfer.
If you’re wondering how long does a domain transfer take, you’re probably trying to plan around a launch, avoid downtime, or figure out whether a delay is normal. Knowing what typical domain transfer time looks like can help you understand what to expect, avoid unpleasant surprises, know when to take action.
This guide breaks down the usual transfer timeline, what can speed things up or slow them down, how to spot common issues, and what to expect when you transfer your domain to Network Solutions.
How long does a domain transfer take?
Typically, a domain transfer takes 5–7 days from start to finish. Your current domain registrar, the top-level domain (TLD), and how quickly required approval emails are confirmed may affect the domain transfer time. If additional verification is required, it may take up to 10–14 days at most.
What is a domain transfer and why timing matters
A domain transfer is the process of moving your domain name from one registrar to another. The domain transfer process changes who manages your domain’s registration, billing, renewals, and certain DNS settings, but it doesn’t automatically move your website or hosting. It also doesn’t change anything about your website itself.
The process is initiated by the domain owner and requires a few security steps. These include unlocking the domain, requesting a transfer authorization code (also called an EPP code), and confirming the transfer with both the current and new registrar.
Your registrar is responsible for managing the administrative side of your domain. That’s why timing matters: until the transfer is complete, control remains with your previous provider, even though your website usually stays live throughout the process.
Common reasons people transfer domains
Many website owners choose to transfer their domains when their current registrar no longer meets their needs. Common reasons include:
- Consolidating domains: Managing multiple domains across different registrars can be confusing and time-consuming. Moving them under one account makes renewals, DNS updates, and ownership tracking easier.
- Better pricing: Renewal costs, add-on fees, and bundled discounts can vary widely between registrars. Transferring your domain may help reduce long-term costs, especially if you manage several domains.
- Improved support: When something goes wrong, clear guidance matters. Some users transfer to registrars known for more responsive or easier-to-reach customer support.
- Security features: Additional protections like domain locks, privacy services, and monitoring tools can help reduce the risk of unauthorized changes or domain hijacking.
- All-in-one services: Using one provider for domains, hosting, email, and related tools can simplify account management, billing, and technical troubleshooting.
You might decide to transfer your domain to consolidate everything with one provider like Network Solutions, especially if you want guided support during the process.
Find the perfect domain
Ready to register a domain name? Check domain availability and get started with Network Solutions today.
What affects domain transfer time?
Several factors influence how quickly a domain transfer moves from start to finish. Registrar policies, the domain’s current status, required approvals, and registry rules all play a role in overall domain transfer time, which is why some transfers complete quickly while others take a bit longer.
- Registrar policies and ICANN rules
- Domain status and security locks
- Contact details, approvals, and emails
- TLD-specific rules and exceptions
Registrar policies and ICANN rules
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) sets the baseline rules for domain transfers, including a multi-day window for the process to complete. Beyond that, each current domain registrar may apply its own security checks, confirmation steps, or review periods before releasing a domain. In addition, domains that were newly registered or transferred within the last 60 days are typically locked and cannot be moved yet.
Domain status and security locks
Most domains are protected by transfer locks, often shown as clientTransferProhibited, to prevent unauthorized moves. If a domain is locked or placed on hold, the domain transfer process can’t begin until those restrictions are removed. Common causes include
- Unpaid balances
- Active security holds
- Incomplete or outdated contact information.
Contact details, approvals, and emails
Transfer approvals are sent to the email address listed in your domain’s contact records. If that address is no longer accessible or messages are missed, the transfer can be significantly delayed. Before starting, it’s a good idea to confirm which email is on file with your current domain registrar to avoid unnecessary delays.
TLD-specific rules and exceptions
The top-level domain (TLD) also affects how transfers are handled. Some TLDs require additional verification steps or manual reviews, while others follow a more automated process. Because registry policies vary, these differences can influence domain transfer time slightly from one extension to another.
Step-by-step domain transfer timeline
A domain transfer usually follows a straightforward sequence when you’re transferring to Network Solutions. Breaking the domain transfer process into clear steps makes it easier to understand what’s happening while you’re waiting and what you need to do next.
- Before you start – preparation (same-day tasks)
- Initiating the transfer – day 0
- Approval and processing – days 1–7 (typical)
- Completion and DNS propagation
Before you start – preparation (same-day tasks)
Good preparation can prevent delays later. Before starting the transfer, make sure you:
- Confirm eligibility: The domain should be at least 60 days old and not recently transferred.
- Unlock the domain: Transfer locks must be removed before the request can proceed.
- Get the authorization (EPP) code: This code is required to approve the transfer.
- Verify contact information and email access: Approval messages will be sent here.
Taking care of these steps upfront helps keep your domain transfer time on the shorter end of the expected range.
Initiating the transfer – Day 0
Once you submit a transfer request to Network Solutions, the request is sent to your current domain registrar. At this stage, you may receive one or more confirmation emails asking you to approve or verify the transfer before it can move forward.
Approval and processing – Days 1–7 (typical)
This is the main waiting period. During this phase, the registrars exchange confirmations and the losing registrar releases the domain. When there are no additional security checks or verification issues, most domain transfer time is spent here.
Completion and DNS propagation
The transfer is complete once the domain appears in your Network Solutions account. Any DNS propagation that follows is separate and can create the impression of delay, but they’re not part of the core domain transfer process itself.
How long does a domain transfer take with Network Solutions?
Moving your domain to us follows the same general timeline as other registrars — typically about 5–7 days from start to finish. Transferring to a new provider doesn’t necessarily make a domain transfer take longer, as the process is governed largely by ICANN rules and your previous registrar’s release timing.
While instant transfers aren’t guaranteed, we provide a guided and transparent experience throughout the process, with clear status updates and support if questions come up. When you transfer your domain to Network Solutions, you also gain access to reliable domain management tools and customer support that can help you stay informed at every stage.
Can you speed up a domain transfer?
While you can’t control every part of a domain transfer, there are a few steps that can help prevent avoidable delays and keep things moving as efficiently as possible.
What you can do before you start
Preparation has the biggest impact on how smoothly the domain transfer process goes. Before submitting a transfer, review your domain settings at your current domain registrar to make sure there are no blocks in place. This includes unlocking the domain, confirming there are no holds or unpaid balances, and verifying that your contact information and email address are up to date.
What can you do after submitting the transfer?
Once the transfer request is submitted, act quickly on any approval or verification emails you receive. It’s also a good idea to monitor the transfer status in both registrars’ dashboards so you can catch any issues early. Keep in mind that some TLD policies and registrar rules still require minimum waiting periods, even when everything else is done promptly.
What you can’t control (and why that’s okay)
Certain parts of the process, such as ICANN requirements, registrar processing queues, and TLD-specific rules, can’t be sped up. Waiting multiple days for your domain is normal and doesn’t automatically indicate a problem. If the transfer goes well beyond the expected range, contacting support can help clarify what’s happening and what your options are.
My domain transfer is taking too long — what’s wrong?
If your transfer feels stalled, it’s usually due to a small issue rather than a serious problem. Most delays are common and can be resolved once you know where to look.
Common reasons a transfer is delayed
Domain transfers are most often delayed for one of these reasons:
- The domain is still locked and hasn’t been unlocked for transfer
- The approval email wasn’t received or approved, often due to outdated contact information
- Issues at the current domain registrar, such as unpaid balances or security flags
- TLD-specific manual checks that require additional review time
While these issues can extend domain transfer time, they’re typically fixable and don’t mean the transfer has failed.
What to check in your account
If you’re transferring to Network Solutions, start by reviewing your account for clear next steps:
- Check the transfer status in your Network Solutions account
- Look for any error messages or “action needed” notices
- Compare what you see to the expected stage of the domain transfer process to confirm whether the transfer is progressing normally
Check your transfer status: Learn more in our domain transfer status help article.
When to contact support
It’s a good idea to contact Network Solutions support if:
- There’s no visible status change after several days
- You’re seeing repeated failures or unclear error messages
- The status shown at Network Solutions doesn’t match what you see at your current domain registrar
If your domain transfer time is significantly longer than the ranges outlined earlier, support can help investigate the cause and guide you on next steps. You can reach Network Solutions support via chat, phone, or by submitting a support ticket.
Internal domain transfers between Network Solutions accounts
In some situations, you may not need to transfer a domain between registrars at all. If both parties use Network Solutions, an internal transfer can be a simpler option.
How internal transfers differ from registrar-to-registrar transfers
An internal transfer moves a domain from one Network Solutions account to another. Since the domain never leaves our system, it avoids many of the standard requirements for external transfers, typically making the process much quicker. Because the domain remains within Network Solutions, some steps required by ICANN or external registrars may not apply, which can reduce overall domain transfer time in certain cases.
When internal transfers make sense
Internal transfers are commonly used when:
- Ownership of a domain is changing, such as during a sale or business transfer
- A client’s domain needs to be moved into a managed or agency account
- Multiple domains are being consolidated under a single Network Solutions account
These scenarios don’t require changing registrars, just updating who controls the domain.
How to start an internal transfer at Network Solutions
To begin an internal transfer, you’ll initiate the request within Network Solutions and provide the receiving account information. While this is still a domain transfer process, the steps and timing differ from transfers between registrars.
For detailed instructions, see the Initiating Transfers into Another Network Solutions Account section of the Network Solutions domain transfer process guide.
Why transfer your domain to Network Solutions?
When you transfer your domain to Network Solutions, you gain tools and support designed to keep your online presence stable, secure, and easy to manage, all without unnecessary complexity. Key benefits include:
- A long-standing, trusted registrar with decades of experience helping businesses manage their domains reliably
- Helpful customer support and clear guidance throughout the domain transfer process, so you’re never left guessing what comes next
- Simple management of multiple domains, DNS, and related services from a single account dashboard
- Optional security and privacy features that help protect your domain from unauthorized changes
- Transparent status updates, so you can see progress and understand what’s happening throughout your domain transfer time
If you’re looking for a registrar that combines experience with clear, practical support, Network Solutions offers a dependable place to manage your domain long term.
Frequently asked questions
No. ICANN and registrar verification steps require some domain transfer time, even when everything is approved quickly. Some transfers move faster than others, but instant completion isn’t realistic.
Not usually. If DNS settings stay the same, your site and email should continue working. Problems typically happen only when DNS changes are made during the domain transfer process.
The transfer timing varies by registrar and TLD. Some TLDs process slightly faster or slower, but most fall within the standard transfer range.
In some cases, yes. If your transfer time is far longer than expected, contact support to review your options and next steps.
Transfer your domain with confidence
Most domain transfers follow a predictable timeline, and delays are usually caused by simple, fixable issues like locks, approvals, or registrar requirements. Knowing what to expect and what to check if things slow down makes the process easier to manage.
If you’re ready to move your domain, we offer trusted domain transfer services with clear transfer guidance and ongoing support to help you manage your domain with confidence even after the transfer is complete.
