My registrar has locked my domain for transferring. What do I do now?

Most registrars will lock your domain automatically to protect you from unauthorized transfers. If you didn't contact your registrar or use your registrar's domain management tools to unlock your domain before you initiated your transfer, we won't be able to complete the transfer.

Generally if you see a message during the transfer that your domain is locked, you'll simply need to contact your registrar to unlock your domain.

In rare cases, a registrar may lock a domain for transferring while it resolves a billing or other dispute. If your registrar has actively locked your domain, you'll need to contact your registrar directly to resolve this issue and unlock your domain before you can complete your transfer.

I ordered my plan, but you said I can't transfer my domain yet. Now what?

If your domain can't be transferred right away, don't worry: We'll provide a temporary web address that you can use with your plan while you're waiting.

Generally you'll just need to take some simple steps to prepare your domain for transferring. These steps vary depending on your current registrar.

We'll explain the steps you need when you complete your order for a Small Business plan. You can also identify the steps for your domain during the transfer process: If we ask for your authorization code, see authorization code instructions. If instead you're prompted for your registry key, see our registry key steps.

In some cases, you may encounter another error when trying to transfer your domain name. We'll let you know if you need to contact your registrar for more information or you can try again.

If you find that your transfer is taking too long, you can redelegate your domain name while you're waiting. Redelegating means that you'll simply tell your current registrar to redirect your domain name to point to Yahoo!. This process will allow you to use your domain name with your plan, though you'll continue to manage your domain and pay any renewal fees with your current registrar.

Help! I never received the transfer authorization email!

After you initiate the transfer process, you'll need to watch out for an important email from our domain registration partner, Melbourne IT, and respond to this email to complete authorization of your domain transfer.

We'll send the authorization email within 24 hours to the administrative or registrant email address listed in your domain records (WHOIS). We'll ask you to confirm that you can receive mail at this address before you begin the transfer.

If you don't receive the authorization email within a couple of days, please first double-check that the email didn't get caught in your email account's bulk or spam folder.

If you still can't find the email, please double-check the administrative or registrant email addresses listed in your domain records (WHOIS). (Your registrar can help you find this information, or you cancheck it yourself in the public database.) If you can't receive mail at those addresses, please contact your registrar to correct your contact information, then start the process again on your Domain Control Panel.

(Note that some registrars may deny your transfer request for a short time after you update your WHOIS. Please contact your registrar for details.)

If you have private domain registration turned on for your domain, messages sent to your domain contact (including the authorization email) will be delivered to your registrar. If you do not receive your authorization email, we recommend that you contact your registrar or turn off private domain registration. (Note that disabling this service will make your contact information public.)

My transfer didn't work the first time. How can I try again?

Generally if your transfer doesn't work the first time, you can restart the transfer process again from your Domain Control Panel. There you'll see a message explaining why your transfer failed. If you can restart the process immediately, we'll provide a transfer link you can use to try again.

If your domain can't be transferred yet (usually this indicates a problem with your domain registration information), we'll ask you to contact customer care for assistance.

Tip: If you find that you can't transfer your domain yet, or you don't want to wait to begin using your domain with your Yahoo! plan, you can redelegate your domain name instead. Redelegating means that you'll simply tell your current registrar to redirect your domain name to point to Yahoo!. This process will allow you to use your domain name with your plan, though you'll continue to manage your domain and pay any renewal fees with your current registrar.

What might delay transferring my domain to Yahoo!?

Although the transfer process can often be quick and easy, there are a number of reasons why your transfer might not work out the first time. In order to protect your domain (and it does belong to you until your registration expires, no matter which domain registrar you use!), ICANN and all registrars have put into place a lot of rules that can sometimes slow you down.

Before You Start
We recommend that you make sure your domain is ready to move before you begin. The details will vary slightly depending on your current domain registrar, but don't worry, we'll guide you through each step.

During the transfer process, we'll ask you for your authorization code or registry key (two different kinds of that special transfer code we mentioned). If we ask for your authorization code, seeauthorization code instructions. If instead you're prompted for your registry key, see our registry key steps.

Common Reasons a Transfer Might Fail
Note that some of the reasons noted below apply only to transfers from certain registrars. We'll let you know when you sign up for your service and begin the transfer process which restrictions apply to your domain.

Domain is locked: Locking your domain can help protect your domain from unauthorized transfers. To successfully transfer your domain, you'll need to make sure it's unlocked.

Domain was already transferred in last 60 days: ICANN regulations forbid transfer of your domain more than once every 60 days. If you recently registered or transferred your domain name, you'll need to wait until that window has elapsed to transfer your domain again. (Note that this restriction does not apply to domains transferred from our domain registration partner, Melbourne IT, or its other partners.)

Wrong authorization code or registry key: During the transfer process, we'll ask you for yourauthorization code or registry key. You must supply this special code (like a PIN number for your domain) to authorize the transfer. Your registrar can provide the correct code.

Private domain registration is active: For transfers from certain registrars, you must turn off your private domain registration service before you can transfer your domain.

Authorization expires: For some transfers, we'll send you an email after you begin the transfer process. If you don't respond to this authorization email within 5 days, your transfer request will expire.

Domain registration expired: We can transfer your domain only if your registration is still active. If your domain registration has expired, please contact your current registrar for assistance.

I started a domain transfer, but I changed my mind. How can I cancel the transfer?

Generally, once a domain transfer is in progress, it cannot be canceled. Because a transfer relies on communication between domain registrars and public domain services, Yahoo! is unable to stop a transfer that has already been authorized.

Some domain transfers require you to finalize the transfer by responding to an email sent by our domain registration partner, Melbourne IT. If you initiated a transfer but haven't yet responded to that email, you can cancel your transfer by simply ignoring that email. Your domain transfer request will expire after 5 days.

If you change your mind about the transfer, you can transfer your domain away from Yahoo! again. However, please be aware that in accordance with ICANN regulations, you'll need to wait at least 60 days before transferring your domain again.

How do I unlock my domain?

Before you can transfer a domain to Yahoo!, you'll need to be sure that your domain is unlocked. (If your domain is locked, your registrar will reject the transfer.)

To unlock your domain, you'll need to contact your registrar. Many registrars will make tools available for you to unlock your domain yourself; or contact your registrar directly for assistance.