Transfer a Domain Away from Exact Hosting

This article walks you through preparing a domain at Exact Hosting so it can be transferred to a different registrar. You will disable the registrar lock and obtain the EPP code, then provide that code to your new registrar to initiate the transfer.

About transferring a domain out

When you transfer a domain to a new registrar, the gaining registrar uses your domain's EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) code to authenticate the request. Before they can submit the transfer, you must unlock the domain at Exact Hosting and retrieve the EPP code from your client area.

.UK domains use an IPS (Internet Provider Security) tag rather than an EPP code. The IPS tag update must be made by Exact Hosting Support after you obtain the new tag from your gaining registrar.

Before you begin

• Access to the registrant email address. The EPP code is sent to the email on file for the registrant contact. Verify this address first using Keeping your domain contacts up to date.
• A domain outside the 60-day transfer lock. Newly registered or recently transferred domains cannot be transferred again for 60 days, per ICANN policy.
• Any required DNS changes already in place. Once a domain enters pending transfer status, you cannot edit DNS or other settings.

Things to know before transferring

• Once you approve a transfer, Exact Hosting cannot cancel it.
• Set up any DNS changes before the transfer. Once the domain is in pending transfer status, changes cannot be made.
• Per ICANN's Transfer Policy, domains recently transferred between registrars cannot be transferred again until the 60-day window has elapsed.
• A 60-day transfer lock applies to all new domain registrations and recent transfers. All registrars must enforce this policy.
• Your new registrar may require confirmation from the admin or owner contact email before they can initiate the transfer.

Step 1: Disable the registrar lock

The registrar lock protects against unauthorized transfers and must be turned off before a transfer can proceed.

1. Sign in to the Exact Hosting Portal.
2. Click Domains.
3. Click the Active button next to the domain to open the domain admin page.
4. Select Registrar lock from the left-hand panel, then click Disable Registrar lock.

Step 2: Obtain the EPP code

The EPP code is the password that authorizes the transfer at the registry. Exact Hosting emails it to your registrant contact on file.

1. Sign in to the Exact Hosting Portal.
2. Click Domains.
3. Click Active next to the domain to open the domain admin page.
4. Click Get EPP code. The code is sent to the registrant email address.

Transferring a .UK domain out

.UK ccTLD transfers use an IPS tag instead of an EPP code. The losing registrar (Exact Hosting) must update the IPS tag before the transfer can begin.

1. Contact your new (gaining) registrar to obtain their IPS tag.
2. Contact Exact Hosting Support and provide the new IPS tag. The team will update it on your behalf.

Next steps

• Provide the EPP code to your new registrar. The gaining registrar uses this code to submit the transfer request.
• Watch for confirmation email. You may need to approve the transfer from the registrant or admin contact email.
• Keep DNS unchanged during the transfer. If you have already updated DNS at the new registrar, propagation continues; if not, wait until the transfer completes.

Questions? Contact Exact Hosting Support.