Pointing a GoDaddy domain at your new site

Two settings change, both in your GoDaddy account. Everything else about the domain stays exactly as it is — you still own it and it stays in your name.

This is the guide we send our own clients when we move a site for them, published here in case it is useful to anyone else. The steps are the same whoever does the work — if you are doing this yourself, ignore the parts about replying to our email. The warning below applies either way.

Please wait until we tell you we are ready. Before you change anything we copy your existing settings — your email, your calendars, anything else already using this domain — onto our side. If the change is made before that is done, your email stops arriving. We will email you when it is safe to go ahead.

Changing your nameservers

  1. Sign in to GoDaddy and open your Domain Portfolio.
  2. Select the domain to open its Domain Settings.
  3. Select DNS, then Nameservers.
  4. Choose I'll use my own nameservers.
  5. Enter the two nameserver addresses you were given.
  6. Select Save, then Continue.
  7. Tell whoever is handling the move that it is done — if that is us, reply to our email.

It can take a few hours for the change to be seen everywhere, and up to two days in the worst case. Nothing on your side needs doing while you wait.

If you would like us to look after the domain entirely

This part is optional, and it can only happen after the step above — the domain has to be pointing at us before its registration can move. It is two jobs at GoDaddy: unlocking the domain, and getting us the code that authorises the move.

Unlock the domain

  1. Sign in and open your Domain Portfolio.
  2. Select the domain to open its Domain Settings.
  3. Find the Transfer section and switch the lock toggle Off. Off means unlocked and eligible to transfer; On means locked. The change saves itself.

If the domain has Domain Protection on it, GoDaddy will ask you to confirm who you are first — a code by text message, or from your authenticator app.

Get the authorisation code and send it to us

  1. Still in your Domain Portfolio, select the domain.
  2. Under Transfer, choose Transfer to Another Registrar.
  3. Read the checklist GoDaddy shows, then select Continue with transfer.
  4. Confirm who you are — a code by text message, from your authenticator app, or sent to your account email.
  5. Select Click here to see Authorization Code, then Copy to Clipboard.
  6. Send the code to whoever is handling the transfer — if that is us, reply to our email and paste it in.

It may be called an auth code, an EPP code or a transfer code — they all mean the same thing. It is usually only valid for a few days, so send it to us when you have it rather than saving it for later.

A domain cannot be transferred in the first 60 days after it was registered, or within 60 days of a previous transfer. That is an ICANN rule and nobody can waive it.

Last checked against GoDaddy's own documentation on 14 August 2026 (sources: 1 · 2 · 3). If anything on your screen does not match what is written here, tell us and we will fix this page.