How To Transfer A Domain From Google

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Google Domains is no longer selling new domains. The service officially moved to Squarespace in September 2023, and that shift has left thousands of domain owners looking for a new home for their domains.

If you’re one of them, this guide will assist. It explains every step you need to transfer a domain from Google to a new registrar. You’ll learn how to unlock your domain, get your authorization code, and complete the Google Domains transfer without losing your website or email.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Google Domains now operates under Squarespace, so it’s a good time to reconsider where your domain sits.
• The transfer process includes four steps: unlock, grab your EPP code, choose a new registrar, and approve the request.
• Most transfers wrap up within five to seven days, and your website stays live throughout.
• Back up your DNS records beforehand and don’t ignore the approval email. These two things prevent most transfer issues.
• Hosted.com® makes the whole process simple with integrated hosting, free DNS management, and hands-on support.

Quick Answer: How Do You Transfer a Domain from Google?

Here’s the process:

1. Login to your Squarespace account, select your domain, and unlock it.
2. Request your authorization (EPP) code from the domain settings page.
3. Choose a new domain registrar to start a domain transfer on their site.
4. Enter your domain name and EPP code at the new provider, complete the purchase, and approve the confirmation email.

If you want a faster transfer, return to your Squarespace account and manually approve the transfer out. Otherwise, the domain will automatically transfer in about five to seven days.

Why You May Need to Transfer Your Domain from Google

When Google Domains moved to Squarespace in September 2023, many domain owners were caught off guard. Squarespace is a solid website builder, but it isn’t the right fit for everyone, especially if you don’t use their platform for your site.

That’s the biggest reason people transfer domain from Google Domains. But it’s not the only one. If you have domains spread across multiple providers, consolidating them under a single registrar makes life easier. You have one dashboard, one login, and one renewal calendar to keep track of.

Pricing is another factor. Some domain registrars offer lower renewal rates or bundle domain registration with hosting at a better value. And if your domain and hosting are both with the same provider, managing the domain name system (DNS), email, and website settings becomes much simpler.

Whatever your reason, it’s worth knowing how to transfer a domain to another registrar correctly.

Before You Transfer: Important Things to Know

Before you jump into the domain transfer steps, there are a few requirements you should check first. Missing even one of these can delay or block the entire process.

Here’s what to confirm before you start:

1. Your Domain Is at Least 60 Days Old: ICANN rules don’t allow transfers for newly registered, recently renewed, or transferred domains within this window.
2. The Domain Is Unlocked: Most registrars lock domains by default to prevent unauthorized transfers. You need to switch this off.
3. Your WHOIS Contact Info Is Current: The approval email goes to the address listed in your WHOIS record. If that email is outdated, you won’t receive it.
4. You’ve Backed Up Your DNS Settings: Save a copy of your nameservers, DNS records, and email configurations before making any changes.

Once everything checks out, you’re ready to begin the transfer.

Step-by-Step: How to Transfer a Domain from Google

All former Google Domains accounts now live in Squarespace. So, the steps below follow the steps in that dashboard.

Step 1: Unlock Your Domain

Domains include a transfer lock switched on by default. This security feature prevents unauthorized moves, and will block your transfer if you don’t disable it first.

To switch it off:

1. Login to your Squarespace Domains dashboard.
2. Select the domain you want to move, then find the DOMAIN LOCK toggle.
3. Switch it off, and you’re good to go.

Step 2: Get Your Authorization (EPP) Code

The EPP code (or “auth code”) is a unique password that proves you own the domain. Your new registrar requires it to start the transfer.

Here’s how to do it:

1. In the Squarespace Domains dashboard, click the domain you wish to transfer
2. Click REQUEST TRANSFER CODE, then sign in when prompted for verification.
3. Ensure your WHOIS contact info is updated, as Squarespace uses this to associate the request with your identity.
4. Click SEND AUTH CODE. The code will be sent to your account email instantly. However, it may take up to 24 hours to receive the code.
5. Copy it immediately and keep it ready for your new registrar.

Step 3: Choose Your New Registrar or Hosting Provider

This is where your domain will live going forward, so take a moment to choose the perfect fit. A few things worth paying attention to include:

• Transparent Pricing: You don’t want surprise renewal hikes a year from now.
• Integrated Tools: Managing DNS, hosting, and email is easier when everything is in one place.
• Reliable Support: Transfers can hit snags. Having a support team that assists makes a big difference.

Hosted.com® ticks all three boxes. You receive a clean transfer process, free DNS management, cPanel hosting, and responsive support, all at straightforward pricing.

Step 4: Start the Transfer with Your New Provider

Now it’s time to start things from your new registrar’s end. To do this:

Go to their Transfer Domain page, type in your domain name, and paste the EPP code you saved earlier. Most providers will also ask you to pay for the transfer at this point, which typically covers a one-year renewal. Once everything looks correct, click submit. After that, your provider will send a confirmation email to ensure it’s really you.

If you want to transfer a domain from Google to Hosted.com®, follow the steps given below:

1. Go to the Domain Transfer page.
2. Enter your domain name and click Request Domain Transfer to see if it’s available for transfer.
3. If it is, click Add to Cart.
4. Enter the Aut Code (EPP code) you saved before and hit Submit to complete the transfer.

Step 5: Approve the Transfer Request

This part is simple, but easy to miss. Check the inbox linked to your Squarespace account for a confirmation email from your new registrar. Open it and click the approval link.

If you don’t see it within a few hours, check your spam folder. Ignoring or missing this email is one of the most common reasons transfers get delayed or canceled altogether.

Step 6: Wait for Transfer Completion

Once you approve, ICANN‘s standard process gives registrars a five to seven-day window to release the domain.

But there’s a shortcut most people don’t know about. Log back into your Squarespace account and look for the option to manually approve the outgoing transfer. If you confirm it from there, everything wraps up almost immediately instead of you having to wait.

What Happens After You Transfer Your Domain?

Now, your domain’s at its new registrar. The difficult part is done, but there are a few things worth checking before you move on:

• First, look at your DNS settings. If your website is hosted elsewhere, other than with your new registrar, you need to point your nameservers to the correct host. Without this, your site won’t load properly.
• Next, go to your website and click through it. Check your pages, test your links, and submit a form or two. If something is broken, it’s better to catch it now than hear about it from a visitor.
• If you’re using email addresses tied to your domain, send a quick test email both ways. Ensure messages are going out and coming in without issues.
• Finally, check your domain’s renewal date in your new account and turn on auto-renewal. Otherwise, you can lose a domain you just transferred because it expired without you noticing.

Will Your Website Go Down During Transfer?

This is one of the most common concerns people have, and the short answer is “no”.

When you transfer a domain from Google, it only moves your registration from one registrar to another. It doesn’t touch your DNS settings, and it doesn’t take your website offline. If your nameservers are pointed at your current hosting provider during the transfer, everything will run as usual.

The only time downtime becomes a risk is when you change your DNS records or nameservers mid-process. So, leave those settings alone until the transfer is fully complete, and you won’t have anything to worry about.

Common Domain Transfer Mistakes to Avoid

The transfer process itself isn’t complicated, but a few small oversights can slow it down or stop it entirely. Here are the ones that trip people up the most:

• Forgetting to Unlock Domain: If the transfer lock is still on, your new registrar will reject the request before it even starts.
• Using an Expired or Wrong EPP Code: These codes are time sensitive. If yours has expired or you copied it incorrectly, you must generate a new one.
• Transferring Too Soon: ICANN doesn’t allow transfers within the first 60 days of registration or within 60 days of a previous transfer. If your domain falls within that window, you must wait it out.
• Skipping DNS Backup: If something goes wrong and you don’t have your old records saved, restoring your setup becomes more difficult.
• Missing the Approval Email: This causes more failed transfers. If you don’t click the approval link in time, the whole process will be canceled.

Why Transfer Your Domain to Hosted.com®?

Once you’ve decided to transfer the domain from Google, the next question is where to take it. If you want everything in one place without the hassle, Hosted.com® is a good option.

The domain transfer process is simple. You enter your domain, paste your EPP code, and you’re done. Free DNS hosting and domain parking are included, so there’s nothing extra to set up on day one.

What makes it convenient is that your domain, Web Hosting, and Email Hosting can all live under one account. That means fewer logins, fewer dashboards, and less time spent jumping between providers to manage everything. If you’ve got several domains to move at once, the Bulk Domain Transfer tool handles that, too.

The transfer price includes a one-year domain extension, and pricing stays the same at renewal. No surprises. And if you run into any issues, the Hosted.com® support team is available around the clock to help you sort them.

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