If your domain transfer failed, or you've received an email saying "domain transfer unsuccessful", you're not alone. It's one of the most common things we help with, and it's usually quick to fix. A domain transfer means moving your domain name (your web address) from another provider or registrar to Rocketspark.
This guide walks you through the most common domain transfer errors, what each one means, and how to get your transfer moving again.
Check why your domain transfer isn't working
If a transfer fails, we'll email you with the subject line "[your domain] domain transfer unsuccessful". The email doesn't say why it failed, but your Dashboard does.
Step 1: Open Domain Names
Log in to your Rocketspark Dashboard (your admin area) and click Domain Names in the left-hand menu.
Step 2: Find your domain
Look for your domain in the list. A failed or incomplete transfer will show an 'error'
Step 3: Click View transfer
Click View transfer next to the domain to see the details and any errors. This is also where you fix the problem and re-submit the transfer.
Then find the matching error below.
Common domain transfer errors and how to fix them
"Domain transfer unsuccessful" or "invalid auth code"
This is the most common transfer error. It means the transfer code we were given wasn't accepted. Your transfer code might be called an auth code, EPP code, EPP key or, for .nz domains, a UDAI. They all mean the same thing.
Codes expire, and some providers keep resending an old one. To fix it:
- Contact your current domain provider and ask for a new transfer code. Let them know the last one was rejected, so they generate a fresh code rather than resending the old one.
- In your Dashboard, go to Domain Names and click View transfer next to your domain.
- Paste in the new code and re-submit the transfer. Copy and paste the code rather than typing it, and check there are no spaces at the start or end.
"Domain transfer is missing information"
This usually means your domain is still locked with your current provider, or we don't have your transfer code yet. A locked domain can't be moved.
- Log in to your current provider's account and find your domain.
- Turn the transfer lock (sometimes called registrar lock or domain lock) off.
- Get your transfer code from the same place if you don't have it yet.
- In your Dashboard, go to Domain Names, click View transfer, and add the code to continue.
You haven't received the approval email
For some domain endings, like .com, the transfer can't finish until the domain owner approves it by email. We send the request, but the approval email comes from the domain registrar and goes to the contact email address listed on your domain with your current provider.
- Check your spam or junk folder.
- If that email address is old or no longer in use, ask your current provider to update it, then let us know so we can resend the request.
- If privacy protection (sometimes called WHOIS privacy) is turned on, ask your provider to switch it off until the transfer is finished.
You meant to connect your domain, not transfer it
If you want to keep your domain with your current provider and point it to your Rocketspark website, that's called a self-managed domain, not a transfer. Choosing transfer by mistake is common, especially when you already have email set up with your current provider.
While a transfer is pending, we can't set up your SSL certificate (the padlock that shows your site is secure). To fix it:
- In your Dashboard, go to Domain Names.
- Click the x next to the incomplete transfer to cancel it. Your domain will move to your Self Managed domains.
- Request your SSL from there.
Your domain is about to expire
A domain that expires during a transfer can fail to move, and you may need to pay your current provider to renew it. If your domain expires in the next few weeks, renew it with your current provider before you start the transfer.
Your email stopped working after the transfer
When a transfer completes, we automatically try to copy your existing email settings (called MX and TXT records) across, so your email keeps working. It can take up to 24 hours for the new settings to apply.
If your DNS (the settings that tell the internet where your website and email live) was managed somewhere else, like Cloudflare or your IT provider, those records may not come across. Check your records under Domain Names in your Dashboard, or contact us and we'll help you add the right ones.
Tips to avoid transfer problems
- Unlock first, then get the code. Unlocking your domain sometimes creates a new code, so get the code after you've turned the lock off.
- Ask for a fresh code every time. If a transfer fails, don't reuse the old code.
- Check the contact email on your domain. Make sure it's an address you can still get emails at.
- Back up your DNS records. If you have email on your domain, take a copy of your current DNS settings before you start.
- Not sure whether to transfer? If you only want your website on your domain, you might not need to transfer at all. See Managing Client's Domain Names and Emails: When to transfer and when to not.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my domain transfer fail? The most common reasons are an out-of-date transfer code, a domain that's still locked with your current provider, or a missed approval email. Check Domain Names in your Dashboard to see the exact error.
My provider keeps sending the same code. What do I do? Ask them to generate a brand new transfer code and tell them the last one was rejected. Some providers resend the old code unless you ask for a new one.
What's the difference between an auth code, EPP code and UDAI? They're different names for the same thing, a password that lets your domain move to a new provider. .nz domains call it a UDAI. Most other domains call it an auth code or EPP code.
Can I cancel a domain transfer and get a refund? Yes. Click the x next to the incomplete transfer in Domain Names, then email support@rocketspark.com and we'll arrange a refund. Refunds can take up to 10 working days to reach your account.
Will my website go offline during the transfer? No. If your domain is already pointing to your Rocketspark website, it stays live during the transfer.
Will I lose my emails when I transfer my domain? We automatically try to copy your existing email settings across. If your DNS was managed somewhere else, check with us first. See Domain transfer process? FAQ's for more.
Need more help?
If you've tried a new code, unlocked your domain and your transfer still fails, flick us a message at support@rocketspark.com. Include your domain name and a screenshot of the error in your Dashboard, but please leave the transfer code itself out of the screenshot. We can check the transfer logs on our side and help you get it sorted.
Related help guides
- How do I register a domain name with Rocketspark?: for customers who need a new domain rather than a transfer.
- Transfer your domain name to Rocketspark: the main how-to for starting a transfer.
- How do I generate my domain transfer code to transfer to Rocketspark?: the most common fix points here.
- How to transfer a self managed domain to Rocketspark: for customers moving from self-managed to a transfer.
- Domain transfer process? FAQ's: email and propagation questions after a transfer.