5 Mistakes That Can Break Your Website When Transferring a Domain – and How to Avoid Them
Domain transfers change registrar control and DNS responsibility. Incorrect execution causes downtime and data loss.
A controlled process is required when a business decides to transfer domain to Spaceship.
Domain transfers follow ICANN technical rules. These rules apply to most generic domain extensions.
Authorization, timing, and DNS stability determine transfer success.
Domain Transfer Risks That Affect Website Stability
Website failures during domain transfers are documented incidents. Most failures originate from DNS mismanagement.
Email disruption and search engine crawling issues occur simultaneously.
Registrar transitions temporarily suspend configuration access. Incorrect preparation increases outage duration.
Preventive actions eliminate most transfer-related failures.
Mistake 1 – DNS Records Are Not Saved
DNS records define where traffic is delivered. These records include A, MX, TXT, and CNAME entries.
Loss of records disconnects the domain from hosting and email systems.
Registrar changes often reset DNS zones. Many registrars do not retain previous DNS configurations.
This behavior causes immediate website unavailability.
How to Avoid DNS Record Loss
DNS records must be exported before initiating transfer. Manual copies ensure full configuration accuracy.
Records should be restored immediately after transfer completion.
External DNS hosting prevents registrar-level resets. DNS control remains unchanged during ownership transfer.
This approach eliminates downtime caused by missing records.
Mistake 2 – Nameservers Are Changed During Transfer
Nameservers control global DNS resolution. Changes require worldwide propagation.
Propagation delays last up to 48 hours.
Concurrent nameserver changes create conflicting DNS states. Some regions resolve old data while others resolve new data.
This inconsistency causes partial website outages.
How to Avoid Nameserver Propagation Failures
Nameservers must remain unchanged until transfer finalization. Changes should occur only after confirmation.
Registrar dashboards display transfer completion status.
TTL values should be reduced before planned changes. Lower TTL accelerates propagation speed.
This technique reduces user-facing downtime.
Mistake 3 – Hosting Dependencies Are Ignored
Domains and hosting accounts operate independently. Transferring a domain does not move hosting files.
Incorrect assumptions cause broken site connections.
DNS A records must point to the correct server IP. Incorrect IP values disconnect websites from servers.
Hosting continuity depends on DNS accuracy.
How to Avoid Hosting Disruptions
Hosting accounts must remain active throughout the transfer. Server IP addresses must be verified in advance.
DNS records should always point to live infrastructure.
Staging environments reduce migration risk. Live websites remain unaffected during testing.
This method prevents public-facing failures.
Mistake 4 – Email Services Stop Working
Email systems depend on DNS records. MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are required for delivery.
Missing records cause bounced or rejected emails.
Email configurations are not transferred automatically. Registrar changes frequently remove existing records.
Business communication interruptions follow immediately.
How to Avoid Email Downtime
All email-related DNS records must be copied exactly. Values must match provider specifications.
SPF and DKIM alignment must remain valid.
Email activity should be monitored after transfer. Delivery failures appear within minutes.
Immediate correction prevents message loss.
Mistake 5 – Domain Authorization Errors
Domains must be unlocked before transfer. Authorization codes must be valid and current.
Incorrect codes block transfer completion.
WHOIS contact verification is mandatory. Approval emails must be received and confirmed.
Missed confirmations delay or cancel transfers.
How to Avoid Transfer Authorization Issues
WHOIS contact details must be accurate. Email access must be confirmed before initiating transfer.
Domain privacy settings should be reviewed carefully.
New registrations and recent ownership changes trigger transfer locks. These locks last 60 days.
Attempted transfers during this period fail automatically.
SEO Impact of Failed Domain Transfers
Search engines rely on DNS availability. Prolonged downtime reduces crawl frequency.
Indexing delays follow extended outages.
Broken DNS responses generate crawl errors. These errors appear in search engine diagnostics.
Traffic loss correlates with outage duration.
How to Protect Search Visibility During Transfer
Downtime must be minimized. DNS continuity preserves crawl access.
Transfer timing should avoid peak traffic periods.
Monitoring tools detect resolution failures instantly. Alerts allow rapid corrective action.
Search engine penalties are avoided through stability.
Domain Transfer Timing Mistakes
Transfers initiated during product launches increase risk. Active campaigns amplify outage impact.
Customer trust decreases during visible downtime.
Business hours transfers slow response times. Support availability affects resolution speed.
After-hours monitoring reduces incident duration.
How to Choose the Right Transfer Window
Low-traffic periods reduce exposure. Analytics data identifies optimal timing.
Nighttime transfers minimize user impact.
Full backups must exist before execution. Rollback options provide safety.
Prepared timing prevents critical failures.
Domain Transfer Stability Checklist
DNS records must be backed up. Nameservers must remain unchanged during transfer.
Hosting services must remain active.
Email DNS records must be preserved. WHOIS contact access must be confirmed.
Authorization codes must be validated.
Conclusion
Domain transfers fail due to technical missteps. Each failure has a documented cause.
Preparation and verification prevent service disruption.
Controlled execution preserves website availability. Stable DNS ensures continuity.
Correct domain transfer procedures protect business operations.
