Transfer a domainAuth code, KK request and transfer step by step

Published on October 20, 2026

What actually happens during a transfer

In a domain transfer, only the registrar changes - the provider through which the domain is managed at the registry. The owner stays the same, the domain itself continues to exist, and the remaining term is not lost.

For .de, this process is called a KK request (from the German "Konnektivitätskoordination", connectivity coordination); for all other extensions, simply a transfer. Technically, both run via an authorization code that only the previous provider can issue.

Preparation: what to back up beforehand

The transfer itself is unspectacular. Trouble almost always arises from things that were not secured beforehand:

• Document DNS records. Note down all A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT and SRV records of the domain. After the switch, you create them again - see DNS records explained.
• Check email. If mailboxes are with the old provider, they disappear with the cancellation. Move them first, then transfer - see Use a domain for email.
• Update owner details. If name and address are outdated, the transfer can fail.
• Keep an eye on the expiry date. If the domain expires in the next few days, renew first and transfer afterwards.

Step 1: request the auth code

The auth code - depending on the provider also called EPP code, auth info or transfer code - is the password for the transfer. You request it from the previous provider, usually directly in the customer area.

• The code is valid for a limited time - typically 30 days. If it expires, simply request a new one.
• With many extensions, you also have to deactivate the transfer lock (registrar lock). As long as it is active, the registry rejects the transfer.
• The previous provider may not refuse to issue it. If they do not respond, DENIC helps for .de via a so-called provider change request. Where the code is hidden at the big providers is shown in Transfer a domain from IONOS, Transfer a domain from Strato and Transfer a domain from GoDaddy.

Step 2: prepare DNS

This step is often skipped, and it is exactly the one that prevents outages. Create the zone with us before the transfer, with the same values as at the old provider.

If the records are identical, nobody notices the switch: as soon as the nameservers change over, ours answer the same queries as before. If the zone is missing, the domain points into nothing after the transfer - until you add the records. Background in Change nameservers.

Step 3: order the transfer

1. In the domain order process, enter the domain and choose the transfer.
2. Enter the auth code and confirm the owner details.
3. Complete the order - the amount is taken from your prepaid balance.
4. The registry carries out the switch. After that, you manage the domain in the web interface.

Once complete, check that all DNS records are in place and let the old server run for a few more days until the last resolvers know the new values.

How long does the transfer take?

With the generic extensions, the registry sends a confirmation email to the stored owner address. If it is not confirmed, the transfer fizzles out after a few days - so check that this address is reachable.

Lock periods you should know

• 60 days after a new registration: with generic extensions such as .com, a transfer is locked for the first 60 days. This is an ICANN requirement, not a provider decision.
• 60 days after a change of owner: after a change of registrant, the same period applies again - see Domain owner & Admin-C.
• No lock for .de: DENIC does not have these lock periods - a KK request is possible even shortly after registration.

What the transfer costs

The transfer to MainHoster.de is free. You only pay the regular annual price of the extension, as with a new registration.

With most generic extensions, the transfer extends the term by another year - the remaining term at the old provider is kept and added on top. An overview of the annual prices is in What does a domain cost?.

Frequently asked questions