How to Transfer Your Domain from GoDaddy to Cloudflare

Before You Start

You'll need:

• Access to your GoDaddy account
• A free Cloudflare account (create at cloudflare.com)
• Access to the email associated with your domain
• About 5-10 minutes (transfer completes in ~5 days)

Step 1: Unlock Your Domain at GoDaddy

1. Log into GoDaddy → My Products
2. Click DNS or Manage next to your domain
3. Scroll down to Domain Settings
4. Find Domain Lock → Turn it OFF

Step 2: Get Your Authorization Code (EPP Code)

1. Still in GoDaddy domain settings
2. Look for Authorization Code or Transfer Code
3. Click Get Authorization Code
4. GoDaddy will email it to you (check spam folder)
5. Save this code - you'll need it for Cloudflare

Step 3: Disable WHOIS Privacy (Temporarily)

1. In GoDaddy domain settings
2. Find Privacy or Domain Privacy
3. Turn it OFF temporarily
4. This ensures transfer emails reach you

You can re-enable privacy on Cloudflare after transfer (it's FREE there).

Step 4: Start the Transfer at Cloudflare

1. Go to cloudflare.com → Log in (or create free account)
2. Click Add a Site → Enter your domain
3. Select the Free plan (unless you need paid features)
4. Cloudflare will scan your DNS records - review them carefully
5. Click Domain Registration (left sidebar) → Transfer Domains
6. Enter your domain name
7. Paste your Authorization Code from Step 2
8. Enter payment ($8-10/year for .com - just the renewal fee, no markup)

Step 5: Approve the Transfer

1. Check your email for a transfer confirmation from Cloudflare
2. Also check for an email from GoDaddy - they may ask you to approve/deny
3. You can approve immediately to speed things up
4. If you do nothing, transfer auto-completes in 5 days

Step 6: Verify Completion

1. You'll get an email when transfer is complete
2. Log into Cloudflare → Domain Registration → Your domain should show as Active
3. Re-enable WHOIS privacy (free on Cloudflare)

Why Cloudflare?

Troubleshooting

"Domain is locked"

→ Go back to Step 1, make sure lock is OFF

"Invalid authorization code"

→ Request a new code from GoDaddy, codes expire

"Domain not eligible for transfer"

→ Wait 60 days from registration or last transfer

GoDaddy won't give you the auth code

→ This violates ICANN rules. Tell them you'll file an ICANN complaint at icann.org/compliance/complaint

Transfer stuck for days

→ Check email for approval requests from both GoDaddy and Cloudflare

Timeline

Questions?

Feel free to contact me if you need help. I transferred my domain after GoDaddy tried to scam me - happy to help others escape.