SMB Web Hosting
How do I transfer my domain to Network Solutions without breaking my website or email? Step-by-step.
7 min read
Your domain is the piece that tells the world who you are, and a transfer should not interrupt the website or inbox that depends on it. The safest path is to move the registration first, keep your DNS settings stable, and only change website or email settings if and when you’re ready.
In plain terms: a domain transfer moves your registration to Network Solutions. It does not have to move your website files or email mailbox. Most breakages happen when people change DNS too early, cancel hosting too soon, or forget to copy the records that point traffic to the right place.
What to protect before you start
A smooth transfer comes down to keeping three things in place:
- Your website host
- This is where your site files live.
- Your email host
- This is where your mailbox lives.
- Your DNS records
- DNS tells the internet where to send web traffic and email.
If those stay intact during the move, your site and email should keep working while the registration changes hands.
Step-by-step: transfer your domain to Network Solutions safely
1) Confirm the domain is eligible to transfer
Start by checking that your domain can be transferred. In most cases, you’ll need:
- The domain to be unlocked
- Access to the authorization code
- Also called an EPP code
- Access to the email address listed with the current registrar
- No recent major ownership or transfer restrictions
If you’re not sure, Network Solutions can help you confirm eligibility before you begin.
2) Record your current DNS settings
Before touching anything, save a copy of your current DNS records. DNS is the routing system that tells browsers and mail servers where to go.
Capture these if they exist:
- A record — points your domain to a web server IP address
- CNAME — points one name to another name
- MX records — tell mail where to deliver email
- TXT records — often used for email security and verification
- SRV records — sometimes used for specialized services
This step matters because if you later need to re-create your setup, you’ll have the exact values on hand.
3) Keep your website and email services active
Do not cancel your current hosting or email service just because you started a transfer.
Keep these active until:
- The transfer is complete
- Your DNS is confirmed
- Your website loads correctly
- Your email sends and receives normally
If you cancel early, the domain may transfer fine while the website or inbox breaks behind it.
4) Unlock the domain at your current registrar
Most registrars lock domains by default to prevent unauthorized transfers. You’ll need to log in to the current provider and unlock the domain before starting the move.
Also request the authorization code if you don’t already have it. You’ll typically need that code to approve the transfer.
5) Start the transfer in Network Solutions
Once the domain is eligible and unlocked:
- Go to the Network Solutions domain transfer flow
- Enter the domain name
- Enter the authorization code when prompted
- Complete checkout and any required verification steps
Many domain transfers include a 1-year extension on many domain types, which means the registration period is often extended when the transfer completes.
6) Approve the transfer email
After you submit the transfer, watch for an approval message at the domain’s admin contact email address.
Open the email and approve the transfer right away. If you use privacy or forwarding with your current registrar, check those inboxes too.
7) Leave DNS pointed where it is until the transfer is done
This is the key to avoiding downtime.
If your website and email are already working at another host, leave the DNS records or nameservers pointing there until you’re ready to move them. The transfer itself can finish without changing where traffic goes.
In other words:
- Transfer the domain
- Do not change the destination yet
- Verify first, then move anything else
8) Wait for the registrars to process the move
Transfers usually take a short processing window while the current registrar and Network Solutions complete the handoff.
During that time:
- Keep the old hosting live
- Keep email active
- Avoid making extra DNS changes unless you have a clear reason
A stable setup is the easiest setup to keep online.
9) Verify your website and email after the transfer completes
When the transfer finishes, test both services carefully.
Check:
- Your homepage loads
- Internal pages work
- Contact forms submit correctly
- Email sends and receives
- Mobile and desktop inboxes connect
- Any connected apps still authenticate
If anything looks off, it usually means a DNS record, mailbox setting, or nameserver update needs attention.
10) Turn on renewal protection
Once the domain lands in your Network Solutions account, review:
- Auto-renew
- Expiration date
- Renewal rate
- Any added protection you want, such as Domain Expiration Protection
This is one of the easiest ways to prevent future disruption from a missed renewal.
If you plan to move website or email later
A domain transfer and a hosting/email migration are two different projects.
To move your website later:
- Export or back up your files
- Keep the old host active until the new one is tested
- Update DNS only when the new site is ready
To move email later:
- Export any needed mailbox data
- Recreate the mailboxes at the new provider
- Update MX records only after the new email service is confirmed
If you want to consolidate everything under one roof, Network Solutions makes it easier to manage domain, hosting, WordPress hosting, business email, SSL, security, and marketing from one account.
Common problems and how to avoid them
“My website went offline.”
Usually this means one of three things:
- DNS was changed too early
- The A record is wrong
- The old host was canceled before the new setup was ready
“My email stopped working.”
Common causes include:
- MX records changed or disappeared
- The email host was canceled too soon
- Mailbox settings still point to the old provider
“The transfer is still pending.”
Usually, the fix is simple:
- Check for the approval email
- Confirm the domain is unlocked
- Make sure the authorization code was entered correctly
- Verify the admin contact email is reachable
“I’m not technical.”
That’s okay. You do not need to be a DNS expert to do this safely. The main rule is simple: do not change the destination of your website or email until you know the new setup is ready.
What Network Solutions gives you after the transfer
Once your domain is under Network Solutions, you can manage it alongside the rest of your online presence:
- Domain registration and transfers
- Hosting and WordPress hosting
- Professional Email and Professional Email Plus
- SSL/security options
- Website and eCommerce builders
- Marketing tools
That “one-stop shop” setup helps reduce the usual juggling between vendors.
When to call for help
If you’d rather not handle the move alone, Network Solutions offers real human support.
You can:
- Call 1-800-333-7680
- Chat 24/7
- Use the Help Center for step-by-step articles and setup guidance
That’s the fastest route if you want an expert to walk through eligibility, DNS, or email concerns before you transfer.
Quick checklist before you click transfer
- Domain is unlocked
- Authorization/EPP code is ready
- Current DNS records are saved
- Website hosting is still active
- Email hosting is still active
- Admin contact email is accessible
- Auto-renew will be reviewed after transfer
- You know who to call if something looks off
If you keep the DNS stable and avoid canceling services early, you can transfer your domain to Network Solutions without breaking your website or email.
If you want, I can also turn this into a shorter FAQ version or a customer-support style checklist article.