The short answer: You can usually keep your domain and email when you leave your current website company, but only if you own the accounts they sit in. If the company registered the domain or email under its own name, you may have to transfer ownership or negotiate access.
Who actually owns your domain name?
Ownership of your domain name comes down to whose name and login sit on the registrar account. The registrar is the company where the domain was bought, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap. If your website company set up that account using your business details and your email, you own the domain. If the company used its own account and listed itself as the registrant, the company controls the domain. You can check by looking up the domain on a WHOIS lookup tool. The registrant email and organization fields tell you who is on record. If it shows your business name, you are in good shape. If it shows the website company, you need to ask for a transfer.
How do you move a domain away from your current website company?
Moving a domain away from your current website company starts with getting the transfer authorization code, also called an EPP code or auth code. Ask the company for that code in writing. Then create an account at a registrar you choose and start a transfer. The transfer usually takes a few days. Before you start, make sure the domain is unlocked and that the admin email on the WHOIS record is one you can access. If the company refuses to give you the code, you can contact the registrar directly and explain the situation. Registrars have dispute processes for exactly this. Keep every email you send and receive.
What happens to your email address when you leave?
Your email address keeps working when you leave only if the email service is separate from the website company or you move it to a new provider. Many small businesses use email that comes with their domain, like [email protected]. That email lives at a mail host, which might be the same company as your web host or a different one. If your website company also runs your email, cancelling your website account can shut down your inbox. Before you cancel, set up email at a new provider and copy your old messages. Forwarding rules and contact lists need to be recreated too.
Steps to take before you cancel your website company
Take these steps before you cancel your website company to avoid losing your domain or email.
- Log in to your domain registrar and confirm you can see the domain and its renewal date.
- Check the WHOIS record and make sure the registrant email is one you control.
- Ask for the domain transfer authorization code in writing.
- Set up a new email account at a provider you choose and test sending and receiving.
- Download a copy of your website files and any content you want to keep.
- Export your email contacts and any important messages.
- Update your email settings on your phone and computer.
- Only then cancel the old website service.
What if your website company registered the domain in its own name?
A domain registered in the website company's own name is the hardest case, because the company is the legal owner on record. You have a few options. Ask the company to transfer the domain to your registrar account. Some companies will do this for free, some charge a release fee, and some refuse. If the company refuses, you can try to buy the domain from them, or you can register a new domain and move on. A new domain means updating your email address, business cards, and online listings. That is a hassle, but it is sometimes faster than fighting over a domain. For legal questions about domain ownership, talk to a lawyer in your state.
How to keep your email running during the switch
Keeping your email running during the switch means setting up the new mailbox before you turn off the old one. Create the new email account at your chosen provider. Add the same address, like [email protected], if you still control the domain. Then change your DNS records, specifically the MX records, to point to the new provider. DNS changes can take a few hours to spread. During that window, some messages may go to the old inbox. To avoid gaps, keep both accounts active for a day or two and forward mail from the old one to the new one. Test by sending emails from an outside account.
When you can leave your domain where it is
You can leave your domain where it is if the current registrar is one you are happy with and you only want to change the website. The domain and the website are separate services even when one company sells both. You can keep the domain registered at the old company and point it to a new website host. To do that, you update the DNS records, usually the A record and the CNAME record, to the new host's settings. The old company may still bill you for the domain renewal each year. That is fine as long as you keep the login and the renewal payment up to date. If you ever want to move the domain later, you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my website company hold my domain hostage?
A website company can hold your domain hostage only if it is the registrant on record. If your business is the registrant, the company cannot legally keep the domain from you. If the company is the registrant, you may need to negotiate or seek legal help. Check the WHOIS record first to see who is listed.
How long does it take to transfer a domain to a new registrar?
A domain transfer usually takes about five to seven days. The exact time depends on the registrars involved and whether the domain is locked. You will need an authorization code from the current registrar. Once the transfer starts, you may need to approve it by email. Plan for a week to be safe.
Will I lose my email if I switch website companies?
You will lose your email only if the website company also hosts your email and you cancel without moving it first. Set up your email at a new provider, update your DNS records, and test it before you cancel. If your email is already separate, switching website companies will not affect it.
What is an authorization code for a domain transfer?
An authorization code, also called an EPP code or transfer secret, is a string of letters and numbers that proves you have the right to move a domain. You get it from your current registrar. The new registrar asks for it when you start a transfer. Keep the code private.
Do I need to update my website if I keep my domain?
You need to update your website only if you want a new design or content. Keeping your domain does not force a website change. If you move to a new website host, you will need to point the domain to the new host by updating DNS records. That is a technical step your new host can help with.
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