Introduction

While both GoDaddy and AWS provide affordable and attractive domain packages, sometimes you might still need to transfer your domain to AWS in order to better integrate with other AWS services. In this tutorial we will cover all the steps and actions you need to take in order to transfer your GoDaddy domain to AWS.

Enable domain transfer on GoDaddy

Sign in to your GoDaddy account then navigate to My Products page.

Navigate to My Products page
Navigate to My Products page

From the All Products and Services section, click on the Manage button on the domain name you wish to transfer to AWS.

Click on the Manage button
Click on the Manage button

On the bottom of the page at the Additional Settings section, click on the Edit button next to Domain lock to turn it off. (This allows you to transfer your domain to outside of GoDaddy)

Edit Domain lock
Edit Domain lock

After you click on Edit and turn it off, GoDaddy will popup a dialog for confirmation. Click on Yes, I consent to unlock the selected domain(s) then click on Continue.

Confirm Unlock Domain
Confirm Unlock Domain

After you click on Continue, it will take a minute before the Domain lock status becomes Off. Wait for it to become Off before you continue.

Domain lock Off
Domain lock Off

Click on the Transfer domain away from link on the right hand side.

Transfer domain away from
Transfer domain away from

GoDaddy will bring you to a page with a checklist to verify before you continue.Click on Continue with transfer when you are ready.

Domain transfer checklist
Domain transfer checklist

Click on the Click here to see Authorization Code button to reveal the authorization code. The same code will also be sent to your email address. Be sure to take a note of this code as we will need it later on the AWS console.

Get Authorization Code
Get Authorization Code

Transfer domain to AWS

Login to your AWS console and navigate to the Route53 console.Click on Registered domains from the left panel.

Route53 Console
Route53 Console

Click on the Transfer Domain button from the Registered domains page

Transfer Domain
Transfer Domain

On the domain transfer page, input your domain name and click on the Check button to verify if your domain name  can be transferred to AWS Route53.

Check domain transfer
Check domain transfer

Click on the Add to Cart button.An One-time fee will appear on the right, click on the Continue button to continue the domain transfer.

Add to cart
Add to cart

On Step 2, enter the Authorization code you acquired from GoDaddy then click on the Continue button.

Enter Authorization code
Enter Authorization code

On Step 3, the relevant contact information from GoDaddy will be automatically filled in for you. Double check the information then click on the Continue button on the bottom of the page.

Contact Details
Contact Details

On Step 4, review the contact information again then click on the I have read and agree to the AWS Domain Name Registration Agreement checkbox then click on the Complete Order button.

Complete Order
Complete Order

A successful message dialog will appear.

Order submitted
Order submitted

Before your domain will arrive on AWS, you must first approve domain transfer from GoDaddy.

You will receive an email from GoDaddy saying your domain transfer is ready.

Go to the My Domains using one of the following approach:

Approach 1: Click on the My Domains button from the page where you got your Authorization Code

My Domains from Domain Transfer Out Page
My Domains from Domain Transfer Out Page

Approach 2: Click on the Manage All link from My Products page

My Domains from My Products page
My Domains from My Products page

With either approach described above, you will land on the My Domains page.

My Domain listing page
My Domain listing page

Here you may find all domains you have, and you’ll notice that the domain we wish to transfer is in the Pending Transfer status.


Click on the domain name to enter the domain detail page.

Click on the View details link on the domain detail page to review domain transfer.

Domain detail page
Domain detail page

From the Pending transfers page, select your domain and click on the Accept Transfer button.

Pending transfers page
Pending transfers page

Once you click on the Accept Transfer button, you will receive two emails from GoDaddy. One saying your domain transfer is complete and the other one saying sorry to see you go.

If you go back to My Products you will no longer see your domain there.

Now return to AWS Route53 console, on the Pending requests page, you will see your domain appears there and is currently being transferred.

Pending requests
Pending requests

It may take a while before it’s done. When it finishes, you will receive a notification email from AWS saying the transfer job is completed.

Domain transfer complete
Domain transfer complete

Congratulations! You have successfully transfer your domain from GoDaddy to AWS!