How to Transfer Your Domain From Weebly

01 • first, check

Is my domain registered through Weebly?

Only domains you bought through Weebly need this transfer. If you bought your domain somewhere else, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap, and just connected it to Weebly, it is already at another registrar. You only need to point it to your new site later.

To check, look in your Weebly dashboard under Websites > Domains. You can also search your domain on ICANN Lookup, which shows the registrar for most domain endings. A registrar is the company your domain is registered with.

02 • the transfer

How do I transfer my domain from Weebly?

1. 1Sign in to Weebly on a computer and open the Dashboard.
2. 2Go to Websites > Domains, then Manage, then Manage Domain.
3. 3Turn off Registrar Lock.
4. 4Copy the EPP code and keep it somewhere safe.
5. 5At your new registrar, start a domain transfer and paste the code.
6. 6Approve the confirmation emails that arrive. Check your spam folder.
7. 7When the transfer finishes, turn Whois privacy back on at the new registrar.

03 • avoid these

What can stop a Weebly domain transfer?

Weebly's notice lists three traps. Each one can cost you weeks, and you do not have weeks to spare.

• New domains cannot move for 60 days. Under ICANN rules, a domain cannot be transferred within 60 days of registration. If you registered or bought the domain recently, check the date now.
• Do not change your contact details first. Changing the registrant contact details triggers a 60-day lock. Make the transfer first, then update your details at the new registrar.
• Turning off the lock turns off privacy. Disabling the Registrar Lock also disables Whois privacy. Your contact details may be visible until you switch privacy back on at the new registrar.

04 • country domains

How do I transfer a .ae, .sa, .sg or .my domain from Weebly?

Country-code domains, often called ccTLDs, are domains that end in a country's code. Examples are .ae for the UAE, .sa for Saudi Arabia, .sg for Singapore and .my for Malaysia. Each country sets its own rules for them.

Weebly says these transfers need help from Weebly support. Khaleej Times also told UAE owners that country-specific domains work differently and need support's help. So the steps above may not work for you on their own.

1. 1Contact Weebly support and say you need to transfer a country-code domain out before the shutdown.
2. 2Tell them which registrar you are moving to.
3. 3Ask what they need from you, and how long it will take.
4. 4Keep a copy of every message, with dates.

The local guides for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia explain each domain ending.

05 • where to move it

Where should I move my domain?

Move it to a registrar account in your own name, with your own email address and password. This is the most important rule. If someone else registers it for you, even a helpful web designer, make sure you are listed as the owner and that you can log in.

Keep the domain separate from your website if you can. Then, if you ever change website platforms again, you just point the domain somewhere new. Nobody can hold your name hostage.

06 • after the move

What happens to my email and site after the transfer?

A transfer moves the registration. Anything that depends on Weebly's settings, such as email set up through Weebly, needs its own plan. Read how to keep your email after Weebly before you change any settings.

Once the domain is yours, you can point it to your new website. Until the new site is ready, a simple one-page holding site is better than an error.