Transferring a domain name between registrars should be routine. Still, things get complicated.

Poorly planned transfers lead to downtime and data loss. Most issues happen because domain owners assume the transfer affects only the registration.

They don’t understand how many aspects of the domain ownership depend on the domain’s configuration. A small oversight can take an entire website offline for hours or days.

Below are the five most common mistakes that can break your website during a transfer. You can easily avoid all of them if you choose to transfer domain to Spaceship, as the interface will lead you every step of the way.

Also, we included the practical steps to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Assuming DNS Records Will Transfer Automatically
Today, automation is the norm. No wonder many believe that DNS records move automatically!

When the domain is moved, only the domain registration changes hands. DNS settings remain tied to the DNS provider.

If the DNS is hosted at the old registrar, those records stay behind unless someone manually recreates them. Once the transfer completes, the domain can lose connection to the website, email service, and any third-party tools.

How to avoid it:

• Check where the DNS is currently hosted: registrar, hosting provider, or external DNS service.

• If DNS is at the current registrar, export or screenshot all DNS records before starting the transfer.

• Recreate these records at the new registrar or move DNS to a dedicated DNS provider before initiating the transfer.

• Allow time for propagation before making final changes.

Mistake 2: Letting the Domain Expire Before the Transfer
Many website owners try to transfer domains at the last minute. There are many reasons for that, but the common one is extending the renewal period.

But domain transfers cannot start on recently expired domains. The shorter it is, the riskier the transfer window becomes.

If anything delays the process, the domain can expire mid-transfer. Even worse, some registrars automatically deactivate DNS for expired domains.

How to avoid it:

• Start transfers at least 2–4 weeks before expiration.
• Renew the domain if it's within 30 days of expiry. Transfer it afterwards.
• Ensure WHOIS contact information is current.
• Disable transfer locks and get the authorisation code early.

Mistake 3: Forgetting About Email Hosting Tied to the Domain
Many businesses use email hosting provided by their registrar (e.g., user@yourdomain.com). When transferring the domain, this service may automatically shut down.

This happens because it’s tied to the old registrar account. Even if email hosting isn’t cancelled, the MX records can break if DNS settings don’t carry over.

This leads to a lot of headaches. Once email stops working, recovering messages becomes difficult.

How to avoid it:

• Identify where the email service is hosted.

• If the email is tied to the registrar, migrate it before transferring the domain.

• Back up all inboxes if using registrar-based email.

• Ensure MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly recreated at the new DNS host.

Mistake 4: Changing DNS and Transferring the Domain at the Same Time
Some website owners want to “speed things up.” Unfortunately, they create nothing but confusion and downtime.

When they change DNs and transfer the domain simultaneously, they can affect SSL certificates, make the site inaccessible and do more harm than they can imagine.

How to avoid it:

• Complete DNS changes before initiating a transfer.

• Use online DNS propagation tools to confirm global consistency.

• Once DNS is stable, start the transfer.

• Keep nameservers unchanged during the transfer.

Mistake 5: Not Backing Up Website and Hosting Configurations
Transferring a domain doesn’t directly affect the web hosting. On the other hand, misconfigured DNS or nameservers can disconnect the site.

If the hosting setup relies on DNS, any small mistake can prevent users from reaching the server. This means lost traffic and money!

If something breaks and there is no backup, restoring the site becomes complicated. Recovering huge databases is trouble no one needs or wants.

How to avoid it:

• Back up the website files before the transfer.

• Confirm the hosting provider’s recommended DNS settings.

• If using Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, or similar services, verify all DNS entries match exactly.

• Test the site using the hosting provider’s temporary domain or IP address. Confirm it’s functional even without the main domain.

Final Advice: Plan the Transfer Like a Deployment
A domain transfer shouldn’t break the website. However, it can do it if approached casually.

The safest approach is to plan the transfer as if the company was deploying a major update:

• Document all DNS records.

• Back up everything.

• Migrate email separately if needed.

• Time the transfer during low-traffic hours.

• Verify DNS stability before making changes.

• Monitor the site for 48 hours after completion.

With preparation and a systematic process, a domain transfer can be done without downtime, data loss, and disrupting visitors.