DNS Changes During Domain Transfer

DNS Changes During Domain Transfer

One of the most common concerns during a domain transfer is whether your website and email will continue working. The good news is that a domain transfer does not automatically change your DNS records — but there are scenarios where action is needed.

What Happens to DNS During a Transfer

A domain transfer changes the registrar of record but does not inherently modify:

• Nameserver settings — Your domain will continue pointing to the same nameservers.
• DNS zone records — A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, and other records remain intact at whatever DNS provider hosts them.

However, if your DNS is hosted by the losing registrar (the registrar you are transferring away from), you may need to take action.

Scenarios and Actions Required

Scenario 1: Using a Third-Party DNS Provider

If your nameservers point to a third-party DNS service (such as Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, or Google Cloud DNS), no DNS changes are needed. Your records are independent of both registrars.

Scenario 2: Using the Losing Registrar’s Nameservers

If you are using the nameservers provided by your current registrar, your DNS records may become inaccessible after the transfer. To prevent this:

1. Before the transfer: Create the same DNS zone at 10Corp (or any DNS provider).
2. Manually recreate all DNS records (A, MX, CNAME, TXT, etc.).
3. After the transfer: Update the domain’s nameservers to point to the new DNS host.

Scenario 3: Using 10Corp’s Nameservers (Incoming Transfer)

If you are transferring a domain to 10Corp and want to use our nameservers:

1. Set up a DNS zone for the domain in your 10Corp account.
2. Add all necessary DNS records.
3. Update the nameservers to 10Corp’s nameservers after the transfer completes.

How to Avoid Downtime

• Record your current DNS settings before initiating any transfer.
• Use a third-party DNS provider for zero-impact transfers.
• Lower your TTL values 24–48 hours before making nameserver changes. This reduces the time it takes for changes to propagate.
• Test with a WHOIS/dig lookup after changing nameservers to confirm propagation.

DNS Propagation Timeline

After updating nameservers, DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide. During this time:

• Some users may see the old DNS records while others see the new ones.
• Email delivery may be inconsistent if MX records are changing.
• Avoid making additional DNS changes during propagation.

Quick Reference

Careful DNS planning ensures a seamless transition with no interruption to your website or email services.