How to transfer a domain name to another Alibaba Cloud account - Domain Names

Transfer a domain name between Alibaba Cloud accounts to centralize management or reassign permissions. This changes only the managing account — the registrant and expiration date are unaffected. To change registrant information, Modify registrant information.

Common use cases:

Centralizing management: Transfer a domain name from an employee's personal account to a company account.
Transferring permissions: Move a domain name to a new account when an employee leaves.
Aligning with business structure: Reassigning a domain name's management account to match organizational restructuring.
Simplifying renewals: Consolidate domain names into one account to streamline renewals.

Procedure

Step 1: Perform pre-transfer checks

Verify the following before you start.

Check item	Requirements and instructions
Domain name validity	The domain name must be active. If expired, renew it before transferring.
Identity verification	For`.cn` domain names, the registrant must complete identity verification.
Registration date	The domain name must meet a minimum registration period. The 7-day requirement for ".cn" domain names and the 1-day requirement for ".com" and ".net" domain names refer to calendar days (not business days). The console displays the specific requirement.
Account type	Initiate the transfer from the source Alibaba Cloud account using the primary account. RAM users cannot perform this operation. Direct transfers between China site and international site accounts are not supported. Instead, transfer the domain name away from Alibaba Cloud from the source account, then transfer it back in to the destination account. This incurs a fee and extends registration by one year.

Step 2: Initiate the transfer

The source account must perform the following steps:

Go to the transfer page.
Log on to the Domain Names console. On the Domain Names page, find the target domain name and click Manage in the Actions column. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Transfer Between Accounts.
For batch transfers: The process for .cn domain names and other TLDs is different. You must process them in separate batches.
- .cn domain names: In the left-side navigation pane, click Batch Operations > CNNIC Batch Operations > Account Transfer.
- Other TLDs: In the left-side navigation pane, click Batch Operations > Common Batch Operations > Account Transfer.
Enter information and submit.
Important
This operation is irreversible. The destination account gains full management rights immediately. Verify the destination account ID before proceeding. If you transfer the domain name to the wrong account, the only option is to contact the account owner and negotiate a return transfer — Alibaba Cloud cannot reverse the operation on your behalf.
Note
Common errors and troubleshooting:
- "Target account does not exist": The account ID or login ID you entered may be incorrect. Double-check the information with the recipient and try again.
- "Failed to retrieve user information": This typically occurs when the destination account has not completed identity verification. Ensure the recipient has completed the identity verification process before you initiate the transfer.
- Batch Mode:
  - Enter Domain Name: One domain name per line, up to 1,000.
  - Upload File: Supports .xls and .xlsx formats, up to 2 MB.
- Transfer To: Enter the UID of the destination account. Click your profile picture in the upper-right corner to view your UID.
After completing the email verification, click Submit. The transfer takes effect immediately. Ensure that the UID you entered is correct.

Step 3: Check the transfer result

The transfer takes effect immediately without confirmation from the destination account.

Source account (original account): The domain name is no longer listed in the source account. To view the transfer record and operation details, go to the Change Log page:
1. Log on to the Domain Names console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Change Log.
2. Find the target record in the list and click Details to view the before-and-after comparison of the operation.
3. To view account transfer records, filter by the transfer type to see the destination account information.
Destination account: The domain name is now listed in the destination account's Domain Names list.

FAQ

What should I do if I can't see the domain name after the transfer?
- Confirm that you are logged on to the correct destination account. The domain name will no longer be visible in the source account.
- Verify that you performed a cross-account transfer, not an ownership change. An ownership change modifies registrant information but does not move the domain name to another account.
- To confirm that the transfer completed and view the detailed operation record, go to the Change Log page. In the left-side navigation pane of the Domain Names console, click Change Log to view the transfer record and confirm the destination account.
How long does a domain name transfer between Alibaba Cloud accounts take? Is there a fee? Does it affect the domain name's expiration date?
- Time: The transfer is instant. The domain name appears in the destination account immediately.
- Fee: Free. No fee applies.
- Expiration date: Unaffected. Your domain name's expiration date remains the same.
Will transferring to another account affect my DNS resolution, ICP filing, or SSL Certificate?
- DNS resolution: DNS resolution is not affected by the transfer.
  Free Edition DNS records migrate with the domain name. Paid Edition DNS records remain in the source account. Transfer a domain name between Alibaba Cloud accounts.
- SSL Certificate: Not affected. The certificate is bound to the domain name, not the account. Use SSL certificate upload, synchronization, and sharing to share certificates between accounts with the same identity verification.
Does a cross-account transfer change the domain name's ownership?
A cross-account transfer changes only the managing account. Registrant information (ownership) is unchanged. To change the registrant, perform a registrant information change.
Can the transfer be revoked? What if I transfer the domain name to the wrong account?
No, the transfer is irreversible. Management rights transfer immediately upon submission. If transferred to the wrong account, contact that account's owner to arrange a return. Alibaba Cloud cannot intervene.
Can I transfer a domain name again after the transfer is completed?
- Online transfer: Online transfers take effect immediately with no lock period. You can initiate another transfer to a different Alibaba Cloud account right after the transfer is completed.