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Transfer a Domain to Tumblr

In this Guide

Do you own a domain name with another provider? You can follow the steps in this guide to transfer the domain so that you can manage both your blog and domain registration from your Tumblr account.

Initiate the Transfer

Domain transfers can take anywhere from five to seven days to complete. Never cancel your domain during a domain transfer. Your current provider will automatically remove the domain from their system once the transfer is completed.

Step 1: Verify Domain Transfer Eligibility

Your domain must meet the following criteria to be able to transfer it to Tumblr. You can transfer a domain if it is:

  • More than 60 days old.
  • Has not been transferred within the past 60 days.
  • On our list of TLDs that support incoming transfers (all major extensions supported, including .com, .net, and .org.)
  • Standard priced (i.e., it is not a premium domain.)
  • Not already renewed to the maximum possible term (ten years for most domains.)

Step 2: Unlock Domain and Obtain Auth Code

Log in to your account with your domain provider (where the domain is currently registered) and take the following actions:

  • Unlock your domain: Domain providers sometimes lock a domain as a security measure to prevent unauthorized changes like transfers. This is typically referred to as a registrar lock.
  • Obtain an authorization code: This code is commonly known as an EPP code, but your domain provider might also refer to it as a transfer code, authorization key, or auth code.

Your domain provider’s domain management interface should allow you to remove this lock and obtain your code. Some domain providers require you to contact them via their customer support service to make this request.

We’ve listed instructions from popular domain providers below. Some registrars may have additional steps to be completed on their end before a domain can be transferred.

Instructions for common domain providers:

Step 3: Start the Transfer at Tumblr

Once you have unlocked your domain and obtained your authorization code, you can initiate the transfer on Tumblr.

Follow the steps below to transfer a domain.

  1. Click on “Get a Domain” in the navigation bar to get to tumblr.com/domains.
  2. Click on the “Transfer and manage it on Tumblr” button.
  3. Enter the domain name to transfer and click “Go”.
  4. On the Domain Transfer Page, enter the authorization code for your domain and click “Submit”.
  5. Provided that your domain is eligible for transfer, you will be taken to the checkout page.
  6. Fill out the required fields, including the domain contact information, and complete checkout.

That’s it! Once you’ve completed these steps, your transfer will start.

You will receive an email receipt from Tumblr confirming the purchase. You should also receive an email from your current provider. Most providers will offer you the option to cancel your transfer and some will also allow you to accept the transfer, which will expedite the process. Please check with your provider on available options.

If presented with the options and you choose to accept the transfer, the domain should be transferred within a few minutes. Otherwise, it may take anywhere from five to seven days. If you choose to cancel the transfer at your current provider before the process begins, the transfer will also be cancelled on Tumblr and your purchase will be refunded.

Tumblr will notify you via email once the transfer process is completed. Transfers extend your registration by another year at the regular renewal fee, you will be able to view your domain’s registration and renewal dates in Domain Settings upon transfer completion.

We do not offer refunds for domain transfers, unless the transfer is cancelled or has failed.

Transfer Failure

You will be notified via email if your domain transfer failed. A domain may be rejected for the following reasons:

  • The domain is still locked. Please ensure you’ve unlocked the domain for transfer at your current provider.
  • The domain expired, entered redemption, or was canceled after initiating the transfer. Please contact your current provider to help you reactivate the domain and restart the transfer process.
  • The transfer was canceled on your current provider’s end. Please consult with your provider and restart the transfer process.
  • In rare cases, the current provider may dispute a transfer which will cause it to be canceled.

Transferred Domains Point to Tumblr

If your domain is currently pointing to a different website, that will no longer be the case once it is transferred to Tumblr.

Upon transfer completion, an A record pointing to Tumblr’s IP address, 66.6.44.4, will be automatically added to your domain, so that it can be used as the home address of your Tumblr blog.

While your DNS records may be imported to Tumblr during the transfer, it’s important to review your DNS records to ensure all necessary records are present for the domain on Tumblr. If you have an email address for your domain with another provider, you may need to add the required DNS records for your email account if they did not come through with the transfer.

In this Guide

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