How to Transfer a Domain from IONOS to Hostinger: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Moving your domain from IONOS to Hostinger is a straightforward process, but the steps are split across two different dashboards with very different interfaces. If you’ve never done this before, that can be confusing.

I’ve gone through the full process and documented every step on both the IONOS and Hostinger sides. This guide covers the preparation work in your IONOS account, the actual transfer initiation in Hostinger’s hPanel, and the post-transfer setup that most guides skip entirely.

The whole thing takes about 10 to 15 minutes of hands-on work, plus up to 7 days of waiting for the transfer to complete.

That said, this is a domain transfer guide, not a hosting comparison. Both IONOS and Hostinger are solid providers. If you want a detailed comparison of their hosting services, check out our IONOS review and Hostinger review.

Before You Start: Prerequisites Checklist

Domain transfers fail most often because of missed prerequisites. Run through this checklist before touching anything in either dashboard.

On the IONOS side:

• Your domain has been registered for at least 60 days. This is an ICANN requirement for generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org, .biz, .info) and newer TLDs (.online, .photo, etc.). There’s no way around this.
• You have access to the admin email associated with your domain’s WHOIS record. Transfer confirmations will be sent there.
• You know your IONOS login credentials and can access the Domains & SSL section.

On the Hostinger side:

• You have an active Hostinger account. If you don’t, you’ll create one during the transfer process.
• If you plan to host your website on Hostinger as well, set up your hosting plan first and migrate your website before initiating the domain transfer. This prevents downtime.

General requirements:

• Back up your website files, databases, and email accounts. A domain transfer moves the domain registration only. It does not migrate website files, databases, email, or subdomains.
• Note your current DNS settings and any subdomains. Write these down so you can recreate them after the transfer.
• Make sure DNSSEC is disabled on your domain. Hostinger requires this before initiating a transfer. You can verify your DNSSEC status using Hostinger’s DNSSEC Checker tool.

Step 1: Disable Private Registration on IONOS

If you have WHOIS privacy (private registration) enabled on your IONOS domain, you need to turn it off before doing anything else. Private registration masks your contact details, which can interfere with the transfer verification process.

Here’s how to disable it:

1. Log in to your IONOS account.
2. Navigate to Domains & SSL.
3. Select the domain you want to transfer.
4. Go to the Privacy & Contact Details tab.
5. Toggle the Private registration option to off.

Note: If you do not see the private registration option on the Privacy and Contact Details page, it means that this feature is not supported for that domain extension, so there is nothing you need to turn off.

Step 2: Unlock Your Domain for Transfer

IONOS locks all domains with generic extensions (.com, .net, .org, etc.) by default to prevent unauthorized transfers. You need to disable this lock.

1. In your IONOS account, go to Domains & SSL.
2. Select the domain you want to transfer.
3. Navigate to the Renewal & Transfer tab.
4. Find the Domain transfer lock option and toggle it to off (disabled).

If the toggle isn’t visible, it usually means private registration is still enabled. Go back to Step 1 and make sure WHOIS privacy is fully disabled first.

Step 3: Get Your Authorization Code (EPP Code) from IONOS

The authorization code (also called an EPP code or transfer key) is the password that proves you’re authorized to transfer the domain. Without it, Hostinger can’t process the transfer.

1. Still on the Renewal & Transfer tab for your domain in IONOS.
2. Click Show Authorization Code.
3. IONOS will request the code from the registry. This can take a few minutes.
4. Once the code appears, copy it and save it somewhere safe.

The authorization code is case-sensitive and often includes special characters. Copy and paste it rather than typing it manually to avoid errors.

Step 4: Update Your Nameservers to Point to Hostinger (Optional but Recommended)

This step is technically optional, but Hostinger strongly recommends doing it before initiating the transfer. Here’s why: during the transfer process (which can take up to 7 days), nameservers are locked and can’t be changed.

If you don’t update them beforehand, your website could experience downtime or limited functionality until the transfer completes and you can modify DNS.

If you’re already hosting your website on Hostinger, this step ensures your site stays live throughout the entire transfer process.

Hostinger’s default nameservers are:

• ns1.dns-parking.com
• ns2.dns-parking.com

To update them on IONOS:

1. In your IONOS account, go to Domains & SSL.
2. Select your domain and navigate to the Name Server tab.
3. Click Use custom name servers.
4. Replace the existing IONOS nameservers with Hostinger’s two nameservers listed above.
5. Click Save.

DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to fully propagate worldwide. Wait for propagation to complete before initiating the domain transfer in Step 5.

When to skip this step: If you’re only transferring the domain registration and want to keep your website hosted on IONOS (or elsewhere) for now, skip this step. You can change nameservers after the transfer completes through Hostinger’s hPanel.

Step 5: Initiate the Domain Transfer on Hostinger

With your domain unlocked, authorization code in hand, and (optionally) nameservers updated, it’s time to start the transfer on Hostinger’s end.

1. Log in to your Hostinger account.
2. Navigate to Domains, then click Transfers.

3. Enter the domain name you want to transfer and click Transfer.

4. Proceed with the payment. For a .com domain, the transfer fee is $9.99, which includes a one-year renewal added to your existing registration period. Pricing varies by extension.
5. When prompted, enter the authorization code (EPP code) you copied from IONOS in Step 3.
6. Choose your nameserver preference: keep your current nameservers or switch to Hostinger’s nameservers. If you already updated nameservers in Step 4, select the option to keep your current settings. Hostinger also gives you the option to manage DNS records during this step, which will be applied after the transfer completes.
7. Click to initiate the transfer.

Step 6: Confirm the Transfer via Email

After you initiate the transfer on Hostinger, you’ll receive a confirmation email at the admin email address associated with your domain’s WHOIS record. This is the email you verified back in the prerequisites.

1. Check your inbox (and spam/junk folders) for an email from your domain registry or IONOS.
2. Follow the instructions in the email to approve the transfer.
3. Without this confirmation, the transfer will stall or be cancelled.

IONOS may also send a separate notification about the outgoing transfer. Some registrars give you a five-day window to approve or reject. If no action is taken within that window, the transfer typically proceeds automatically, but it’s better to confirm proactively to speed things up.

Step 7: Wait for the Transfer to Complete

Domain transfers typically take up to 7 business days, depending on the domain extension and how quickly IONOS releases the domain.

For common TLDs like .com, .net, and .org, expect 5 to 6 business days plus an additional 24 to 48 hours for DNS propagation.

During this waiting period:

• Don’t make changes to your domain’s DNS settings, WHOIS information, or nameservers.
• Monitor your email for any additional verification requests.
• You can track the transfer status in Hostinger’s hPanel under Domains > Transfers.

You’ll receive a confirmation email from Hostinger once the transfer is complete.

Step 8: Post-Transfer Setup on Hostinger

Once the transfer is confirmed, your domain is now managed through Hostinger’s hPanel. Here’s what to do next.

Verify DNS Settings

If you changed nameservers before the transfer, verify that your DNS records are pointing correctly.

Go to hPanel > Domains > Domain portfolio, click Manage next to your domain, and check the DNS/Nameservers section.

Hostinger’s nameservers should show as ns1.dns-parking.com and ns2.dns-parking.com.

If you need to edit DNS records, navigate to hPanel > Websites, select your site, and go to Advanced > DNS Zone Editor.

Set Up Email

Email accounts tied to your domain at IONOS will not carry over. You’ll need to recreate them on Hostinger:

1. Go to hPanel > Emails.
2. Set up new email accounts using the same addresses you had on IONOS (e.g., contact@yourdomain.com).
3. If you exported your emails from IONOS before the transfer, import them into your new Hostinger mailbox.

Recreate Subdomains

Any subdomains (like shop.yourdomain.com or blog.yourdomain.com) that existed on IONOS will need to be recreated on Hostinger. Create them through hPanel and configure their DNS records to match your previous setup.

Re-enable Domain Privacy

Hostinger includes free WHOIS privacy for eligible domains. After the transfer, go to your domain settings in hPanel and verify that privacy protection is active.

Enable Domain Lock

Once everything is set up and working, enable the domain transfer lock in Hostinger’s hPanel to prevent unauthorized transfers. This is the same type of security measure IONOS applies by default.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Transfer Rejected: Authorization Code Invalid

Double-check that you copied the EPP code exactly as displayed in IONOS. These codes are case-sensitive. If the code has expired (some registrars set an expiration window), go back to IONOS and generate a new one.

Transfer Stuck in Pending

If the transfer hasn’t progressed after several days, check your email for any pending approval requests. Also, verify that the domain is still unlocked on IONOS, and that private registration and DNSSEC are both disabled.

Website Down After Transfer

This is almost always a DNS issue. If you didn’t update nameservers before the transfer, your domain may still be pointing to IONOS’s nameservers. Update them in Hostinger’s hPanel to ns1.dns-parking.com and ns2.dns-parking.com, and allow 24 to 48 hours for propagation.

Also, check that your A records, CNAME records, and MX records (for email) are properly configured in Hostinger’s DNS Zone Editor.

Can’t Unlock Domain or Find Authorization Code on IONOS

If the toggle for the domain transfer lock isn’t visible, private registration may still be enabled. Disable WHOIS privacy first, then try again. If you’re still stuck, contact IONOS support. Their team is available 24/7 via live chat, phone, and email.

Error: Domain Doesn’t Meet Transfer Requirements

This typically means one of the prerequisites wasn’t met: the domain hasn’t been registered for 60 days, DNSSEC is still enabled, or the domain is in a pending delete or redemption status. Resolve the specific issue flagged in the error message and try again.

Tips for a Smooth Transfer

1. Migrate your website first, transfer the domain second. If you’re moving both hosting and domain to Hostinger, migrate the website files and databases to Hostinger first, verify everything works, then initiate the domain transfer. Hostinger offers free website migration for this purpose.
2. Update nameservers before starting the transfer. This is the single most common source of post-transfer downtime. Nameservers can’t be changed during the transfer, so get them sorted beforehand.
3. Start the transfer well before your domain expires. Hostinger recommends having at least 7 days left before expiration. I’d suggest a buffer of 30 days or more to account for any delays.
4. Don’t cancel your IONOS account prematurely. Keep it active until the transfer is confirmed and your website is running properly on Hostinger.
5. Check DNSSEC before starting. This is a Hostinger-specific requirement that trips up a lot of people. Use their DNSSEC Checker tool to verify it’s disabled before initiating the transfer.

How Long Does the Entire Process Take?

Here’s a realistic timeline:

• Preparation on IONOS (disabling privacy, unlocking, getting EPP code): 15 to 30 minutes, though WHOIS privacy changes may need 24 to 48 hours to propagate.
• Nameserver update propagation: Up to 24 hours.
• Domain transfer processing: 5 to 7 business days for most generic TLDs.
• Post-transfer DNS propagation: An additional 24 to 48 hours.

In total, expect roughly one to two weeks from start to finish. The actual hands-on work takes under 30 minutes. The rest is waiting.

Deciding between IONOS and Hostinger for your domain and hosting? Read our in-depth IONOS vs. Hostinger comparison for a detailed breakdown of pricing, features, and performance. For more domain management guides, explore our domain transfer resources.