Moving a domain to a new registrar or changing hosting does not have to cause downtime. With a little preparation, your website and email keep running throughout the change.
The Key Principle
A domain transfer between registrars does not change where your site points. As long as you leave the DNS and nameservers alone, the domain keeps resolving to its current host during the move.
Steps for a Clean Move
- Before changing anything, note your current DNS records: the A record, any CNAME records, and the MX records for email.
- If you are also moving hosting, set up the new server and recreate those records there first.
- Transfer the domain while keeping the existing nameservers in place.
- Once the new hosting is fully ready and tested, update the nameservers to ns1.nairohost.site and ns2.nairohost.site.
- Wait for propagation, then confirm the site and email work on the new server.
Avoid These Mistakes
- Do not change nameservers and transfer at the same time without preparing records.
- Do not delete the old hosting until propagation finishes and you have verified everything.
- Do not forget email records, since missing MX records cause mail to bounce.
Why Propagation Matters
DNS changes spread gradually, so for a short window some visitors reach the old server and some the new one. Keeping both servers serving identical content during this window means no one sees an error.
Plan the switch for a quiet period and keep the old setup live until the new one is confirmed. For help mapping your records, contact NairoHost through the /contact page.