Transfer a domain name from PlanetHoster to OVH?

Domains and Hosting
1

How do I do this, please?

2

Hi @DanyA1

I detail the process in three steps:

  1. Prepare the domain on PlanetHoster (your current provider):

    • Unlock the domain to allow the transfer. On PlanetHoster it is usually locked by default for security.

    • Obtain the transfer code (also called Auth code, EPP code, or transfer key). This code is provided by your current provider.

  2. Request the transfer on OVHcloud:

    • Go to OVHcloud's domain transfer page (you can search for “OVHcloud transfer domain”).

    • Type your domain name in the search bar.

    • Enter the transfer code you obtained in the previous step.

    • Complete the order (the price usually includes an additional year of domain validity).

  3. Wait for validation:

    • The process usually takes between 1 and 10 days. The duration depends on the domain extension (.com, .es, etc.) and your current provider.

    • If your current provider manually approves the transfer, it can happen within minutes. If they do not respond, it will complete automatically in up to 5 days.

Important requirements (if you don’t meet them, the transfer will fail):

  • The domain must be older than 60 days since its creation or last transfer.
  • The domain must not be expired.
  • The domain must be unlocked.
  • You must have a valid transfer code.

Additional tip: If, besides transferring the domain, you also want to move the website or emails to OVHcloud, I recommend you first consult the full migration guide to avoid service interruptions Migrate a website and associated services to OVHcloud.

Hope this helps, best regards :wink: :waving_hand:

3

Thank you, I'm looking at it.

4

I just realized that the domain name is managed by Planet Hoster and the email addresses by OVH.

If I go ahead with transferring the domain name to OVH, could that mess things up and prevent me from receiving email in my OVH mailbox (which works very well today)?

Thanks for your insights.

5

Hi @DanyA1

You can rest assured that transferring the domain to OVH will not mess up your email. The domain and the email are two services that operate independently, even if you have them with different providers.

The trick lies in your domain's MX records, which tell the world which server to send your domain's emails to. Currently, these records point to OVH, and that's where your mailboxes reside. When transferring the domain to OVH, you have two options:

  1. Keep the current DNS servers (those of PlanetHoster) during the transfer. This is the simplest and safest option, because the DNS configuration stays untouched and emails continue to arrive at OVH without interruption.

  2. Switch to OVH’s DNS servers after the transfer. In that case, you’ll need to manually recreate the MX records in OVH’s DNS zone so they continue pointing to OVH’s servers (mx0.mail.ovh.net, mx1.mail.ovh.net, etc.). OVH’s documentation provides step‑by‑step guides, but I recommend option 1 if you don’t want to complicate things.

Hope this helps,
Sergio Turpín

6

I chose option 1. Thanks Sergio!

7

Please still provide your domain name; we’ll be able to help you better.

It’s not impossible that PlanetHoster will delete the DNS zone from their infrastructure on the day the domain moves elsewhere. In that case, everything stops (mail + web).

8

I started the process.

Indeed I have to go through the checkout step to validate the process (the price isn’t excessive).

But:

1 - I’m offered to modify (at the time of payment):

  • DNS Anycast
  • DNSSEC (secure DNS)
  • Zimbra Starter email account option*

2 - it works correctly today

I decided not to touch anything and leave it as it is (I’ll see later).

Thanks to all the contributors.