Overview
When you buy a domain name in our marketplace, the domain is automatically transferred from the current registrar to Atom. This protects your purchase from payment/fraud issues and keeps everything consistent.
High level steps
You complete checkout and agree to the Domain Registration Agreement.
Your domain appears in your Atom account with the status Transfer In Progress.
We verify payment and request the domain from the current registrar (the place it’s registered today).
When the current registrar approves, the domain lands in your Atom account.
We confirm contacts, apply standard safety locks, and keep your nameservers the same for continuity.
What you’ll see in your account
Transfer In Progress – we’re verifying payment and preparing the move from the current registrar to Atom.
After completion, you’ll see the domain as Active in your Atom account.
If you purchased on a Payment Plan, you’ll also see Payment Lock — Payment Plan active (details below).
Do I need to do anything?
Usually nothing. If we need you to verify your registrant email or confirm a detail, we’ll message you. If you know your DNS is hosted at the current registrar, tell us your target DNS host so we can help copy records.
Website/email during the move
We keep your existing nameservers so your website and email should continue to work.
Possible disruption: if the current registrar also hosts your DNS, they may stop serving your zone when the domain leaves. If that’s your setup, we’ll help you recreate the same DNS records at your chosen DNS provider (e.g., your web host, Cloudflare, Route53).
Tip: Avoid changing nameservers during the transfer. Make DNS changes either before or after the move. If DNSSEC (DS) is enabled, remove the DS record before changing nameservers and re-add it after your new DNS is live.
Payment Plan (Payment Lock)
Buying with a Payment Plan? You can use the domain, but unlock and transfer code (TAC) are hidden while you’re paying it off. Auto-renew must remain ON so the domain doesn’t lapse mid-plan. If you want to move earlier, ask us for an early payoff; once paid in full and cleared, we remove Payment Lock and can share the TAC.
Can I transfer to my preferred registrar?
We discourage transferring again in the first 60 days for security. However, if you contact Support, we will allow an early transfer once payment is settled, your account is verified, there are no legal/registry holds, and the rules permit it.
If the domain is already at Atom
If the listing is already at Atom, there’s no inter-registrar transfer. After your payment clears, we move it into your Atom account right away, update contacts, and keep nameservers the same. A standard 60-day safety window may apply if ownership details change.
Common blockers
Locked at current registrar: domain needs to be unlocked there before it can move.
Invalid transfer code (TAC): we’ll request a fresh code and retry.
60-day restriction: recent registration/transfer/owner change can trigger a safety window. Ask us for your exact date.
Legal/registry hold: UDRP/URS/court/abuse locks must clear before moving.
DNS hosted at current registrar: recreate DNS at your chosen provider to avoid downtime when the current registrar stops serving your zone.
Need help?
Message Support and we’ll guide you step-by-step.