If this is happening to you, don't worry. There is no issue with your Atom account or the transfer request itself. The delay is almost certainly caused by a specific security feature on GoDaddy's end: Domain Privacy.
The Culprit: GoDaddy's Domain Privacy Settings
When you register a domain with GoDaddy, you often have "Domain Privacy + Protection" enabled. This service (operated via Domains by Proxy) masks your personal contact information in the public WHOIS database to protect you from spam.
Even if Atom successfully verifies your auth code and lock status, GoDaddy's system will often silently block the transfer-out request if privacy is still active. They do this because the domain's contact information needs to be unmasked so it can be properly transferred to your new registrar. Additionally, leaving privacy on can route the final transfer approval email to a masked proxy email address instead of your actual inbox, leaving the transfer in limbo.
Why Atom's Checks Pass, But the Transfer Fails
At Atom, our automated systems check two critical technical requirements before initiating a transfer:
Domain Lock Status: Is the domain unlocked?
Auth Code: Does the EPP/Auth code you provided match the registry?
When both of these check out, Atom successfully sends the transfer request to the central registry. However, the final approval must be released by GoDaddy. If your privacy is still on, GoDaddy halts the process on their administrative end, resulting in a failed or stalled transfer despite our successful technical checks.
How to Fix It and Complete Your Transfer
To get your domain successfully moved over to Atom, you simply need to adjust your privacy settings in GoDaddy before we re-initiate the transfer. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1: Log into your GoDaddy account.
Navigate to your Domain Portfolio.
Step 2: Turn off Domain Privacy.
Select the domain you are trying to transfer, access its settings, and turn off "Domain Privacy." (Note: GoDaddy may show a warning that your information will become public. This is a temporary necessity for the transfer to complete).
Step 3: Wait a few minutes.
It can take a few minutes for the global WHOIS database to update and reflect that your privacy has been removed.
Step 4: Re-initiate the transfer at Atom.
Once privacy is off, return to your Atom dashboard and restart the transfer process using the same Auth code.
Step 5: Approve the transfer at GoDaddy.
GoDaddy will send an email to your actual inbox, or you can log back into GoDaddy's "Transfers" page to manually approve the release of the domain. Once you click approve, the domain should move to Atom almost immediately!
Need More Help?
If you have turned off Domain Privacy at GoDaddy and your transfer is still failing, please reach out to our Atom Support Team. We are here to help you get your domain safely into your account!