4d (edited) • General discussion
Cloudflare Free Account + Domain Transfer from Network Solutions
CLOUDFLARE FREE ACCOUNT + DOMAIN TRANSFER FROM NETWORK SOLUTIONS
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The non-obvious thing: this is a TWO-PHASE process. You can't transfer
the registration until the domain is already using Cloudflare for DNS.
Network Solutions ships the auth code by email up to 3 days later, so
plan for ~5-7 day wall clock total.
PRE-FLIGHT GOTCHAS (kills the transfer if missed)
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- Domain must be registered at NetSol for at least 60 days.
- WHOIS registrant contact must NOT have been changed in the last 60
days (ICANN lock).
- If the domain expires within ~15 days, renew at NetSol first.
- Confirm your TLD is supported by Cloudflare Registrar (most gTLDs
yes, some ccTLDs no).
PHASE 0: CLOUDFLARE ACCOUNT (2 min)
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email. Free plan, no card needed at this stage.
PHASE 1: MOVE DNS TO CLOUDFLARE (required before transfer)
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This is the part people skip and then get stuck. Cloudflare Registrar
refuses to accept the auth code until the zone is Active.
1. Cloudflare dash -> Add a site -> enter your domain -> Free plan.
2. Cloudflare auto-scans your existing DNS records. Eyeball the list
against what NetSol shows you. Add anything missing (mail records,
subdomains, TXT, etc.). Better to over-import than to break email
at cutover.
Copy them.
4. At Network Solutions: log in -> My Domain Names -> pick the domain
-> DISABLE DNSSEC FIRST (if on). DS record stale = resolution
failure after nameserver change.
5. Still at NetSol: change nameservers to the two Cloudflare gave you.
Remove any others. Save.
6. Back to Cloudflare: wait for zone status to flip from Pending to
Active. Usually minutes, sometimes up to 24 hours. You can hit
"Re-check now" on the Overview tab.
Do not proceed until the zone is Active.
PHASE 2: TRANSFER THE REGISTRATION
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AT NETWORK SOLUTIONS:
1. My Domain Names -> manage the domain.
2. Turn OFF Private Registration / WHOIS privacy if it's on.
3. Transfer Lock / Domain Protect -> turn OFF, and on the same flow
check the box to "Request Authorization Code". NetSol emails the
EPP code to the registrant address on file. Allow up to 3 days,
often faster.
AT CLOUDFLARE:
4. Dash -> Domain Registration -> Transfer Domains. Your domain
should appear as eligible.
5. Select it -> enter the EPP / auth code.
6. Enter registrant contact info and payment method. Cloudflare
charges at-cost (no markup). For .com/.net/.org the transfer fee
includes a +1 year extension on top of your current expiration.
7. Confirm and finalize.
THEN:
8. NetSol will email you a transfer confirmation / cancel option.
CLICK THROUGH AND APPROVE to skip the 5-day ICANN waiting period.
Otherwise it auto-completes in ~5 days.
9. Once it shows up under Cloudflare Registrar as registered,
re-enable DNSSEC in the Cloudflare dash (one click).
WHAT "DONE" LOOKS LIKE
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- Cloudflare dash -> Domain Registration shows the domain with a
renewal date 1 year past the old NetSol expiry.
- NetSol account shows the domain as transferred out / no longer
present.
- Site still resolves the whole time (because DNS moved in Phase 1,
registration is just a paperwork change after that).
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Cloudflare Free Account + Domain Transfer from Network Solutions
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