Why did my domain name transfer fail?

You started transferring your domain name to Hodi, but something's blocking it and you're not sure why? No need to worry. In 9 cases out of 10, it comes down to one of two simple reasons: your domain is too young, or it's still locked at your current registrar. Here's a simple explanation of what's going on, and how to fix it.

1. Your domain is too new

A domain name is a bit like an administrative newborn: it needs a short settling-in period before it can move.

General rule. A domain cannot be transferred within 60 days of its registration or its last transfer.

This rule is set by the registries (the organizations that manage each TLD, such as .com, .fr, etc.), not by Hodi or your current registrar. So no one can speed it up, no matter how willing they are.
What to do. Wait until this 60-day period is over, then start the transfer again. You can check your domain's creation date or last transfer date via a Whois lookup if you're not sure.
Good news: once this period has passed, you can start the transfer at any time, without waiting for the expiry date. The transfer even adds an extra year of validity to your domain!

2. Your domain is locked at your current registrar

This is the most common cause! For security reasons (to prevent your domain from being stolen), almost all registrars lock your domains against transfers by default. This lock is often called "Transfer Protection", "Transfer Lock", or "clientTransferProhibited".
As long as it's active, the domain cannot be moved out, even with the correct code. So you need to disable it before starting the transfer.
Here's how to do it with two very common registrars:

At Gandi

1. Log in to your Gandi account
2. Click "Domain name" in the left-hand menu, then select your domain
3. Go to the "Outgoing transfer" tab
4. Click "Disable transfer protection"
5. On this same page, you'll also find the authorization code (with a button to regenerate it if needed)

If you don't see this option but the authorization code is directly visible, it simply means your TLD (for example .fr) doesn't use this locking system.

At OVH

1. Log in to your OVHcloud customer account
2. Go to "Web Cloud" > "Domain names", then select your domain
3. In the "General information" tab, find the "Transfer protection" toggle (enabled by default)
4. Click it, then confirm to disable it
5. Wait a few minutes for the status to change to "Disabled"
6. Go back to the domain page and click "AUTH/INFO". Your code will appear in a window, and all you need to do is copy it

Every registrar has its own interface, but the principle is always the same. Look for a "Transfer" or "Transfer protection" section, disable it, and then grab the code, usually right next to it.

And what exactly is this "Auth Code"?

The Auth Code (also called the Transfer Secret or Auth Info) is a bit like the RIO code for a mobile phone number. It's the secret key that proves you're the owner of the domain, and that authorizes your new registrar (us, in this case) to securely take over your domain.
Without this code (or if it's incorrect), the transfer simply cannot be validated by the registry, and it fails.

Did the transfer fail anyway?

If, after checking the domain's age, disabling the lock, and getting your Auth Code, the transfer still fails, don't stress. Contact us with your domain's Auth Code, and our technical support team will start the transfer manually for you, free of charge.
The easiest way is still to chat with us right at the bottom of this page, or to email us directly at technique@hodi.host. We'll look into it together and take care of the rest.

Want to know more about domain transfers? Check out our article How do I transfer a domain name, and how long does it take?

Updated on: 17/07/2026