Transfer a Google Domain to AWS Route 53

October

Transfer a Google Domain to AWS Route 53

In this post we will cover how to transfer a Google domain to AWS Route 53. If you are already using AWS services Route 53 integrates well with products such as Cloudfront and Lightsail. If you prefer to use the AWS documentation you can use this guide:

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/domain-transfer-to-route-53.html

The first step in this process is to verify that Route 53 supports your domain:

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/domain-transfer-to-route-53.html#domain-transfer-to-route-53-confirm-tld

Next you will want to create a hosted zone in Route 53. Navigate to the dashboard and click on hosted zones. You will want to give your hosted zone the same name as the domain you are transferring.

Click on ‘Create Hosted Zone’. Enter your domain name and click ‘Create Hosted Zone’ again at the bottom of the screen. You will now see two records created for your hosted zone. The NS stands for ‘Name Servers’ and has 4 values. The SOA stands for ‘State of Authority’ and is a record containing administrative information about the zone, especially regarding zone transfers.

Next you should navigate to Google Domains and sign in. Click on the domain you are transferring and click the ‘DNS’ tab on the left. You should be taken to this screen:

Now we will update the name servers will the values listed in Route 53. This is to avoid any downtime of our website when completing the transfer. Here are the Route 53 values:

After entering these name servers in Google Domains:

Next we need to unlock the domain in Google Domains. Click on ‘Registration Settings’ on the left menu. Scroll down until you see ‘Domain is locked’. Click the button to unlock it:

Right underneath ‘Domain is unlocked’ you should see ‘Transfer out’. Click the ‘Get auth code’ option to the right:

The following pop-up should appear:

After clicking ‘continue’ you should be given a transfer code. Copy this code to your clipboard.

Next navigate back to Route 53. Click on the ‘Dashboard’ link at the top. Then click ‘transfer your existing domains’.

You should be taken to this screen:

Enter the name of your domain and click ‘Continue’. You will be given the option to add the domain to your cart. This will add 1 year of domain registration to your current domain. You will also be given the option to select what you want to do with your name servers. I recommend using the name servers you created in your hosted zone as this will give you full access in Route 53.

You will then be taken to a screen for registering your contact details for the domain. Enter your details and ‘enable’ privacy protection at the bottom before clicking ‘Continue’.

The next screen is a confirmation before submitting your order. Read over the details and make sure everything is correct. Check the ‘I have read and agree to the AWS Domain Name Registration Agreement‘ box and click ‘Complete Order’.

You will see a ‘Order submitted successfully’ box: