60 day domain hold any way around it

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A user registered a domain through Shopify but wants to transfer it to another platform immediately due to dissatisfaction with customer support. They discovered a 60-day transfer lock preventing the move until February.

The 60-day restriction:

  • This is an ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) policy, not Shopify-specific
  • Applied by most domain registrars to prevent fraud and unauthorized transfers

Available workarounds:

  • Update DNS settings to point the domain to a different platform while keeping it registered with Shopify
  • Request an exception from Shopify support (though rarely granted)
  • Purchase a new domain from another registrar for immediate use

Resolution: The user contacted Bluehost, who explained how to modify DNS settings to redirect the domain to another platform. This allows them to use the domain elsewhere while waiting out the 60-day period before completing the transfer and canceling their Shopify account. The user expressed frustration about time and money invested in building their Shopify store.

Summarized with AI on November 2. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
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  • So i have decided since there is absolutely no customer support here on Shopify to not continue building my store and move my domain to another platform. Now I find out that your not allowed to move a new domain for 60 days from registration. So I will have to wait until Feb. I feel like a hostage. Does anyone know a way around the 60 day hold?

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Hi molly1414,

This is Alvina from AdVision eCommerce.

I understand how frustrating this situation can be. The 60-day domain transfer lock is a standard policy enforced by ICANN (the governing body for domain names) to prevent fraud and unauthorized transfers. Unfortunately, this restriction applies to most domain registrars, not just Shopify.

That said, here are a few potential workarounds you might consider:

  1. Connect Your Domain to Another Platform – While you can’t transfer the domain immediately, you can update the DNS settings to point your Shopify-registered domain to a new website on a different platform. This way, you don’t have to wait until February to start using your domain elsewhere.

  2. Request an Exception from Shopify Support – Although ICANN rules typically prevent transfers within 60 days, some registrars may have internal policies allowing exceptions in rare cases. It might be worth reaching out to Shopify’s support directly to see if there’s any flexibility.

  3. Purchase a New Domain – If you need an immediate solution and can’t use DNS redirection, purchasing a new domain from a different registrar could be an option. This isn’t ideal, but it may allow you to move forward more quickly.

I hope this helps!

Best of luck,

Alvina | AdVision

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Yes I spoke with Blue Host - they actually have customer service. They explained how to change the DNS to point to another platform until I can move my domain and cancel my Shopify account. It’s to bad I spent hours and money on apps building the site that I realize now was a big waste of time. Shopify I believe is on its last legs as a company.