What to do when domain transfer code expires?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

  • Situation: A domain was purchased through Shopify last year, but the store was never set up. The owner wants to keep the domain while remaining not ready to launch.

  • Recent update: Shopify emailed instructing them to transfer the domain to another registrar. They attempted to move it to GoDaddy using the provided authorization (EPP) code.

  • Problem: GoDaddy repeatedly rejects the code as invalid despite exact entry. GoDaddy’s error directs them to request a new code from the current registrar, Tucows.

  • Support loop: Tucows does not provide direct support and redirects back to Shopify. The user cannot access Shopify admin or domain settings because the store is inactive.

  • Risk: They are worried about losing the domain if the transfer cannot be completed. There is no path to generate a new valid code or manage the domain from their side.

  • Status: Unresolved. The user is asking what steps to take to obtain a valid transfer code or regain admin access to manage/transfer the domain.

Summarized with AI on January 8. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello.

we bought our domain thru shopify last year, but haven’t set up our shop yet. We still want to keep our domain but are still not really ready to set up our shop yet.

Shopify sent an email saying to transfer the domain to another registrar. I used the transfer code provided by shopify to transfer to godaddy, but godaddy says the transfer code is invalid. I’ve tried it many times now, with all symbols matching exactly, but still getting error messages directing me to request a new code from our registrar Tucows. Problem is Tucows doesn’t provide support and directs me back to shopify.

I don’t have access to any admin pages or settings thru shopify because I don’t have an active store.

What am I to do here? We do not want to lose our domain name.