I understand that Azure is not a domain registrar. Azure partners with 3rd-party (GoDaddy) to offer domain registration service. But buying domain names from within Azure gives customers single pane of glass management (such as domain renewal from within Azure, etc.). Right now, my domain registrar is Cloudflare. I've already set up my Azure App Service (WordPress) to use the custom domain. I know how to transfer domain from Cloudflare to GoDaddy. But how do I get the "single pane of glass management" as if I had purchased the domain within Azure? Simply transferring the domain to GoDaddy may or may not achieve this goal. This link tells me how to transfer domain from Microsoft to another registrar. But I'm trying to do the other way around - transfer from another registrar to Microsoft. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/get-help-with-domains/transfer-a-domain-from-microsoft-to-another-host Thank you!

Hi Michael, Transferring domain in is currently not supported. See excerpt from Azure App Service team blog article below: Transfering of domain into Azure is currently not supported. Any attempts made to transfer the domain into Azure risks getting the domain into a broken state. We will not be providing support to fix domains caught in this broken state due to unsupported transfer in scenario. If you want, you could delegate DNS zone to Azure DNS so that you could manage DNS records within Azure portal, but from your description I understand you are wanting more than that. Plus, if you are using Cloudflare services for the domain you likely need to keep DNS with them. Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above was helpful. Thanks. -TP

Transfer domain registrar to Azure/GoDaddy

Accepted answer

TP 98,086 Reputation points

2024-04-03T21:08:32.7833333+00:00

Hi Michael,

Transferring domain in is currently not supported. See excerpt from Azure App Service team blog article below:

Transfering of domain into Azure is currently not supported. Any attempts made to transfer the domain into Azure risks getting the domain into a broken state. We will not be providing support to fix domains caught in this broken state due to unsupported transfer in scenario.

If you want, you could delegate DNS zone to Azure DNS so that you could manage DNS records within Azure portal, but from your description I understand you are wanting more than that. Plus, if you are using Cloudflare services for the domain you likely need to keep DNS with them.

Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above was helpful.

Thanks.

-TP
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Michael Luo 25 Reputation points

2024-04-03T21:31:14.8+00:00

TP, thank you for your reply. In fact, there is no such a thing called "transfer domain to Azure" because Azure is not a registrar. As mentioned before, I was trying to transfer the domain to GoDaddy, which is a common and proven process between registrars. So, let me ask my question in a different way:

My domain is currently registered with Cloudflare. I've set up custom domain in Azure App service. Is it OK that I transfer the domain to a different registrar? Of course the Azure App Service will have to be reconfigured with the new registrar.

If the answer is 'yes' to question #1 above, may I transfer the domain from Cloudflare to GoDaddy?

If the answer is 'yes' to question #2 above, is there a way to get the domain showing up in Azure admin portal the same way like it was originally purchased via Azure? So that I have the option to renew the domain from Azure admin portal instead of doing it separately on GoDaddy.com?

In the worst case scenario, I'll just let the domain expires on Cloudflare then immediately buy the domain from Azure portal. But I was hoping there is a better way.

Thank you!

TP 98,086 Reputation points

2024-04-03T22:37:08.0533333+00:00

TP, thank you for your reply. In fact, there is no such a thing called "transfer domain to Azure" because Azure is not a registrar. As mentioned before, I was trying to transfer the domain to GoDaddy, which is a common and proven process between registrars. So, let me ask my question in a different way:

I get what you are attempting to do. I'm aware that Azure is not a registrar and understand the link between Azure and GoDaddy.

Transferring in a domain, and by transferring in I mean establishing the link on the backend so that the domain is considered an "Azure-owned/managed" domain registered on GoDaddy, showing up in portal with renew/unlock/change contact capability, etc., isn't supported.

Due to the limitations caused by Azure not being a registrar and them removing portal link to GoDaddy Domain Control Center (DCC) I generally recommend against people having domain "registered" in Azure. Recently I wrote script to restore access to DCC so it isn't as bad, but it still isn't as nice as having domain with real registrar.

My domain is currently registered with Cloudflare. I've set up custom domain in Azure App service. Is it OK that I transfer the domain to a different registrar? Of course the Azure App Service will have to be reconfigured with the new registrar.

A: Yes, you can transfer to different registrar

If the answer is 'yes' to question #1 above, may I transfer the domain from Cloudflare to GoDaddy?

A: Yes, you can transfer to GoDaddy

If the answer is 'yes' to question #2 above, is there a way to get the domain showing up in Azure admin portal the same way like it was originally purchased via Azure? So that I have the option to renew the domain from Azure admin portal instead of doing it separately on GoDaddy.com?

A: No, this isn't supported. You would transfer the domain to GoDaddy, and it would be a "regular" GoDaddy account. There would be no underlying link to Azure backend in terms of billing and Single Sign On.

In the worst case scenario, I'll just let the domain expires on Cloudflare then immediately buy the domain from Azure portal. But I was hoping there is a better way.

A: I don't recommend it. An expired domain isn't immediately available to be registered from another registrar. You would need to wait (30 days?--check with Cloudflare) with the domain out of commission. Additionally, there are companies that watch for expiring domains and register them as soon as possible (using automation), so there is chance you could lose it.

Michael Luo 25 Reputation points

2024-04-04T00:15:09.5966667+00:00

TP, thank you so much for the detailed explanation. It make more sense now.

"establishing the link on the backend so that the domain is considered an "Azure-owned/managed" domain registered on GoDaddy, showing up in portal with renew/unlock/change contact capability, etc." - this is exactly what I was looking for.

One more question - if I purchased a new domain name from within Azure. Is there any way to transfer it to another registrar? Thank you again!

TP 98,086 Reputation points

2024-04-04T00:34:46.6666667+00:00

One more question - if I purchased a new domain name from within Azure. Is there any way to transfer it to another registrar? Thank you again!

Yes, you can do that, subject to normal domain transfer limitations such as not within 60 days after purchase, no changes to registrant info in last 60 days, etc.

Michael Luo 25 Reputation points

2024-04-04T12:25:14.36+00:00

TP, I appreciate your help very much!

TP 98,086 Reputation points

2024-04-04T12:35:29.8166667+00:00

You are welcome. Please click Accept Answer and upvote to close up this thread.

Thank you.
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