How to Transfer Your Domain from Hostinger to Truehost in Nigeria

Last updated on May 13th, 2026 at 08:05 am

Hostinger looked like a great deal when you signed up.

The first-year price was low. The setup was easy.

But then renewal came around, and the cost was almost double what you paid at the start.

That is how Hostinger’s pricing works. They attract you with a low intro rate, then the renewal price kicks in the following year.

On top of that, if you want a registrar that is fully Nigerian, with every invoice in Naira and support that actually understands your market, Hostinger is not quite it.

Here is a clear, step-by-step guide to transfer your domain from Hostinger to Truehost Nigeria, with your website staying live from start to finish.

One Thing That Is Different About Hostinger

If you have transferred a domain before from another registrar, there is one thing Hostinger does differently that trips people up.

Hostinger calls the EPP code a Secret Key. It is the same thing. It is just labelled differently inside their hPanel dashboard. 

When Truehost asks you for your EPP code or authorization code during the transfer, you paste in the Secret Key you got from Hostinger.

Also, Hostinger automatically locks all domains by default and may have WHOIS privacy enabled. 

You need to turn off both before the transfer can go through. The steps below cover everything.

Before You Start: Quick Checklist

Run through these five points before you begin. They prevent the most common delays.

• Your domain is at least 60 days old
• Your domain is active, not expired or suspended
• You still have access to your Hostinger account and its registered email
• Your domain has not been transferred in the last 60 days
• You know whether WHOIS privacy is turned on (you will turn it off in Step 1)

All five checked? Start with Step 1 below.

Step 1: Turn Off WHOIS Privacy Protection on Hostinger

Most guides like to skip this stage. Hostinger often has WHOIS privacy protection turned on by default. 

When it is active, your real contact details are hidden from the public domain registry, which is good for security.

The problem is that WHOIS privacy can block verification emails from reaching the recipient. Turn it off first before anything else.

Here is how to do it:

• Log in to your Hostinger account

• Click on Domains in the top menu of your hPanel dashboard

• Find the domain you want to transfer and click on the arrow (>) next to it

• On the Domain Overview page, look for the Privacy Protection section

• If it’s on, click the toggle to switch it off

• Once privacy is off, your real email address is active on the domain record. Transfer confirmation emails will now reach you correctly.

Step 2: Unlock the Domain on Hostinger

Hostinger locks all domains by default. The lock shows as a toggle in their Transfer Lock section.

When it is purple, the domain is locked. When it turns gray, the domain is unlocked.

Here is how to unlock it:

• Stay on the same Domain Overview page from Step 1

• Scroll down to the Transfer Lock section

• Click the toggle to turn off the lock

• The toggle should turn from purple to gray

Your domain is now unlocked and ready for transfer. Do not close this page yet. You need to get the Secret Key next.

Step 3: Get Your Secret Key (EPP Code) from Hostinger

The Secret Key is what other registrars call the EPP code or auth code. It is a unique code that proves you own the domain and authorizes the transfer. 

Without it, Truehost cannot process the transfer.

To get it:

• On the Domain Overview page, look for the Secret Key section

• Click Show or the eye icon next to Secret Key

• Your authorization code will appear

• Copy it and save it in a notepad or text file

• Copy it exactly, with no extra spaces before or after. Extra spaces will cause the transfer to fail during verification.

EPP codes from Hostinger can expire within 24 to 48 hours. 

Start the transfer on Truehost as soon as you have this code, so you do not have to repeat the process.

Step 4: Start the Transfer on Truehost

Now head to Truehost Nigeria at truehost.com.ng and open the Domain Transfer page.

• Log in to your Truehost Nigeria account, or create a free account if you are new

• Enter your domain name in the transfer field

• Paste your Secret Key (EPP code) from Hostinger when the system asks for it

• Choose any add-ons you want, such as WHOIS privacy protection or DNS management

• Complete payment in Naira with no forex conversion needed

Truehost takes it from here. The next steps mostly take place on the email side.

Step 5: Approve the Transfer Confirmation Email

After placing your order, check your email immediately.

You will receive a confirmation email from Truehost requesting your approval of the transfer. Click the link inside to confirm.

Hostinger may also send a separate notification about the outgoing transfer from their side.

Check your spam folder too. Transfer emails from registrars sometimes land in spam.

Missing one of these emails is the number one reason domain transfers get stuck.

Once both approvals are done, the transfer is officially in progress.

Step 6: Wait for the Transfer to Complete

The waiting time depends on your domain type. Here is what to expect:

Domain Type	Transfer Time
.com.ng, .ng (Nigerian domains)	1 to 2 days, sometimes faster
.com, .net, .org (international)	5 to 7 days

Your website and email stay live throughout. There is no downtime during a domain transfer when DNS settings stay the same.

Once the transfer completes, Truehost  adds an extra year to your domain for free. Your current expiry date stays the same, and another year is added to it.

Step 7: Check Your DNS Settings After the Transfer

It is the step that catches people off guard after a transfer.

When a domain moves registrars, DNS settings can sometimes reset to default values.

If your website or email stops working after the transfer, this is almost always the cause.

Log in to your Truehost Nigeria dashboard and verify these:

• Your nameservers are pointing to your hosting provider

• Your A record is set to your hosting server IP address

• Your MX records are correct for email to work

• Any custom DNS records you had are still in place

If you are moving both your domain and hosting to Truehost at the same time, nameservers are set up automatically. 

If you are keeping your current hosting elsewhere, you will need to update the nameservers manually inside your Truehost dashboard.

What should your DNS look like? The Truehost Nigeria support team can check them for you quickly.

Step 8: Confirm Everything Is Working

Run through these checks once the transfer is complete:

• Open your Truehost Nigeria dashboard and confirm the domain appears there

• Load your website in a browser and confirm it opens correctly

• Send a test email to and from your business email address

• Check any subdomains or redirects you have set up

If anything is off, contact the Truehost Nigeria support team. They are available around the clock and can resolve most issues quickly.

What to Do If Your Transfer Gets Stuck

Most transfers go through without any problems. But if yours stalls, here are the most common causes:

• WHOIS privacy was still active. Go back to Hostinger and confirm privacy protection is turned off.

• The Transfer Lock was not fully disabled. Check that the toggle in Hostinger is gray, not purple.

• The Secret Key was entered incorrectly. Try again with no spaces before or after the code.

• The approval email was missed. Check your spam folder, then contact Truehost Nigeria to resend the link.

• The domain is less than 60 days old. ICANN rules block transfers within the first 60 days. Wait out the period, then restart.

Why Nigerian Business Owners Are Moving to Truehost

The main reason is predictable Naira pricing and local support. Hostinger’s entry-level prices are low, but the renewal cost is significantly higher.

Over time, that gap adds up. Truehost shows you the renewal price upfront, before you buy.

• Feature: What You Get with Truehost 

• Naira Invoices: Every payment in Naira. No forex conversion or virtual dollar card needed

• Transparent Renewal Pricing: Renewal rates are listed upfront. No hidden price jump in year two

• Zero Downtime Transfer: Your website and email keep running throughout the transfer

• Free Extra Year: One extra year added to your domain automatically once the transfer completes

• 24/7 Local Support Support team built for the Nigerian market, available any time of day or night

• WHOIS Privacy: Optional privacy protection available at a small Naira fee

• All-in-One Dashboard: Manage your domain, hosting, and email from one Truehost Nigeria account

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my website go down during the transfer?

Your website stays live throughout the entire transfer process. There is no downtime as long as your DNS settings remain unchanged.

What is the Secret Key on Hostinger?

The Secret Key is what Hostinger calls the EPP code or authorization code. It is the same thing under a different name. You copy it from your Hostinger domain overview page and paste it into the Truehost transfer form.

How much does the transfer cost?

Transfer fees depend on your domain extension and are paid in Naira on Truehost Nigeria. The exact prices are listed on the Truehost Nigeria domain transfer page. There are no hidden fees.

How long will the transfer take?

Nigerian domain extensions like .com.ng usually complete in 1 to 2 days. International extensions like .com and .net take 5 to 7 days.

Do I lose my remaining registration time?

You lose nothing. Your current expiry date stays. Truehost adds one extra free year on top of the moment the transfer completes.

Can I move my hosting and domain at the same time?

Yes. During the Truehost Nigeria transfer checkout, you can add a hosting plan. Everything gets set up together, and you manage it all from one dashboard in Naira.

What if I do not remember my Hostinger login?

Use the “Forgot password” option on Hostinger’s login page to regain access before doing anything else.

Transfer Your Domain to Truehost Today

Your domain is the address of your business online. 

It deserves a registrar that bills in Naira, shows you the full renewal price before you commit, and picks it up when you need help.

The transfer takes less than ten minutes of your time. Your website stays live the whole time. And once it is done, you get a free extra year on your domain.

Go to truehost.com.ng/domains/transfer, enter your domain name, paste your Hostinger Secret Key, and pay in Naira.

The Truehost Nigeria team will take care of the rest.