⏱️ Timeline Overview
Total time: 5-7 days (mostly waiting)
Your active work: ~30 minutes
Potential downtime: 0 if you do it right
Before You Start: Important Checks
⚠️ Pre-Transfer Checklist
- ☐ Domain registered at Wix for at least 60 days (ICANN lock period)
- ☐ Domain not transferred in the last 60 days
- ☐ Access to the email address on your Wix account
- ☐ Active Shopify plan that supports custom domains
- ☐ Backup of your current DNS settings (screenshot your Wix DNS page)
Two Options: Transfer vs. Connect
Before diving in, decide which approach you want:
Option A: Full Transfer (Recommended)
Move the domain registration to Shopify.
- ✓ Manage everything in one place
- ✓ Automatic SSL
- ✓ Simpler long-term
- ✗ Takes 5-7 days
- ✗ Costs transfer fee (~$15)
Option B: Point Domain (Keep at Wix)
Keep domain at Wix, point DNS to Shopify.
- ✓ Instant (no transfer wait)
- ✓ No transfer fee
- ✗ Must manage DNS at Wix
- ✗ Pay Wix renewal rates
- ✗ Two accounts to manage
This guide covers Option A: Full Transfer. If you want Option B, skip to the "Alternative: Connect Without Transfer" section below.
Step 1: Unlock Your Domain at Wix
- Log into your Wix account
- Go to Settings → Domains
- Click the three dots next to your domain
- Select "Transfer Away from Wix"
- Click "Unlock Domain"
- Confirm the unlock
Note: Wix may take up to 24 hours to process the unlock. Check back if your domain still shows as locked.
Step 2: Get Your Authorization Code from Wix
- Still in Settings → Domains
- Click the three dots → "Transfer Away from Wix"
- Click "Get Transfer Code"
- Wix will email the code to your account email
- Check your inbox (and spam folder)
⚠️ Important: The code expires in 7 days. Don't request it until you're ready to start the transfer at Shopify.
Step 3: Start the Transfer at Shopify
- Log into your Shopify admin
- Go to Settings → Domains
- Click "Transfer domain"
- Enter your domain name (e.g., yourbrand.com)
- Click "Transfer domain"
- Paste your authorization code from Wix
- Complete the payment (~$15/year)
Step 4: Approve the Transfer
After initiating the transfer, you'll receive emails asking you to approve:
Email 1: From Wix (Losing Registrar)
Confirms someone requested to transfer your domain away. You can approve or deny. Approve it to speed up the process.
Email 2: From Shopify (Gaining Registrar)
Confirms the transfer is in progress. Usually no action needed.
If you approve quickly: Transfer completes in 1-2 days.
If you don't respond: Transfer auto-completes after 5 days.
Step 5: Verify and Connect to Your Store
- Once transfer completes, go to Shopify Admin → Settings → Domains
- Your domain should appear in the list
- Click "Connect" or "Make Primary"
- Shopify will automatically configure DNS
- Wait 24-48 hours for SSL certificate provisioning
Avoiding Downtime
Zero-Downtime Strategy
- Keep your Wix site live until the transfer completes
- Have your Shopify store ready to go before starting the transfer
- During transfer, DNS usually keeps pointing to Wix
- After transfer, Shopify auto-updates DNS
- Propagation takes 15 min - 24 hours
In practice, most users see no noticeable downtime.
Alternative: Connect Without Transferring
If you want to keep your domain at Wix but point it to Shopify:
- In Shopify: Go to Settings → Domains → Connect existing domain
- Enter your domain name
- Shopify will show you DNS records to add
- In Wix: Go to Settings → Domains → Manage DNS
- Add the A record and CNAME provided by Shopify
- Wait for propagation (up to 48 hours)
Wix DNS settings needed for Shopify:
- A record: @ → 23.227.38.65
- CNAME: www → shops.myshopify.com
Considering a Different Registrar?
Shopify's domain prices are mid-range. If you're managing multiple domains or want lower costs, consider transferring to a dedicated registrar like Cloudflare ($10.44/yr) or Porkbun ($11.08/yr) and pointing to Shopify.
Compare Registrar Prices →