I recently found out that my domain, example.com, was migrated to Squarespace after Google shut down their domains service. I'm planning to transfer my domain to Porkbun for both registration and DNS hosting. Currently, I'm using Squarespace for both, but my nameservers are linked to Google, which makes me uneasy about changing things around.
I've outlined my plan to minimize downtime and ensure I don't lose access to my website and email. Here's what I intend to do:
1. Back up all my DNS records to a file.
2. Start the transfer process at Porkbun, uploading my DNS records so their nameservers are ready.
3. Change my nameservers at Squarespace to point to Porkbun.
4. Once everything is confirmed working, I will finalize the domain transfer.
My main concern is whether this approach is feasible with Porkbun. Can I set up DNS records without having ownership of the domain? Or is there a more effective way to handle this transition while keeping risks at bay?
3 Answers
Your approach looks solid! Here's a simple method: 1) Start by backing up your DNS records. 2) Change your nameservers over to Porkbun's. 3) Finally, initiate the domain transfer. By doing that, you should experience minimal downtime. Just make sure all your DNS records are copied accurately before you switch nameservers—this way, you're set up for a smooth transition.
Honestly, I'd recommend using Cloudflare instead. You can onboard your domain there, and it'll automatically import all your DNS records. After that, you can transfer your domain either to Cloudflare or any registrar you prefer. It's a straightforward process and ensures zero downtime.
I get why you're nervous about this. One option is to consider using a third-party DNS service. For example, create an account at a site like desec.io, copy your existing DNS records there, and then once that's good to go, switch your nameservers from Squarespace to the new ones at desec. This way, even during the transfer, you won't lose accessibility to what's important.

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