Transferring an existing domain name entails switching the domain name registrar that handles the domain registration service, so after the transfer, you’ll have to manage things like renewal fees or DNS resource record modifications through the new registrar. The transfer process is standard with most domain extensions. Certain country-code extensions are more specific and entail different procedures, but in the general case transferring a domain involves several basic steps and one of them is unlocking the domain name. The lock is a safety feature, which is being embraced by more and more registry operators. It is a default feature supported by all generic top-level domain names. If a domain is locked, it won’t be possible to initiate a transfer process, so no one can even try to snatch your domain. The lock can be annulled only through the account where the domain name is registered and all new domains that support this functionality are locked by default when they are registered.