YAHOODOMAINSO: How Do I Cancel a Yahoo Domain?

By M. Alanna Morgan, eHow Contributing Writer

When canceling your domain with Yahoo!, you should know all of the facts. First, you own this domain name; it is not the property of Yahoo! Secondly, all files associated with this domain are also your property. Yahoo! can, however, make you wait the expected 60 days following registration to transfer this domain to any other host. Keep in mind you will not receive any type of refund for any fees you have paid into Yahoo! for this domain.

Save Your Files and Unlock Your Domain

Log into your Yahoo! Domain Control Panel. Save your files associated with your Yahoo! Domain to your hard drive. Once you cancel, you will not be able to make copies of any of your files. To unlock your domain, select "Edit Domain Locking" and then select "Unlock Domain." It is important to unlock your domain in order to transfer and reuse this domain on another hosting service. Locked domains cannot be transferred to other hosting services. Once you cancel your plan, you cannot regain access to your Business Control Panel to use the unlock feature, and the Yahoo! administrators cannot open this panel either.

Edit Contact Info and Transfer Domain

In order to edit your contact information, select "View/Edit Your Domain Registration." Select "Edit" next to "Registration Information." Enter the updated information and select "Save." You must change this information to a location outside of your Yahoo! domain to receive emails or other contacts for this domain. Once canceled, you cannot access your email account listed for your domain. For example, if your contact address is yourname@your-yahoo-domain-name.com, the messages from contacts visiting your domain will not be transferred to an alternative email address. They will be sent to an email account that will be closed once you cancel, so you must edit this information to include an alternative email address outside of your Yahoo! domain.

You should also copy your authorization code by selecting "View Authorization Code." Ensure you store this code in a safe location, as you must provide it to your new hosting service if you choose to transfer this domain to another host. If you intend to transfer this domain, start the process before you cancel your Yahoo! Domain, as this may prevent domain renewal fees. Do so by simply contacting the new provider.

Cancel Your Yahoo! Domain

Cancel your plan. Select "Cancel Plan" located in your Business Control panel. Yahoo! will ask you a series of questions as you begin the cancellation process to ensure that you have taken all necessary steps before you select "Cancel Plan" and no longer have access to your domain or its Business Control Panel