Nameservers are what connect your domain name to your website and email. When someone types your domain into a browser, DNS servers route the request to the server that actually hosts the site.
Without correct nameserver settings the site will not load, email may stop, and visitors may see an error when they open your domain.
When do you need to change them?
- Moving your site to a new hosting company
- Using a service such as Cloudflare
- Using a VPS or dedicated server
- Enabling private nameservers
- Receiving new DNS servers from your hosting provider
Before you start
- Confirm the new hosting account is active and ready
- Confirm your site files are uploaded to the new server
- Confirm the new nameservers are correct
The steps
- 01Log in to your client area.
- 02Go to: Domains → My Domains.
- 03Click the domain you want to manage.
- 04Open the Nameservers section.
- 05Enter the new primary and secondary nameservers, for example ns1.newhost.com and ns2.newhost.com.
- 06Click Save Changes.
How long does it take?
- 5 minutes to an hour in most cases
- Full worldwide propagation can take up to 24 hours
This is known as DNS propagation: the time internet servers around the world need to pick up the new nameserver information. During it the site may work for some visitors and not for others — that is normal.
Important notes
- Make sure the new hosting is ready before changing DNS
- The site or email may go down briefly during the update
- Do not change the settings more than once in a short period
If the site does not work afterwards
- 01Wait up to 24 hours before concluding something is broken.
- 02Check the nameservers you entered, character by character.
- 03Contact your hosting provider to confirm DNS is configured on their side.