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Guide

How to point a domain or change nameservers

Change nameservers, or keep your DNS and point A, CNAME and MX records instead, with the checks to run before and after.

6 minute read · Prices on this page are live from our billing system

Two ways to point a domain

You can hand the whole domain to our nameservers, or keep your current DNS provider and change only the records for the website (A or CNAME) and email (MX).

Changing nameservers compared with editing DNS records
What changesChange nameserversEdit A/CNAME/MX records
What changesWho answers for all DNS recordsOnly the records you edit
Where you edit DNS laterIn our control panel or client areaAt your current DNS provider
Keeps email or other services elsewhereOnly if you add their records againYes, untouched
Best forMoving everything to usKeeping DNS, a CDN or email where it is

Change nameservers step by step

  1. Find your new DNS details

    Your hosting welcome email lists our nameservers and your server’s IP address. They are also in the client area under your hosting service.

  2. Sign in where the domain is registered

    That is the company you pay for the domain renewal. If you are not sure, a WHOIS lookup of your domain shows the registrar.

  3. Copy any records you still need

    If the old DNS has records for things that are not moving, such as email at another provider, write them down (MX, TXT, CNAME) so you can add them again.

  4. Replace the nameservers

    Open the domain’s nameserver or DNS settings, choose custom nameservers, remove the old ones and enter ours exactly as written. Save.

  5. Wait for DNS to update

    Most visitors see the change within a few hours; allow up to 48 hours everywhere. Keep the old hosting running until then.

  6. Check the result

    Look up your domain with a DNS checker, or from a terminal:

    dig NS yourdomain.com +short
    dig A yourdomain.com +short

Or point individual records

At your current DNS provider, set:

  • A record for @ (the bare domain) to your server IP.
  • CNAME for www to your bare domain, or an A record to the same IP.
  • MX records to your mail service, if email moves too. See the business email guide.
@     A      203.0.113.10
www   CNAME  yourdomain.com.
@     MX 10  mail.yourdomain.com.

Example values only. Use the IP address and mail server from your welcome email.

  • Price-lockyour renewal price never goes up
  • 30-day money-back on shared hosting
  • Free website migration
  • 24/7 engineers by ticket & WhatsApp

How to point a domain or change nameservers: questions

Usually a few hours, and up to 48 hours for every network worldwide, because resolvers cache the old answer until it expires.

Not sure which plan you need?

Answer four questions and get a recommendation from our live plans, or let our engineers move your site for free.

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