Overview

Changing your nameservers updates which provider manages your domain's DNS records.

It is important to know that updating nameservers does not automatically move your website or email content—it simply tells the internet where to look for your domain’s routing instructions (such as A records, MX records, and CNAMEs).

Checklist: When Changing Your Nameservers

To prevent accidental downtime for your website or email, complete this quick checklist before updating your nameservers:

1. Backup Your Current DNS Records: Take a screenshot or copy down all existing A, MX, CNAME, and TXT records from your current DNS panel.

2. Recreate Records at Your New Provider: add all necessary records to your new DNS manager. 

3. Verify Settings: Double-check that your website IP address and email routing records match your hosting provider's instructions.

What Services Are Affected?

When you switch nameservers, all DNS management moves to your new provider. If any records are missing at the new provider, your services may go offline:

• Website (A / CNAME Records): If your website records are not set up at the new provider, your site will fail to load or display an error.

• Email Delivery (MX Records): If MX records are missing or incorrect, incoming emails will bounce or fail to deliver.

• Email Security & Authenticity (TXT / SPF / DKIM / DMARC): Missing security records can cause your outgoing emails to land in spam folders.

• Subdomains & Third-Party Services: Any custom subdomains or connected platforms must be recreated in the new DNS zone.

What to Expect: DNS Propagation & Potential Downtime

• Propagation Time: Nameserver updates take time to update across global internet service providers (ISPs). This process typically takes a few hours, but can take up to 24–48 hours to fully complete.

• Temporary Service Inconsistencies: During propagation, some visitors may see your site on the old server while others see the new server, depending on how quickly their internet provider updates its cached DNS records.