Nameservers are the backbone of your domain’s DNS system. They tell the internet which hosting provider is responsible for your website. If you’re moving your domain to a new host, connecting to a website builder, or switching DNS management providers, you’ll need to update your nameservers.
What Are Nameservers?
Nameservers act like traffic directors for your domain. When someone types your domain into a browser, the nameservers decide which server to send that request to.
For example:
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If your domain’s nameservers are set to your hosting provider, traffic will be routed directly to that hosting service.
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If you set them to Cloudflare, your domain will use Cloudflare’s DNS management before reaching your web host.
Steps to Change Nameservers
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Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel (the company where you purchased your domain).
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Find the Domain Settings or DNS Management section.
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Locate the Nameservers option.
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Replace the current nameservers with the ones provided by your new hosting provider or service. Example:
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ns1.newhost.com -
ns2.newhost.com
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Save your changes.
How Long Does It Take?
Nameserver changes are not instant. They go through DNS propagation, which usually takes a few hours but can last up to 24–48 hours before the update is recognized worldwide.
Troubleshooting Tips
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Make sure you remove old nameservers — don’t mix providers.
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Double-check the nameserver details from your new host.
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If your website doesn’t load after propagation, try clearing your DNS cache.
Related Guides
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[What Is DNS Propagation?]
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[How to Manage the DNS Zone at Cloudflare]
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[How to Manage A Records]
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[Understanding MX Records for Email Setup]
Final Thoughts
Changing nameservers is a simple but important step when managing your domain. Once updated, your domain will properly connect to your new hosting or DNS provider. At dedirock.com, we make the process easier with clear instructions and reliable support.