Your domain is your address, and your hosting is where your website lives. For visitors to reach your website when they type your address, the domain needs to point to your hosting. This usually takes a couple of minutes to set up, then some time to take effect across the internet.
Good news if you bought both together: when you buy a domain and hosting from the same store at the same time, the domain is often pointed at the hosting automatically. Check first: if your website (or your host’s default page) appears when you visit your domain, you’re already connected.
What are nameservers?
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Nameservers tell the internet which company manages the settings (DNS records) for your domain. When you point your domain’s nameservers to your hosting company, your host handles everything else: your website, your email, and the records that connect them.
Nameservers look like this: ns1.yourhost.com and ns2.yourhost.com. Your hosting welcome email lists the exact ones to use.
How to change your nameservers
- Find your hosting nameservers in your hosting welcome email (search for “nameserver” or “DNS”).
- Log in to the control panel where you bought your domain. If you bought it from our store, that’s your customer control panel.
- Open your domain and find Name Servers (sometimes called DNS or Nameserver settings).
- Replace the existing nameservers with your hosting nameservers, exactly as written, and save.
How long does it take?
Changes usually start working within a few hours, but can take up to 24 to 48 hours to reach everyone, because internet providers store old settings for a while. During that time, some people may see your new website and others the old page. That’s normal.
Tip: check from your phone using mobile data, or in a private browser window, to see the change sooner.
The alternative: an A record
Sometimes you’ll want to keep your domain’s DNS where it is, for example if your email is already set up elsewhere. Instead of changing nameservers, add an A record pointing to your hosting’s IP address (also in your welcome email or cPanel):
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Type | A |
| Name / Host | @ (your main domain), and another A record (or a CNAME) for www |
| Value | Your hosting’s IP address |
Only use this method if you’re comfortable with DNS settings, because the wrong change can affect your email.
Don’t forget email
If you change nameservers, your email will also be handled by your new host. If you already have email working elsewhere (such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365), recreate its DNS records (MX, SPF and others) at your new host before switching, so email keeps flowing.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| A parking page or “coming soon” | The domain still points to the registrar’s default page; check your nameservers are saved, and wait |
| Your host’s default page | Connected; now upload your website |
| “This site can’t be reached” | Changes are still spreading, or the nameservers have a typo |
| Works on your phone, not your computer | Your computer has the old settings saved; wait, or clear your browser cache |
| “Not secure” warning | Connected, but SSL isn’t set up yet; see free SSL |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to connect both “yourdomain.com” and “www.yourdomain.com”?
With nameservers, your host usually handles both. With A records, add one for each.
Will changing nameservers delete anything?
It doesn’t delete your website or domain, but your new host’s DNS settings take over, so recreate any custom records, especially for email, first.
Can I move my domain to a different store later?
Yes. You can transfer a domain to another registrar, usually after 60 days from registration.
Next steps
Last reviewed October 27, 2026. Startup costs are estimates; check local prices, licensing and tax rules before you commit money.
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