How to Change DNS Settings for Your Domain

Changing your DNS settings lets you point your domain name to a different hosting company, email provider, or service. It’s a common step when launching a new website or moving servers.

Step 1: Find Out Where Your DNS Is Managed

DNS settings are usually controlled wherever your domain is registered—like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. If you’re not sure who your registrar is, visit WhoHostsMyWebsite.com and look up your domain. The result will tell you who manages your domain and hosting.

Step 2: Log Into Your Account

Once you know where your domain is registered, log in to that account. Look for something labeled “DNS settings,” “Manage DNS,” or “Name Servers.”

Step 3: Make the Changes

There are two main ways to change DNS:

• Change the Name Servers: This points your entire domain to a new hosting provider. Your hosting company will give you the correct name server values (e.g., ns1.hostcompany.com, ns2.hostcompany.com).
• Edit DNS Records (A, MX, CNAME, etc.): You can update specific records to control web and email traffic separately. For example, point your website to a new server but keep email with a provider like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.

Step 4: Wait for DNS to Propagate

DNS changes aren’t instant. It can take up to 24–48 hours for the changes to fully update around the world, though it’s often much faster.

Need Help?

If DNS sounds confusing, you’re not alone. A small mistake can take your website or email offline, so be VERY careful. We’re happy to help—just contact us with the login to your registrar or hosting account and we’ll make the changes for you.