How to Change the DNS on Your Domain

If you own a domain name, you will need to tell the registrar that you registered the domain with where your domain name will be hosted. This is done by logging onto your account at the registrar, and making the appropriate changes in their records to point your domain to your server. For the purposes of this article, we will be using Godaddy as the registrar, but the process is largely the same anywhere else.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• User ID and password for your domain registrar DNS information for your hosting company

1. Log onto your account at your registrar's website. You should be presented with a control panel.
   (In Godaddy's case, click on the "Details" link beside the Domain Name you wish to makes changes to.)

2. Click on the "Nameservers" choice in the main toolbar. (If there is information currently displayed under the Nameservers section, you can click the "Change" link to access the nameserver information to make changes.)

3. Click on the radio button beside the statement, "I host my domains with another provider."
   (A radio button is a circle that you place a dot into.)

4. Enter the nameserver information into the Nameserver 1: and Nameserver 2: fields disregarding Nameserver 3: and Nameserver 4: unless specifically instructed to enter in values in those fields by your hosting company.

5. Save your changes by clicking on "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• Nameserver information will look like the examples below. NS1.YOUR-HOSTING-COMPANY.NET NS2.YOUR-HOSTING-COMPANY.NET When you have completed the DNS transfer at your registrar, you will need to log onto your hosting company's control panel and create what is known as MX records, which dictate how your email will be handled.
• Please note - DNS transfer will take as long as 3 days to propagate throughout the entire Internet.

Resources

• Creating MX Records