How do I connect my domain to my web hosting?

Why domains and hosting need to be linked

A domain name and web hosting are two separate purchases. The domain is your address, and the hosting is where your website files actually live. Neither one does anything useful for visitors until you tell the domain where to send traffic, which is where nameservers and DNS records come in.

This step is required whether the domain and hosting were bought from the same provider or from different companies, though the process is a little simpler when everything sits under one account.

Option one: update nameservers

Nameservers act like a master switch for a domain. Changing them hands full control of the domain's DNS records over to your hosting provider, which then manages everything for you, including records for email and any subdomains.

This is usually the simplest approach if you want the hosting provider to handle all the technical DNS settings on your behalf.

• Log in to your domain account and find the nameserver or DNS settings
• Replace the existing nameservers with the ones supplied by your hosting provider
• Save the change and allow time for it to take effect
• Confirm the site loads correctly once it has propagated

Option two: point individual DNS records

If you want to keep managing DNS somewhere else, such as when a different service handles your email, you can instead update specific records, typically an A record pointing to your hosting server's address, or a CNAME record pointing to a hostname your provider gives you.

This approach gives more control but means you are responsible for keeping every record accurate, since nothing else is inherited automatically.

What to expect after the change

DNS changes do not appear everywhere instantly. Different networks and devices around the world, from Berlin to Toronto, refresh their cached copy of your DNS records on their own schedule, so it can take a while before everyone sees the update consistently.

During this window it is normal for the site to appear correctly for some visitors and not others, or for it to briefly show an old version.

• Changes are not instant and can take time to spread globally
• Clearing your browser cache can help you check progress sooner
• Existing email tied to the domain may be affected if you change nameservers, so check first
• Free migration help is available via /contact if you get stuck

Getting help if something looks wrong

If your site still is not loading correctly after a reasonable wait, double-check that the records match exactly what your hosting provider supplied, since a small typo is the most common cause. Support is available through /contact if you would rather have someone verify the settings for you.