Getting Started
4 min read
Understanding nameservers and DNS propagation
What nameservers are, how to update them at your registrar, and how long propagation takes.
Nameservers explained
Nameservers are the bridge between your domain name and your hosting server. When someone types your domain in a browser, nameservers tell the internet where to find your website.
Your nameservers
Your nameservers are included in your welcome email. They look like:
ns1.zebrahosting.cloudns2.zebrahosting.cloud
How to update nameservers
Log in to the website where you registered your domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.). Find DNS Settings or Nameservers and replace the existing nameservers with ours.
DNS propagation time
After changing nameservers, it takes 1 to 24 hours for the change to propagate worldwide. During this time your website may be intermittently accessible from different locations.
Check propagation: Use a tool like whatsmydns.net to see which regions have updated.