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How to point a domain to a website

By Ash, Founder, HosteazePublished 2 min read

The short answer

You have two options. Change your domain's nameservers to the ones your host gives you, which hands over all your DNS. Or keep your DNS where it is and add an A record for the root domain plus a CNAME for www. Either way, copy your email records first so your inbox keeps working.

Wooden arrow-shaped signpost against a blue sky, pointing the way
Credit: geralt via Pixabay

Buying a domain and building a website are two separate jobs, and pointing one at the other is the bit in the middle that nobody explains. It takes about ten minutes of clicking. The hard part is not breaking anything else on the way, mostly your email.

Which method should I use?

Change nameserversAdd an A record and CNAME
What it doesHands all your DNS to your new hostChanges only where the website points
Best forA fresh start, or when your host manages email tooKeeping DNS where it is, such as at Cloudflare or your registrar
Risk to emailHigh, unless you copy your records firstLow, email records aren't touched
How long to take effectUp to 24 to 48 hoursUsually under an hour

For most small businesses with email already working, adding records is the safer choice. If you're starting from scratch with nothing else on the domain, changing nameservers keeps everything in one place.

Before you start: copy your existing records

  1. Find out where your DNS lives. Look up your domain's NS records in the free Google Admin Toolbox Dig tool. The answer, for example ns1.example.net, tells you which company to log in to.
  2. Log in there and screenshot every record. Pay most attention to MX records, TXT records (your SPF and verification codes) and any CNAMEs with _domainkey in the name (your DKIM keys).

This step takes two minutes and is the difference between a smooth move and a week of missing emails.

Option 1: Change your nameservers

  1. Get your new nameservers from your web host. They usually come in pairs, like ns1.example.net and ns2.example.net.
  2. Log in to your domain registrar, the company you pay for the domain.
  3. Find the nameserver setting, often under DNS, Nameservers or Manage domain.
  4. Choose custom nameservers, replace the existing ones with your host's, and save.
  5. In your host's DNS panel, recreate every email record from your screenshots before the switch finishes.

Option 2: Add an A record and a CNAME

  1. Get your website's IP address from your web host, for example 203.0.113.10.
  2. Open the DNS settings wherever your DNS currently lives.
  3. Edit or add an A record with the host set to @ and the value set to the IP address. Delete any other A records on @ that point elsewhere.
  4. Edit or add a CNAME record with the host set to www and the value set to your root domain, for example yourdomain.co.uk, or the hostname your host gives you.
  5. Save both. Leave the TTL at its default unless you have a reason to change it.

Not sure which record does what? A record vs CNAME explains the difference.

How do I know it worked?

Check your domain's A record in the Dig tool. Once it shows your host's IP address, visit your site using mobile data rather than your home broadband, which might still have the old answer cached. Most changes appear within an hour; see how long DNS propagation takes if yours is slower.

Last of all, make sure the site loads with https://. Most hosts issue the SSL certificate automatically once the domain points at them, which can lag a little behind the DNS change.

Step by step

  1. 1.Find where your DNS is managed

    Look up your domain's nameservers with a free DNS lookup tool. They show which company currently answers for your domain.

  2. 2.Copy your existing DNS records

    Screenshot or export every record, especially MX, TXT and any CNAMEs for email, before changing anything.

  3. 3.Get the values from your host

    Your web host gives you either nameservers or an IP address and hostname to use.

  4. 4.Make the change

    Either replace the nameservers at your registrar, or add an A record on @ and a CNAME on www in your current DNS.

  5. 5.Check and wait

    Confirm the new values with a lookup tool, then allow up to 48 hours for every visitor to see the change.

Frequently asked questions

Should I change nameservers or just add an A record?

Change nameservers if you want your host to manage everything in one place. Add records if your DNS is somewhere you like, such as Cloudflare, or if your email depends on records you don't want to move.

Will pointing my domain to a new website affect my email?

Changing an A or CNAME record won't. Changing nameservers can, if your MX, SPF and DKIM records aren't copied to the new DNS provider first.

Do I need to transfer my domain to point it at a new host?

No. You can leave the domain registered where it is and only change where it points. Transferring is a separate, optional step.

Sources

  1. RFC 1034, Domain Names, Concepts and Facilities
  2. Cloudflare, DNS record types
  3. Google Admin Toolbox, Dig

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