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How to Point Your Domain to Your Website (DNS Records Explained)

Buying a domain and having a website are two separate things. To make them work together, you tell the internet where your website lives using DNS, the system that turns names into server addresses. In this guide you will connect your domain to your hosting so visitors who type your name land on your site.

Doing this carefully matters because DNS also controls your email. One wrong change can stop messages from arriving. You will learn the two main methods, when to use each one, and how to check your work so nothing breaks along the way.

⏱ 15 minutes, plus up to 48 hours for changes to spread◎ Beginner☰ 8 steps↻ Updated Oct 2026

What you need

  • Login for your domain registrar
  • Login for your web hosting or cPanel account
  • Your host’s nameservers or your server’s IP address
  • A screenshot of your current DNS records

Steps

1

Find your hosting details

Your web host gives you one of two things to point your domain at. The first is a pair of nameservers, which look like ns1.examplehost.com and ns2.examplehost.com. The second is an IP address, a set of numbers like 203.0.113.10. In cPanel, the server IP address appears in the General Information or Server Information panel on the home screen. Your welcome email from the host usually lists both.

2

Save a copy of your current records

Log in to your registrar and open the DNS or nameserver settings for your domain. Take a screenshot or copy every record you see, especially any MX and TXT records. Those control your email and domain verification. If something goes wrong later, this copy lets you put things back exactly as they were.

Tip: If you already use business email, note which company runs it before you change anything.
3

Choose nameservers or records

Changing nameservers hands all DNS control to your host, which is simple and works well if your host also runs your email. Changing individual records keeps DNS at your registrar and only updates where the website points. Choose the records method if your email is with another provider, such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, and you want to leave it untouched.

4

Option A: update the nameservers

In your registrar’s domain settings, find the nameservers section and choose custom nameservers. Delete the old entries and type in the nameservers your host gave you, exactly as written. Save the change. If your email runs somewhere other than your host, you will need to add its MX and TXT records again in cPanel under Domains, then Zone Editor, because your old records stay behind at the registrar.

5

Option B: edit the A and CNAME records

In your registrar’s DNS settings, find the A record for your root domain, often shown as the @ symbol. Change its value to your server’s IP address. Then find the record for www. Set it as a CNAME pointing to your root domain, or as a second A record with the same IP. Remove any other A records for @ that point somewhere else, since conflicting records cause random errors.

Tip: If your DNS is managed in cPanel, open Domains, then Zone Editor, click Manage next to your domain and edit the records there.
6

Leave email records alone

Do not delete or change MX records unless you are moving your email on purpose. MX records tell the world where to deliver your mail. TXT records often hold SPF, DKIM and DMARC settings plus verification codes for services like Google. Changing the A record for your website does not affect email, so leave everything else as it was.

7

Wait for the change to spread

DNS changes are not instant. Each record has a TTL, or time to live, that tells other servers how long to remember the old answer. Record edits often take effect within an hour. Nameserver changes can take up to 48 hours to reach everyone. During this time some visitors may see the old site and some the new one, which is normal.

8

Check that it worked

Open your domain in a private browser window, both with and without www, to avoid seeing an old cached copy. You can also use a free online DNS lookup tool to see what IP address your domain returns from different locations. Once the new address shows everywhere, send yourself a test email to confirm mail still arrives. Then set up your SSL certificate so the site loads securely.

Tip: Free SSL from your host usually cannot be issued until the domain points to the server, so do this step first.

Common Mistakes

  • Switching nameservers without re-creating the MX records for an outside email provider, which stops email from arriving.
  • Leaving an old A record in place alongside the new one, so visitors bounce between the old and new sites.
  • Changing DNS and then making more edits every few minutes because nothing seems to happen, instead of waiting for the TTL to pass.

FAQ

What is the difference between nameservers and DNS records?

Nameservers decide which company answers questions about your domain. DNS records are the actual answers, such as where your website lives and where email goes. Changing nameservers moves the whole address book to a new company. Editing records changes individual entries while the address book stays where it is.

Why does my site work on my phone but not my computer?

Your computer or home network may still remember the old address. This is normal while a DNS change spreads. Try a private browser window, restart your browser, or wait a few hours. If the problem lasts more than two days, check that the records were saved correctly at your registrar or host.

Should www and non-www both work?

Yes. Many people type www and many do not, so both should reach your site. Set one as your main version and redirect the other to it. Most website platforms, including WordPress, handle that redirect once both versions point to the same server.