How to Point Your Domain to Your Hosting: A DNS & Nameserver Guide
Bought a domain and a hosting plan separately? Before your website goes live, you need to connect the two - this is done through DNS (Domain Name System) settings, most commonly by updating your domain's nameservers. Here's exactly how to do it, step by step.
What Are Nameservers, in Plain Language?
Think of your domain name as a phone number and nameservers as the phone directory that tells the internet which server to actually connect to when someone types your domain into a browser. Every hosting account comes with its own nameservers (for example, ns1.hostira.co and ns2.hostira.co). Pointing your domain to these tells the internet: "this domain's website lives on this hosting account."
When Do You Need to Do This?
- You registered your domain with one company (like GoDaddy, BigRock, or another registrar) and bought hosting separately with Hostira
- You're migrating your website from another host to Hostira
- You've set up a brand new domain and hosting account for the first time
If you bought both your domain and hosting from Hostira together, this is usually done automatically and you can skip most of these steps.
Step-by-Step: Pointing Your Domain to Hostira
Step 1: Find Your Hostira Nameservers
Log in to your Hostira client area. Your welcome email (sent after signup) includes your account's nameserver addresses, usually in the format ns1.hostira.co and ns2.hostira.co. If you can't find them, open a support ticket and Hostira support will provide them.
Step 2: Log In to Your Domain Registrar
Go to wherever you registered your domain name (this might be Hostira, or a separate registrar like GoDaddy, BigRock, or another provider) and log in to that account.
Step 3: Find DNS or Nameserver Settings
Look for a section usually labeled "DNS Management," "Nameservers," or "Name Server Settings" under your domain's management page. The exact wording varies by registrar, but it's typically found right where the domain is listed.
Step 4: Replace the Nameservers
Switch from "default" or existing nameservers to "custom nameservers," then enter your Hostira nameservers exactly as provided (usually two, sometimes more). Remove any old nameserver entries that were there before.
Step 5: Save and Wait for Propagation
Save your changes. DNS updates don't take effect instantly worldwide - this process, called propagation, can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24-48 hours depending on your registrar and internet service providers globally. During this window, your site may briefly show old content to some visitors and new content to others.
Need Help Pointing Your Domain?
If you're unsure about any step, Hostira support can guide you through nameserver changes or handle the DNS update for you directly from your client area.
Contact Support →How to Check If It Worked
Once you've updated your nameservers, you can check propagation status using free tools like whatsmydns.net - search your domain name and it will show you which nameservers different global locations are currently seeing. Once it shows your Hostira nameservers consistently, your domain is fully connected.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Typing nameservers incorrectly - even a small typo will prevent your domain from connecting properly. Copy-paste directly from your welcome email where possible.
- Expecting instant results - propagation genuinely takes time; don't panic if your site doesn't update within the first hour.
- Forgetting to remove old nameservers - some registrars require you to fully replace old entries rather than just adding new ones alongside them.
Conclusion
Connecting your domain to your hosting account is a one-time setup that takes a few minutes to configure, even though the internet-wide propagation can take up to two days. Once it's done, you won't need to touch these settings again unless you switch hosting providers in the future.
