Workflow
How do I connect my domain to web hosting?
Connecting your domain to web hosting means telling the internet where to find your website files. You do this by updating your domain’s DNS settings - specifically the nameservers or an A record - to point to your hosting provider. Once the changes propagate, your domain loads the site hosted on that server.
How to link domain to host with nameservers
Using your host’s nameservers is the most common method. It delegates full DNS control to your hosting provider.
- Log into your domain registrar (where you bought the domain).
- Find the DNS or nameserver settings for your domain.
- Replace the existing nameservers with the ones provided by your web host (usually two or more, like
ns1.host.comandns2.host.com). - Save the changes and allow up to 48 hours for global propagation.
Steps to connect domain using an A record
If your host gives you a specific IP address, you can point just the root domain while keeping DNS management at your registrar.
- In your registrar’s DNS settings, locate the A record for
@(your root domain). - Update its value to the IP address your web host provided.
- Add or verify a CNAME record for
wwwpointing to your root domain, so both versions work. - Save and wait for propagation - this often takes under an hour but can take longer.
Verify the connection is working
After updating records, confirm everything is set correctly.
- Use a DNS lookup tool to check that your domain resolves to the host’s IP or nameservers.
- Visit your domain in a browser. You should see a default hosting page or your uploaded site.
- If you see an error, double-check the records you entered and wait a few more hours for propagation to complete.
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FAQ
What are the steps to connect a domain to web hosting?
The steps depend on your method. For nameservers, log into your registrar, replace the existing nameservers with your host’s, and save. For an A record, update the root domain’s A record to your host’s IP and add a CNAME for the www subdomain. In both cases, allow up to 48 hours for the changes to take effect globally.
How do I point my domain to my web host?
Point your domain by updating its DNS settings. The two main ways are changing your domain’s nameservers to your host’s, or setting an A record at your registrar to your host’s server IP address. Both methods tell browsers where your site is hosted.
Put this into practice
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