How to Change Nameservers (NS)

A nameserver (NS) determines where a domain's DNS records are held. You change the nameservers to connect your domain to a new host or server, or to move to a DNS service such as Cloudflare. This is done in the panel of the company the domain is registered with — not in the hosting panel.

When do you change nameservers?

You bought new hosting/a new server and are connecting the domain to it
You are moving DNS management to Cloudflare or another DNS provider
You transferred the domain to another company and will use the new company's DNS

If you only need to change an A record or an MX record, do not change the nameservers — just edit that record in your current DNS panel. A nameserver change moves the entire DNS zone from scratch.

Changing nameservers step by step

1. Get the new nameserver addresses

The provider you are connecting the domain to gives you 2 (sometimes 3–4) nameserver addresses. Example:

ns1.arcnar.com
ns2.arcnar.com

You find this in your hosting/server provider's welcome email or panel.

2. Create your records at the new DNS first

The moment you change the nameservers, your old DNS zone stops being used. To avoid site and email downtime, recreate the following records identically in the new provider's DNS panel before you switch:

A / AAAA — your site's IP address (root and www)
MX — your email server
TXT — SPF, DKIM, DMARC and any verification records
CNAME — subdomains

To see your current records, check your old DNS panel or use a "DNS lookup" tool. Details: DNS Records Guide.

3. Change the nameservers at the registrar

Log into the panel of the company the domain is registered with → select your domain → the "Nameservers" / "DNS Settings" section. Choose "Use custom nameservers", enter the new addresses, and save.

4. Wait for propagation

The nameserver change propagates through the extension's registry database. This usually takes a few hours, at most 24–48 hours. During this time some visitors may see the old server and some the new — which is why matching the records in step 2 matters.

Verifying the change

You can check from the command line:

# Linux / macOS
dig NS yoursite.com +short

# Windows
nslookup -type=ns yoursite.com

If the new nameserver addresses appear, the change has propagated. Tools like whatsmydns.net let you watch propagation worldwide.

Common problems

Site won't load: no A record at the new DNS, or the wrong IP. Check the A record in the new panel.
Email not arriving: the MX record was forgotten at the new DNS. Add your email provider's MX values.
"Nameserver not accepted": for some extensions (especially .tr) the nameserver must first be defined in the registry with a "glue record". Ask your provider.
Change has taken over 48 hours: the domain may have expired or be in "clientHold" status. Check the domain status in WHOIS.

At Arcnar: From Panel → Domains → your domain → DNS tab you can both change the nameservers and do full DNS management. If you bought hosting/a server from Arcnar, the basic records are created automatically — you only need to update the nameservers.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a nameserver change take to become active?

The change usually takes effect in most places within a few hours; full global propagation can take 24 hours (rarely 48). This depends on the domain extension and the TTL of intermediate DNS caches; you cannot speed it up.

Will my email or site be cut off when I change nameservers?

If you recreate all the old records (A, MX, TXT, CNAME) at the new nameserver in advance, there is no downtime. During propagation some visitors see the old DNS and some the new; as long as both return the same records there is no problem. If you leave records missing, the site or email is unreachable for a while.

Should I change nameservers or just a DNS record?

If only your server IP or a single record is changing, editing the DNS record at your current provider is enough — faster and risk-free. A nameserver change is needed when you move DNS management entirely to another provider (e.g. a hosting company, Cloudflare).

Where do I find the nameserver addresses?

The provider that will manage your DNS gives them: your hosting company's "Nameserver information", the two ns addresses Cloudflare assigns after you add the domain, or the addresses you define with glue records on your own DNS server.