How to Point Your Domain to Hosting: The Simple Checklist for Non-Tech Users

What Does "Pointing Your Domain to Hosting" Actually Mean?

Imagine you just bought a house (your hosting) and a mailing address (your domain name). Right now, they're not connected—mail sent to your address won't reach your house. "Pointing your domain to hosting" is like telling the post office where to deliver your mail.

In website terms, when someone types your domain name (like www.yourbusiness.com) into their browser, the internet needs to know which server (hosting) to connect them to. This connection happens through something called DNS (Domain Name System), but don't worry—you don't need to understand the technical details to make it work.

Before You Start: What You Need

Make sure you have these ready before beginning:

• Domain Name: You must own a domain (e.g., bought from GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains)
• Web Hosting Account: Active hosting service (e.g., SiteAmplify, Bluehost, SiteGround)
• Login Credentials: Username and password for both your domain registrar and hosting account
• Nameserver Addresses: Your hosting company provides these (we'll show you how to find them)

Step-by-Step: Point Your Domain to Hosting

Step 1: Find Your Hosting Nameservers

Your hosting provider gives you nameserver addresses that look something like this:

• ns1.yourhost.com
• ns2.yourhost.com

How to find them:

1. Log into your hosting account control panel (usually cPanel or a custom dashboard)
2. Look for a section called "Account Information," "Server Information," or "Nameservers"
3. Copy both nameserver addresses exactly as shown
4. If you can't find them, check your hosting welcome email or contact their support

Step 2: Log Into Your Domain Registrar

This is where you originally purchased your domain name. Common registrars include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, Hover, and Domain.com.

1. Visit your registrar's website
2. Click "Sign In" or "Log In"
3. Enter your username and password
4. Find your domains list (usually under "My Domains" or "Manage Domains")
5. Click on the domain you want to point to hosting

Step 3: Access DNS or Nameserver Settings

Once you're viewing your domain's dashboard, you need to find the nameserver settings. The exact location varies by registrar:

GoDaddy:

• Click on your domain name
• Scroll down to "Additional Settings"
• Click "Manage DNS"
• Scroll to "Nameservers" section

Namecheap:

• Click "Manage" next to your domain
• Find "Nameservers" section
• Select "Custom DNS" from the dropdown

Google Domains:

• Click on your domain
• Click "DNS" in the left menu
• Scroll to "Name servers"
• Click "Use custom name servers"

Step 4: Update Your Nameservers

This is the crucial step where you actually connect your domain to your hosting:

1. Select "Custom Nameservers" (may also be called "Use Custom Nameservers" or "Change Nameservers")
2. Delete old nameservers if any are listed
3. Enter your hosting's primary nameserver in the first field (e.g., ns1.yourhost.com)
4. Enter your hosting's secondary nameserver in the second field (e.g., ns2.yourhost.com)
5. Double-check that you copied them correctly—typos will prevent your site from working
6. Click "Save" or "Apply Changes"

Step 5: Wait for DNS Propagation

After saving your nameserver changes, you need to wait for DNS propagation. This is the time it takes for the change to spread across the entire internet.

How long does it take?

• Typically: 4-24 hours
• Maximum: Up to 48 hours
• Sometimes: As fast as 15-30 minutes

During this time, your website might load for some people and not others. This is completely normal. Be patient and don't make additional changes during propagation.

Step 6: Verify the Connection

After 24-48 hours, check if your domain is successfully pointed to your hosting:

1. Visit your domain in a web browser (www.yourdomain.com)
2. What you should see: Either your website (if files are uploaded) or your hosting provider's default page
3. What indicates success: No "This site can't be reached" or "Domain not found" errors

Use Online Tools to Check:

• Visit whatsmydns.net
• Enter your domain name
• Select "NS" from the dropdown
• Click "Search"
• You should see your hosting's nameservers listed

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: "This site can't be reached" After 48 Hours

Possible Causes:

• Typo in nameserver addresses
• Nameservers weren't saved properly
• Hosting account not active

Solution: Log back into your domain registrar, verify nameservers are correct and saved. Contact your hosting support if the issue persists.

Problem: Website Shows Different Content in Different Locations

Cause: DNS propagation still in progress
Solution: Wait another 12-24 hours. This is normal during propagation.

Problem: Email Stopped Working After Changing Nameservers

Cause: Email DNS records weren't transferred
Solution: If your email is hosted separately from your website, you need to add MX records in your new hosting's DNS settings. Contact your email provider for the correct MX records.

Problem: I Changed My Mind—How Do I Undo?

Solution: Simply log back into your domain registrar and enter the old nameservers again. Changes will propagate in 24-48 hours.

Alternative Methods: A Records vs. Nameservers

There are two ways to point your domain to hosting:

Method 1: Nameservers (Recommended for Beginners)

This is what we've covered in this guide. When you change nameservers, you're giving full DNS control to your hosting provider. This is simpler and recommended for most users.

Pros:

• Simpler to set up
• Hosting provider manages all DNS records
• Works for email, subdomains, and everything else automatically

Method 2: A Records (Advanced)

Instead of changing nameservers, you can keep your current nameservers and just point the A record to your hosting's IP address.

Pros:

• Keep control of DNS at domain registrar
• Useful when email is hosted elsewhere

Cons:

• More technical
• Requires knowing your hosting's IP address
• Must configure each DNS record individually

For most users, especially beginners, changing nameservers is the right approach.

Special Cases and Scenarios

Scenario 1: Domain and Hosting from Same Provider

If you buy your domain and hosting from the same company (like SiteAmplify), they're automatically connected. You don't need to do anything! This is the easiest option for beginners.

Scenario 2: Using Cloudflare for DNS

Some users route their DNS through Cloudflare for performance and security. If using Cloudflare:

1. Add your domain to Cloudflare
2. Cloudflare provides nameservers—add these to your domain registrar
3. In Cloudflare's DNS settings, add an A record pointing to your hosting IP

Scenario 3: Transferring Existing Website to New Host

If you're moving an existing website to new hosting:

1. Set up everything on the new host first
2. Test using a temporary URL provided by your host
3. Only change nameservers after confirming everything works
4. This prevents downtime during migration

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to point my domain to hosting if I bought them together?

No! If you purchased your domain and hosting from the same provider, they're automatically connected. This guide is only for people who bought them separately.

Will my website go down during the nameserver change?

If you're setting up a new website, there's nothing to go down. If you're migrating an existing site, there might be brief periods of inconsistency during DNS propagation (24-48 hours), but true downtime is rare.

Can I point multiple domains to the same hosting account?

Yes! Most hosting plans support multiple domains (called "addon domains"). You'll repeat this nameserver process for each domain you want to point to your hosting.

What if I lose access to my domain registrar account?

Use your registrar's password recovery option. If that fails, contact their support with proof of domain ownership (typically purchase receipt or WHOIS information).

Can I point my domain to hosting and keep email elsewhere?

Yes, but it's more complicated. You'll need to use the A Record method (not nameservers) and configure MX records for your email provider. Consider consulting a technical expert for this setup.

How do I know if DNS propagation is complete?

Use a DNS checker tool like whatsmydns.net. Enter your domain and check if all global locations show your new nameservers. When most show green checkmarks, propagation is complete.

Quick Reference Checklist

Final Thoughts

Pointing your domain to hosting might seem intimidating at first, but it's actually a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes. The hardest part is waiting for DNS propagation—and that happens automatically while you sleep or work on other things.

Remember: thousands of non-technical people successfully connect their domains to hosting every single day. If you follow this checklist and double-check your entries, you'll have your website live soon.

If you want to skip all this technical setup entirely, consider using an all-in-one platform like SiteAmplify where domain, hosting, and templates come pre-connected. You can focus on building your business instead of configuring DNS settings.