How to change nameservers and point your domain to ODHOST

When to use this

Use this guide when your domain is registered with another company (GoDaddy, BigRock, Hostinger, Namecheap or any other registrar) and you want it to load your ODHOST hosting. ODHOST does not currently sell domain registration, so you keep the domain where it is and change only its nameservers: the servers that answer DNS questions for your domain.

For the bigger picture of how the domain and hosting connect, see how to connect a domain to hosting.

Before you start

ODHOST note: Your exact nameserver values are in the welcome email for your hosting account and may also be shown in the ODHOST client area. Use those values exactly. If you cannot find them, open a ticket rather than guessing.

1. Note down every DNS record you rely on at your current DNS provider, especially MX records and TXT records for Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho Mail, SPF, DKIM and site verification. When nameservers change, the old zone stops being used and those records must exist at the new DNS host.
2. Check whether DNSSEC is switched on for the domain at your registrar. If it is and you change nameservers without removing the old DS record, validating resolvers will treat your domain as broken. Turn DNSSEC off (remove the DS record) first.
3. Confirm you can log in to the registrar account that holds the domain. If a past developer or agency registered it, ask them for access or a transfer of the account.

Change the nameservers at your registrar

1. Log in to your registrar's website.

2. Open your domain list and select the domain, for example yourbusiness.in.

3. Find the nameserver setting. Common labels are "Nameservers", "Name Servers", "DNS" or "Manage DNS".

4. Choose the option to use custom nameservers. At the time of writing, labels look like this, though registrars change them:

   Registrar	Typical path
   GoDaddy	Domain settings, then Nameservers, Change, "I'll use my own nameservers"
   BigRock	Domain management, then Name Servers
   Hostinger	Domains, then DNS / Nameservers, Change Nameservers
   Namecheap	Domain List, Manage, Nameservers, Custom DNS

5. Replace the existing entries with the ODHOST nameservers from your welcome email. Enter each one in its own box, without http:// or a trailing dot unless the form asks for one.

6. Delete any leftover old nameservers so only the ODHOST values remain.

7. Save the change and look for a confirmation message. Some registrars send an email you must approve.

Recreate records you need

If you noted MX, TXT or other records before switching, add them in your hosting control panel's DNS editor (in cPanel this is usually Domains > Zone Editor; menus vary by version and host configuration). Records for an outside email provider must be copied exactly. See A record vs CNAME for help reading record types.

How to confirm it worked

1. Run a lookup from your computer:

   dig NS yourbusiness.in +short
   

   On Windows: nslookup -type=ns yourbusiness.in. The answer should list the ODHOST nameservers.

2. Check the registration record with a WHOIS or RDAP lookup such as ICANN Lookup. The nameservers listed there are what the registry holds, even before resolvers catch up.

3. Open the website from a phone on mobile data. If it still shows the old site, wait; nameserver changes can take up to 48 hours. Our DNS propagation guide explains why and how to check progress.

If it still fails after 48 hours

Common causes are a registrar form that was not saved, a typing mistake in a nameserver name, a domain locked against updates, or DNSSEC still enabled. If you cannot spot the cause, open a support ticket and include:

• The domain name and the registrar's name
• The nameservers you entered, copied from the registrar screen
• The time you saved the change (IST)
• The output of dig NS yourbusiness.in +short
• A screenshot of the registrar's nameserver page, with any personal details hidden

Never send your registrar password in a ticket.