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How to Point Your Domain to Your Hosting (DNS Guide)
You have bought a domain and a hosting plan — now you need to connect the two so your website loads when someone types your address. This guide explains how to point a domain to your hosting, in plain language.
How domains and hosting connect
Your domain (like yourbusiness.com) is your address. Your hosting is where your website files actually live. DNS (the Domain Name System) is the phone book that tells the internet which hosting server to send visitors to when they type your domain.
Method 1: Point the nameservers (recommended)
This is the simplest and most common method. Your host gives you two or more nameservers, for example ns1.yourhost.com and ns2.yourhost.com.
- Log in to where your domain is registered.
- Find Nameservers (sometimes under “DNS” or “Domain settings”).
- Replace the existing nameservers with the ones your host provided.
- Save.
Once you use your host’s nameservers, all DNS records are managed from your hosting control panel (cPanel) — the easiest setup for most people.
Method 2: Update the A record
Use this if you want to keep DNS with your current provider and only point the website to a new server. Your host gives you an IP address; you then:
- Open your domain’s DNS / Zone editor.
- Edit the A record for
@(and oftenwww) to point to your host’s IP address. - Save.
This method points just the website while leaving other records (like email) where they are.
How long does it take?
DNS changes need to propagate across the internet. This usually completes within a few hours, though it can take up to 24–48 hours. During this time some visitors may see the old site and some the new — this is normal and temporary.
Do not forget email
If you use business email on your domain, make sure the mail (MX) records are set correctly after any DNS change, so your email keeps working.
Frequently asked questions
Nameservers or A record — which should I use?
For most people, changing nameservers is easiest, because you then manage everything from your hosting cPanel.
Why is my website not loading after I changed DNS?
It is usually propagation — wait a few hours. If it still does not work, double-check the nameservers or IP address are exactly as your host provided.
Will pointing my domain affect my email?
It can, if you change nameservers. Re-check your MX records, or ask your host to set them up for you.
Salasar Hosting helps you register domains, set up hosting and configure DNS — with local support. Get started →