When you change your nameservers or edit a DNS record, some people see the change right away while others still see the old site or old email for hours. This is called DNS propagation. This Instant Access Internet Services guide explains why it happens, how long DNS propagation takes, and how to check it and speed things up on your own computer.
Why DNS changes aren't instant
Internet providers, phones and computers save (cache) DNS answers for a while so they don't have to look them up every time. Each record has a TTL (time to live), in seconds, that tells them how long they may keep the saved answer. Until that time runs out, they keep using the old answer.
- Record changes in the Zone Editor (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) usually show up within the record's TTL, often 1-4 hours.
- Nameserver changes at your registrar take longer, because the old nameservers are cached by the domain's registry and by internet providers. Most are seen within a few hours, but allow up to 24-48 hours.
How to check DNS propagation
Use an online checker
- Go to a free checker such as whatsmydns.net or dnschecker.org.
- Enter your domain (for example
example.com). - Choose the record type: NS for a nameserver change, A for your website, MX for email, TXT for verification or SPF records.
- Run the search. Green checks show locations that already see the new value. A mix of old and new answers is normal during propagation.
Use your computer
Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) and run:
nslookup example.com nslookup -type=NS example.com nslookup -type=MX example.com
To ask a specific public resolver instead of your internet provider, add it to the end, for example nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8 (Google) or nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
How to see the change sooner on your own devices
You can't speed up the rest of the internet, but you can clear the saved answers on your own devices.
Windows
- Open Command Prompt.
- Run
ipconfig /flushdns.
Mac
- Open Terminal.
- Run
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderand enter your Mac password.
Browser and phone
- In Chrome or Edge, go to
chrome://net-internals/#dns(oredge://net-internals/#dns) and click Clear host cache, then restart the browser. - On a phone, switch Wi-Fi off and use mobile data, or toggle Airplane mode on and off.
- Try a private/incognito window so you don't see a cached copy of the old page.
Plan ahead: lower the TTL before a change
If you're planning to change an important record (for example moving email to another provider), lower its TTL a day before:
- In cPanel, go to Domains > Zone Editor and click Manage next to your domain.
- Click Edit next to the record and set the TTL to
300(5 minutes). Save it. - Wait for the old TTL to pass, make your real change, then set the TTL back to a normal value like
3600or14400.
Common questions
My site works on my phone but not my computer (or the other way round)
That's propagation. The two devices are using different DNS resolvers with different cached answers. Flush your DNS cache as above, or wait.
It's been more than 48 hours and nothing changed
Check the nameservers with an online checker. If they still show the old ones, the change may not have saved at your registrar, or the domain may be locked or expired. Also check for typos in the records you entered.
My email is going to two places
During an MX change, some senders still use the old MX record for a while, so a few messages may arrive at the old provider. Keep the old mailbox open for a couple of days and check it.
Could it be something other than DNS?
Yes. If the whole server stops responding for you only (cPanel, email and website all at once), your IP address may have been blocked after repeated failed logins. Look up your IP at whatismyipaddress.com and include it in a support ticket.
Related guides
- Our Nameservers: How to Point Your Domain to Your Hosting
- How to Use the cPanel Zone Editor (A, CNAME, MX and TXT Records)
- How to Use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace Email with Your Domain
- Free SSL Certificates: How AutoSSL and SSL/TLS Status Work
Still stuck? Open a support ticket and the Instant Access Internet Services team will help.
