Setting Nameservers for Your Domain Names

When you register a domain name with us, we set it up on our parked nameservers so a temporary page displays when visitors go to your website. After you determine which hosting provider to use, you can change your domain name's nameservers to remove the parked page and activate your domain name.

If you registered your domain name with another provider, you can still purchase a hosting account with us, use our Off-site DNS services, or use our Quick Content services. If you do any of those, you must view your nameservers in your account with us, and then set the nameservers with your domain name registrar.

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered with Us

If your domain name is registered with us, use the following instructions to update its nameservers depending how you use or host the domain name.

To Set Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered with Us

Log in to your Account Manager.
Next to Domains, click Launch.
Select the domain name(s) you want to modify.
From the Nameservers menu, select Set Nameservers.
Under Setup type, select Standard.
Click Save.

NOTE: We automatically select the right standard nameservers based on how you're using your domain.

Setting Custom Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered with Us

If your domain name is registered with us, use the following instructions to set custom nameservers for it.

To Set Custom Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered with Us

Log in to your Account Manager.
Next to Domains, click Launch.
Select the domain name(s) you want to modify.
From the Nameservers menu, select Set Nameservers.
Under Setup type, select Custom.
Select Add Nameservers.
Enter the two nameservers your hosting provider gave you.
Click Add Nameserver if you have more than two nameservers.
Click Save.

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Hosted with Us

If you registered your domain name with another registrar but are hosting it with us, it must use our nameservers. We send you an email that lists your nameservers when you set up your hosting account. If you do not have your name servers, you can find them in your hosting account. For more information, see Finding Your Hosted Domain's Nameservers.

After finding your name servers, contact your domain's registrar (the company where you registered your domain) to update the nameservers.

Example of Standard DNS nameservers:
ns01.domaincontrol.com
ns02.domaincontrol.com

Example of Premium DNS nameservers:
pdns03.domaincontrol.com
pdns04.domaincontrol.com

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Using Off-site DNS

If you purchased your domain name registration with another registrar but are using our Off-site DNS, your domain name must use our nameservers. Use the Standard DNS or Premium DNS instructions below to find your nameservers, and then ask your domain name registrar how to set your nameservers with them.

To Set Nameservers for Standard DNS Accounts

If you are using our Off-site DNS and have Standard DNS (the basic version of our DNS Manager), ask your registrar to update your domain name's nameservers to:

mns01.domaincontrol.com
mns02.domaincontrol.com

To Set Nameservers for Premium DNS Accounts

Log in to your Account Manager.
Next to Premium DNS, click Launch.
For the domain name you want to work with, click Edit Zone. The Zone File Editor displays.
Go to the NS (Nameserver) section to view your nameservers, which are in the following ranges:
- [pdns01-pdns13].domaincontrol.com
- [pdns02-pdns14].domaincontrol.com
NOTE: Nameservers use consecutive odd and even pairs, so pdns01.domaincontrol.com works with pdns02.domaincontrol.com, whereas pdns12.domaincontrol.com would not work with pdns13.domaincontrol.com.
Set your nameservers with your domain name's registrar.

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Using Quick Content

If you purchased your domain name registration with another registrar but are using our Quick Content services, your domain name must use our nameservers. Check with your domain name registrar for specific instructions on how to set your nameservers with them.

To Set Nameservers for Quick Content

If you are using Quick Content, you must tell your registrar to update your domain name's nameservers to:

hpns01.domaincontrol.com
hpns02.domaincontrol.com

Registering and Editing Your Own Nameservers/Hosts

If you need to create nameservers for your domain name, you can register your own hosts using these instructions. You can enter up to 13 hosts, depending on the maximum number of hosts the top-level domain name (TLD) registry allows.

WARNING: This feature is intended for advanced users. Follow instructions carefully if you are not familiar with the feature.

To Register Your Own Domain Hosts

Log in to your Account Manager.
Next to Domains, click Launch.
Click the domain name you want to use to register as your own nameserver.
In the Settings tab, click Manage next to Host Names.
Click Add Hostname.
Enter the hostname you want to register.
Enter the unique IP address you want to add to the host. Nameservers need to be set to the same IP address you've set up for your domain.
Click Add.

To Edit Your Registered Hosts

If you set up your own hosts for your Domain Name Server (DNS) service, you can edit your host name and add or edit IP addresses.

WARNING: If there are domain names currently pointed to these hosts, changes you make can affect how those domains function. Be cautious and verify your settings before saving changes.

Log in to your Account Manager.
Next to Domains, click Launch.
Click the domain name you want to edit.
On the Settings tab in the Host Names section, click Manage.
Enter your changes to the host name or IP addresses.
Click Save.

Host changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate. This means your hosting or other domain name features might not work during the propagation period.

If you use our nameservers, we update your domain name's zone file to include the required subdomain A host records supporting the new domain hosts. If you use custom nameservers, your hosting provider must add these records for you.

It takes 4 to 8 hours to register hosts for .COM and .NET domain names and 24 to 48 hours for all other domain name extensions.

After updating your nameservers, allow 4 to 8 hours for other networks to access information for .com and .net domain names, and allow 24 to 48 hours for other networks to access information for all other domain extensions. If you have difficulty, contact our 24/7 technical support team for assistance.