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 CashParking® or 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 Nameservers, select Set Nameservers.
- Select your Setup type:
- Premium — This option parks your domain name on our parked servers, forwards your domain if you've set up forwarding, or points your domain to our hosted servers if you're hosting with us.
- Custom — This option lets you enter your own nameservers if you're hosting somewhere else or running your own nameservers. Click Add Nameserver, enter your nameservers, and then click Add.
TIP: For .com, .net, and .edu domain names, see Custom Nameserver Restriction for .com, .net, and .edu Domain Names for information on using custom nameservers with these domain names. Likewise, certain country-code top-level domain names (ccTLDs) have specific requirements for their nameservers. See About ccTLDs (Country-Code Domain Names) to find the Help article with the nameserver requirements for your ccTLD.
NOTE: You must enter at least two nameservers. After you set third-party nameservers and the DNS propagates, you can no longer manage your domain name's DNS in our system and must contact your third-party provider to do so.
- 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. You can also use the instructions below to view the nameservers your domain name uses. Then, ask your domain name registrar how to set the nameservers with them.
NOTE: If you cannot access the Control Panel in your hosting account or have difficulty viewing your domain name's nameservers, you can contact our support team for assistance.
To Set Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Hosted with Us
- Log in to your Account Manager.
- Click Web Hosting.
- Next to the hosting account you want to use, click Launch.
- From the Tools menu, select DNS Manager.
- Click Change zone.
- Select the domain name you want to use, and then click OK.
Your domain's nameservers display in the NS (Nameserver) section. You must provide these nameservers to your domain name's current registrar.
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 CashParking or Quick Content
If you purchased your domain name registration with another registrar but are using our CashParking or 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 CashParking
If you are using CashParking, you must tell your registrar to update your domain name's nameservers to:
- ns01.cashparking.com
- ns02.cashparking.com
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
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.
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