So, you’ve purchased the perfect domain name and signed up for a great web hosting plan. Congratulations! But how do you make them work together? The crucial next step is to point domain to web host, effectively telling the internet where to find your website files when someone types in your domain name. It might sound technical, but it’s usually a straightforward process, primarily involving changing your domain’s nameservers. This guide will walk you through it step-by-step.
Think of your domain name (e.g., `yourwebsite.com`) as the address for your house, and your web hosting as the actual plot of land where your house (your website files) is built. Pointing your domain connects the address to the land so visitors can find you. Without this connection, typing your domain name leads nowhere.
Why Pointing Your Domain Matters
When you register a domain name, it’s initially parked with the domain registrar (the company you bought it from, like GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.). By default, it doesn’t know where your website files are stored (your web host, like Hostinger, Bluehost, SiteGround, etc.). Pointing the domain updates the global Domain Name System (DNS), a massive directory for the internet, with the correct location of your website’s server. This ensures that when someone enters your domain in their browser, they are directed to your web host to view your site.
Before You Begin: Gather Your Information
To make this process smooth, you’ll need two key pieces of information:
- Your Domain Registrar Login: The username and password for the account where you purchased your domain name.
- Your Hosting Nameservers: The specific nameserver addresses provided by your web hosting company. These usually come in pairs (sometimes more) and look like `ns1.hostname.com` and `ns2.hostname.com`.
Step-by-Step: How to Point Domain to Web Host
The most common and recommended method is updating your domain’s nameservers. Here’s how:
Step 1: Find Your Hosting Nameservers
First, you need to identify the nameservers assigned by your web hosting provider. This information is usually found in:
- Your hosting welcome email.
- Your hosting account dashboard (often under “Account Details,” “Domains,” or “DNS”).
- Your host’s support documentation or by contacting their support team.
Copy these nameserver addresses carefully. Accuracy is critical!
Step 2: Log In to Your Domain Registrar
Go to the website of the company where you registered your domain name (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains). Log in to your account using your credentials.
Step 3: Navigate to DNS / Nameserver Management
Once logged in, find the section for managing your domains. Select the specific domain you want to point. Look for options labeled “DNS Management,” “Manage DNS,” “Nameservers,” “Change Nameservers,” or similar. The exact wording varies between registrars.
[Hint: Insert image/video of typical domain registrar DNS settings page here]
Step 4: Update Your Nameservers
Inside the DNS or Nameserver settings area, you’ll likely see the current nameservers (often default ones from the registrar). You need to replace these with the nameservers provided by your web host (from Step 1).
- Look for an option to “Use Custom Nameservers” or “Change Nameservers.”
- Carefully enter the primary and secondary (and any additional) nameservers provided by your host into the corresponding fields (e.g., Nameserver 1, Nameserver 2).
- Delete any existing, default nameservers if necessary.
Double-check for typos before proceeding!
[Hint: Insert image/video showing nameserver fields being updated here]
Step 5: Save Changes and Wait for Propagation
After entering the new nameservers, find the “Save” or “Update” button and click it. Your registrar will now start updating the DNS records. This process is called DNS propagation, and it’s not instantaneous.
It can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours (though often much faster) for the changes to spread across the internet’s DNS servers globally. During this time, some visitors might see your old site (or a parking page), while others see the new site hosted on your web server. You can use online tools like whatsmydns.net to check the propagation status for your domain.
Alternative Method: A Records
While changing nameservers is the most common way to point domain to web host for an entire website, you can also point your domain using an A record. This involves changing the domain’s main A record (Address Record) to point directly to your web host’s IP address. This method is sometimes used if you want to keep your email or other services managed through your domain registrar while hosting your website elsewhere. However, for most users, updating nameservers is simpler and delegates all DNS management to the hosting provider. For more details on different record types, see our guide on DNS Records Explained.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Website Not Loading: Double-check for typos in the nameservers you entered. Ensure you saved the changes correctly. Wait up to 48 hours for full propagation. Clear your browser cache or try accessing from a different network/device.
- Email Stopped Working: If changing nameservers broke your email, your hosting provider likely needs to configure the necessary MX records (Mail Exchanger records) on their end. Contact your host’s support.
- Wrong Nameservers Used: If you accidentally entered incorrect nameservers, simply go back to your registrar’s DNS settings and correct them. Propagation will need time again.
Conclusion
Connecting your domain name to your web hosting is a fundamental step in getting your website online. By following these steps to update your nameservers at your domain registrar, you effectively tell the internet where to find your site. While DNS propagation requires a little patience, the process itself is usually quick and manageable. Once propagation is complete, your domain name will successfully lead visitors to your brand-new website hosted on your chosen server.
