How to change your domain's nameservers
Change the nameservers of a domain registered with UnderHost from CustomerPanel (Domains → My Domains → Nameservers), or at another registrar. Which nameservers to use, how long it takes, and how to check it worked.
UnderHost NOC
Network Operations
On this page
Nameservers decide which DNS service answers for your domain. Changing them moves the whole domain (website, email, everything) to the DNS of the new provider, so copy your records there first when the domain is already in use.
Which nameservers to use
| You want the domain to use... | Nameservers |
|---|---|
| UnderDNS (records managed in CustomerPanel) | ns1.underdns.netns2.underdns.net |
| An UnderHost hosting plan (cPanel / DirectAdmin) | The nameservers in your welcome email or under the service in CustomerPanel. See What nameservers should I use? |
| Cloudflare or another DNS provider | The two nameservers that provider assigns to your domain |
For domains registered with UnderHost, the domain's DNS Management page copies your records to UnderDNS first and then switches the nameservers for you. See How to move your domain's DNS to UnderDNS.
Domains registered with UnderHost
-
Open your domains
Log in to customerpanel.ca and go to Domains → My Domains.
-
Open the Nameservers tab
Click the domain, then Nameservers (in the domain menu: Manage Nameservers).
-
Enter the new nameservers
Select Use custom nameservers (enter below) and type the nameservers, one per field. Two are required; leave unused fields empty. To go back to UnderHost's defaults, select Use default nameservers.
-
Save
Click Change Nameservers. The change is sent to the registry straight away; you will see a confirmation, or an error message explaining what to fix.
Domains registered elsewhere
The change is made where the domain is registered (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Porkbun, OVH, etc.). The menu names differ but the steps are the same:
-
Log in to the registrar
Open the domain's management page.
-
Find the nameserver setting
Look for Nameservers, DNS or Domain settings, and choose custom nameservers instead of the registrar's default DNS.
-
Replace the nameservers
Remove the old ones and enter the new ones, for example
ns1.underdns.netandns2.underdns.net. Save.
Check that it worked
- The registry usually updates within minutes; networks around the world follow within a few hours, sometimes up to 24–48 hours. See What is DNS propagation?
- Check the NS records with the free DNS Propagation Checker, or from a terminal:
dig NS example.com +short
# Windows
nslookup -type=NS example.comIf the change fails
| Message or symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| Invalid nameserver / host not found | Check the spelling. The nameserver must already exist and resolve; private nameservers (ns1.yourdomain.com) need glue records first, see private nameservers |
| Domain is locked or in a pending state | Changes are blocked while a transfer, renewal or registry hold is in progress. Wait for it to finish or open a ticket |
| Domain expired | Renew it first: How to renew your domain name |
| Saved, but the website still shows the old site | Normal during propagation. Clear your browser and DNS cache, and check that the new DNS has the right A record |
Related: What nameservers should I use for UnderHost? | What is UnderDNS? | What is DNS propagation? | How to configure DNS for your domain
Not sure which nameservers to use?
Open a ticket with the domain name and the service it should point to, and we will tell you the exact nameservers.
