# How do I point my domain to a new host? Source: https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/point-domain-to-new-host/ Updated: 2026-10-08 > To point a domain to a new host, either change its nameservers at your registrar or update its A and AAAA records to the new server's IP address, keeping email records intact. dijitul does this for you, with Cloudflare DNS set up and managed, as part of Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT. ## Key facts - There are two ways to point a domain: change the nameservers, or change the DNS records where DNS is currently hosted. - An A record points a name to an IPv4 address; an AAAA record points it to an IPv6 address. - Nameserver changes for .uk domains are made at the registrar, which passes them to Nominet. - Lowering the TTL a day before the move makes the switch take effect faster. - Changing nameservers replaces every DNS record, so MX and email records must be copied across first. - dijitul Complete Hosting includes migration and Cloudflare DNS set up and managed. ## The two ways to point a domain Your domain has DNS records that tell the internet where your website and email live. You can move the website in one of two ways. | Method | What you change | Best when | | Change nameservers | The nameservers at your registrar, so a new provider controls all DNS | You want the new host or Cloudflare to manage everything | | Change A/AAAA records | Only the website records at your current DNS provider | You want to keep DNS where it is and only move the site | Not sure what nameservers or A records are? Read [What is DNS, in plain English?](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/what-is-dns/) Both methods end in the same place: visitors reach the new server. The difference is who controls the records afterwards and how much needs copying. ## Before you change anything - **Find where DNS is hosted now.** Look up the domain's nameservers with a WHOIS or DNS lookup tool. That tells you who controls the records today. - **Export or screenshot every record.** Pay special attention to MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC and any CNAMEs for services like Microsoft 365. - **Lower the TTL** on the A and AAAA records to 300 seconds a day before, if you can. - **Make sure the site is ready on the new host.** Files and database copied, tested via a temporary URL or hosts file. See [how to move a website without downtime](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/move-website-without-downtime/). ## Method 1: change the A records - Log in to whoever hosts your DNS now. - Edit the A record for the root domain (often shown as @) to the new server's IPv4 address. - Edit the A record or CNAME for www so it points to the same place. - Update or remove any AAAA records so they do not still point to the old server. - Leave MX and email TXT records alone unless your email is moving too. - Wait for the old TTL to expire, then test the site on mobile data and on your office connection. ## Method 2: change the nameservers - Recreate every existing record at the new DNS provider first, including email records. - Log in to your domain registrar. For .co.uk and .uk domains this is the company you pay for the domain, not Nominet directly. - Replace the old nameservers with the new ones. - Wait. Nameserver changes can take from a few minutes up to 24 to 48 hours to be seen everywhere, because of caching. - Check email still arrives, then check the website, SSL certificate and contact forms. If you cannot log in to the registrar, see [How do I check who owns my domain?](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/check-domain-ownership/) ### Checks after the switch - The website loads on https:// with a padlock, with and without www. - Contact forms send and the messages arrive. - Email arrives in every mailbox, and sent mail does not land in spam. - The SSL certificate has been issued on the new server. - The old hosting stays live for a week or so before you cancel it, in case some visitors still reach it. ## How dijitul helps With dijitul [Complete Hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/complete-hosting/), we do the pointing for you. We move your site, recreate your DNS in [Cloudflare](https://dijituldns.co.uk/cloudflare-dns-management/) including email records, switch the nameservers or A records at the right moment, and check SSL and email afterwards. One domain registration or renewal a year is included too. It costs £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT). See our [website migration](https://dijituldns.co.uk/website-migration/) page, [order online](https://clients.dijitul.uk/order), or call 01623 650333. ## FAQs ### How long does it take to point a domain to a new host? Changing an A record usually takes effect within the record's TTL, often between five minutes and a few hours. Changing nameservers can take up to 24 to 48 hours to be seen everywhere, although many visitors see the change much sooner. Lowering the TTL a day in advance speeds up an A record switch. ### Will my email stop working if I point my domain to a new host? Only if the email records are lost. If you change nameservers, the new DNS provider must have your MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records copied across first. If you only change the website's A records, your email records stay untouched. Always list every record before making any change. ### Should I change nameservers or A records? Change A records if you want to keep DNS with your current provider and only move the website. Change nameservers if you want the new host or a service like Cloudflare to manage all your DNS in one place. Nameservers give more control long term, but every record must be recreated first. ### Where do I change nameservers for a .co.uk domain? At your domain registrar, the company you pay to register or renew the domain. They pass the change to Nominet, which runs the .uk registry. If you do not know who your registrar is, a WHOIS lookup on the Nominet website shows the registrar's name for any .uk domain. ### Why does my website still show the old site after changing DNS? Your computer, browser or broadband provider may have cached the old DNS answer. Wait until the TTL expires, clear your browser cache, try a private window, or test on mobile data. If the old site still appears after 48 hours, check the record really changed, and check for an AAAA record still pointing to the old server. ### Can dijitul point my domain for me? Yes. dijitul Complete Hosting includes website migration and Cloudflare DNS set up and managed. We recreate your records, including email, switch the domain at the right moment and check everything works afterwards. It costs £1 a day + VAT, including one domain registration or renewal a year and UK-based support. ## Pricing and ordering dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT). Order at https://clients.dijitul.uk/order?product=complete-hosting&ref=dijituldns&src=point-domain-to-new-host or call 01623 650333.