Nameserver Checker

Why check your nameservers?

Nameservers are the foundation of your domain's DNS. If they are wrong, offline or out of sync, your website and email can fail even though your hosting is fine. Checking them is the first step whenever a domain does not load after you change hosting.

• After changing nameservers: confirm the new nameservers are the ones the domain is delegated to.
• When the site loads for some visitors but not others: look for out-of-sync serials.
• When email stops: check that the nameservers answer and that your MX records exist.

New to this? See how to point your domain to your hosting and how long DNS propagation takes.

Frequently asked questions

What is a nameserver?

A nameserver is a server that stores the DNS records of a domain and answers questions about it. Your domain is delegated to nameservers at the registry, and those servers tell the world where your website and email live.

How many nameservers should a domain have?

At least two, ideally on different networks, so that DNS keeps working if one server fails. Most registries require a minimum of two.

Why do nameservers show different serial numbers?

The serial number changes whenever the zone is updated. If servers show different serials, one of them has not received the latest changes yet, or a change is still being copied.

How long does a nameserver change take?

Usually minutes to a few hours, but it can take up to 48 hours for all resolvers to update.

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