Overview
The following explains where to find and update your domain's DNS records to point to DreamHost. You'll then be able to decide between which of the following you'd like to host at DreamHost or your current hosting company:
- Host your website and all of its services at DreamHost
- Host only your website at DreamHost
- Host your website and specific services at DreamHost while other services remain hosted at the current hosting company
You can then either log into your Registrar or current hosting company to update your DNS settings.
Prerequisites
This article assumes your website's DNS is currently NOT pointing to DreamHost.
Pointing your DNS to DreamHost
The following steps explain how to determine which DNS records to update and how to point them to your DreamHost account.
Determine what DNS records need to be updated
You can point your DNS to DreamHost by adjusting one of the following DNS record types:
- Nameservers
- A Records
The following briefly describes each of these types of records:
Nameservers-
Nameservers are the primary DNS records for your domain. They control where all of your other DNS records are controlled. If your nameservers are pointing to DreamHost, all of your DNS is hosted at DreamHost. If they are pointing to another company, you must log in to that company's panel to make any DNS changes.
A records (website)
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Website A records are the individual IP addresses for your website. There are many different types of A records (as described below), but your website A records are the only ones you need to host the website at DreamHost.
You should only update website A records if you want to host your website at DreamHost while keeping all of your other DNS services at your current host.
What about my custom DNS records?
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If you point your nameservers: This points ALL of your domain's DNS records to DreamHost. This means that if you have custom DNS records already configured at your current host, they will no longer function. If you would like to continue to use a specific service at your old host (such as email), you will need to create custom DNS records in your DreamHost panel to point back to your old host.
Make sure any custom records are configured at DreamHost before pointing your nameservers.
- If you point website A records: This only points your website to DreamHost. Any custom records will continue to function at your old host. If you'd like to host any specific services at DreamHost, you can then create custom DNS records at your current host to point to DreamHost.
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If you point your nameservers: This points ALL of your domain's DNS records to DreamHost. This means that if you have custom DNS records already configured at your current host, they will no longer function. If you would like to continue to use a specific service at your old host (such as email), you will need to create custom DNS records in your DreamHost panel to point back to your old host.
Log into your current host's panel
To point your DNS to DreamHost, you must log into your current host's panel. View this article to confirm where your website is currently hosted. You will then need to view that company's documentation for instructions on updating your DNS records.
Point your DNS to DreamHost
Pointing nameservers (at the Registrar)
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It's recommended you point your nameservers to DreamHost if you do not need to maintain any specific services at your current host. View this article for instructions on updating your nameservers at the company where your domain is registered (the Registrar).
Pointing A records (at the hosting company)
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You should only update your A records if you want to keep some services (such as email) at another company while hosting the site at DreamHost.
- Log into the company where your site is currently hosted.
- Log into the DreamHost panel to view your DreamHost DNS records.
- Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
- Open the DNS Settings page:
- If in Grid view, click the 'vertical 3 dots' button under your domain. From the popout menu, click the DNS Settings link.
- If in List view, click the 'vertical 3 dots' button to the right of your domain. From the popout menu, click the DNS Settings link.
- The records below are examples. Your specific DNS records will be different.
- Copy all of the A type records for @ and www found on this page into the DNS panel of your current hosting company.
In the example above, the site's A records are both 173.236.190.103. Update the IP for any other service in the same way.
There are additional records on this page, such as CNAME, TXT, and SRV, that you may also need to point to DreamHost. Contact your current host to confirm any additional records your site may require.
DNS Propagation
Once you've updated your DNS records, it will take a few hours for them to propagate around the world.
For example, A records could take up to 6 hours, while nameservers could take from 4–72 hours to take effect. The following tools help you track these updates:
- whatsmydns.net — A popular site that checks DNS records around the world.
- Viewing your DreamHost DNS records — Use DreamHost's DNS propagation checker in the panel.