How to change your domain's nameservers

To point your domain at Oogle, sign in to the company where the domain is registered (your registrar), open the domain's nameserver setting, switch it to custom nameservers, and replace every existing entry with the two Cloudflare nameservers we sent you. Then save. Most changes are picked up within a few hours; providers quote up to 24–48 hours.

Oogle uses Cloudflare for DNS. When you join, we add your domain to Cloudflare, which gives it two nameservers of its own. They look like xxxx.ns.cloudflare.com, and the pair is different for each domain, so copy the two names from our message, not from another domain or another website.

Before you start

• Check that your records are already at Cloudflare. We review your existing records when we set the domain up, including the website, www and email records. If you use email on this domain and we haven't confirmed your mail records, ask before you switch, or your email may stop arriving.
• Turn off DNSSEC at your registrar first, if it's on. Remove the DS record there and wait for it to expire (often 24–48 hours) before you change nameservers. If you skip this, the domain can stop resolving completely. See DNSSEC basics.
• Write down your current nameservers so you can switch back if you need to.

The change in general

Every registrar follows the same pattern, though the labels differ:

1. Sign in to your registrar and open the domain.
2. Find the nameserver setting (often under DNS).
3. Choose the option for custom or your own nameservers.
4. Delete every existing nameserver entry.
5. Enter the two Cloudflare nameservers exactly as we sent them, one per box or line.
6. Save, and complete any confirmation code your registrar asks for.

The sections below give the exact labels for common registrars. If yours isn't listed, search its help center for "change nameservers".

GoDaddy

1. Sign in and open your Domain Portfolio, then select the domain.
2. Select DNS, then Nameservers.
3. Choose I'll use my own nameservers.
4. Enter the two Cloudflare nameservers, removing any others.
5. Select Save, then Continue if asked.

If the domain has Domain Protection, GoDaddy may ask for a two-step or one-time code first. GoDaddy says changes are usually live within an hour and can take up to 48 hours. Official guide: GoDaddy: change nameservers.

Namecheap

1. Sign in and open Domain List.
2. Select Manage next to the domain.
3. In the Nameservers section, choose Custom DNS.
4. Enter the two Cloudflare nameservers.
5. Select the green check mark to save.

Namecheap doesn't copy your host records to the new nameservers, which is why they must already be at Cloudflare. Allow up to 24 hours. Official guide: Namecheap: how to change DNS for a domain.

Squarespace Domains

1. Open the Domains dashboard and select the domain.
2. Select DNS, then Domain Nameservers.
3. Choose Use Custom Nameservers and enter the two Cloudflare nameservers.
4. If you're prompted to turn off DNSSEC, select Continue.
5. Save the change.

A Squarespace website on this domain disconnects once the nameservers move, and your email records must exist at the new DNS host. Allow up to 48 hours. Official guide: Squarespace: using custom nameservers.

Porkbun

1. Sign in, open ACCOUNT, then Domain Management.
2. Select Details next to the domain.
3. Select the edit icon beside Nameservers.
4. Delete the existing entries and enter the two Cloudflare nameservers, one per line.
5. Select Save Nameservers.

Allow up to 48 hours. Official guide: Porkbun: how to change nameservers.

Dynadot

1. Sign in and open My Domains, then Manage Domains.
2. Tick the domain.
3. Open the Action menu and choose DNS Settings.
4. Choose Name Servers and enter the two Cloudflare nameservers.
5. Select Save Name Server.

Official guide: Dynadot: set name servers.

Name.com

1. Sign in and open My Domains, then select the domain.
2. Select Manage Nameservers.
3. Select Delete All so no old nameservers remain.
4. Use Add Nameserver (or Add) for each of the two Cloudflare nameservers.
5. Select Save Changes.

If Domain Lock Plus is on, it blocks nameserver changes until it's removed. Allow about 48 hours. Official guide: Name.com: manage nameservers.

Cloudflare Registrar

Domains registered with Cloudflare must use Cloudflare's nameservers, so there is nothing to change and you can't point them at another provider without moving the domain to a different registrar. If your domain is registered in your own Cloudflare account, we'll agree with you how to handle its DNS case by case: open a Website Support ticket. Background: Cloudflare Registrar FAQ.

You'll know it worked when

Your registrar shows only the two Cloudflare nameservers, and Cloudflare marks the domain Active (we'll tell you). To check yourself, run this in Terminal (Mac) or a command prompt with dig installed:

dig ns example.com @1.1.1.1

Replace example.com with your domain. The answer section should list exactly the two names we sent you, and nothing else. If you'd rather not use a command line, enter your domain at Google Public DNS, select Resolve, and look at the NS records. You can also see the nameservers your registrar has published at ICANN Lookup.

Troubleshooting

• The old nameservers still show. The change may not have saved. Open the setting again and check. If it saved, wait: most changes show within a few hours. See How long DNS changes take.
• A typo. One wrong letter means the domain can't use Cloudflare. Compare each name character by character.
• The domain stopped resolving. A leftover DNSSEC (DS) record at the registrar is the usual cause. Remove it and tell us.
• The registrar won't let you save. The domain may be locked against changes (for example Domain Lock Plus at Name.com) or in redemption after expiry. Check its status at the registrar.
• Email stopped arriving. Your mail records may be missing at Cloudflare. Open a ticket and we'll check them.

Next steps

• Connect an existing domain to Oogle hosting
• What are nameservers?
• Troubleshoot a domain that isn't working