Knowledgebase

For Apexhost customers, nameservers are important when connecting a domain to Apexhost hosting, moving DNS to another provider, troubleshooting website or email problems, or preparing for a domain transfer or service migration. Understanding what nameservers do can help you avoid common mistakes that interrupt website access or email delivery.

A domain name does not store website or email settings by itself. Instead, it points to a DNS zone that contains records such as A, CNAME, MX and TXT records. Nameservers identify where that DNS zone is hosted.

When someone visits your website or sends email to your domain, internet systems first check the domain’s nameservers. Those nameservers then provide the DNS records needed to locate the correct website server, mail platform or other service.

In simple terms: nameservers tell the internet which DNS provider is responsible for your domain.

Common nameserver examples look like ns1.provider.com and ns2.provider.com. Most domains use at least two nameservers for redundancy.

Nameservers control your active DNS location. This means they affect all DNS-dependent services for the domain, including:

* Website access

* Email delivery

* Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace verification and routing records

* Subdomains

* Third-party services that rely on DNS records

If the nameservers point to the wrong provider, or if the correct DNS records do not exist at the active provider, your services may stop working even if the domain is still registered and active.

Important: Changing nameservers does not automatically copy your DNS records to the new provider. Before switching nameservers, make sure the new DNS host already contains the records your website, email and other services require.

You may need to update your nameservers in situations such as:

* Connecting a domain to Apexhost-hosted DNS

* Moving DNS management to another hosting company or DNS provider

* Changing website or email providers

* Setting up a newly registered domain

* Troubleshooting a domain that points to the wrong DNS host

If your domain is registered with one provider but DNS is hosted elsewhere, the nameservers should point to the provider that hosts the live DNS zone.

It is helpful to separate nameservers from other domain-related settings.

* Domain registration: controls who owns and renews the domain.

* Nameservers: control where the DNS zone is hosted.

* DNS records: inside that zone control where the website, email and other services point.

This means a domain can be registered with one company, use nameservers from a second company, and point to website or email services provided by a third company.

Note: If you are unsure where your DNS is currently hosted, a WHOIS lookup can often help confirm which nameservers are published for the domain.

Use these steps if your domain is managed through Apexhost and you need to change the published nameservers.

1. Log in to the Apexhost Client Area.

2. Open the Domains section.

3. Select My Domains.

4. Choose the domain name you want to manage.

5. Find the Nameservers section in the domain management area.

6. Enter the nameservers supplied by your DNS provider or hosting provider.

7. Save the changes.

8. Allow time for the update to propagate across the internet.

[Screenshot: Apexhost Client Area My Domains page showing the Nameservers section]

After saving the change, the domain will begin directing DNS queries to the new nameserver provider. Website and email behaviour will depend on whether the correct DNS records are already configured there.

Before making a nameserver change, make sure you have:

* The correct nameserver values from the new provider

* A copy of your existing DNS records

* Confirmation of where your website and email should point

* Access to the registrar or Client Area account that manages the domain

It is also a good idea to check whether any of the following records will need to exist at the new DNS host:

* A records or CNAME records for your website

* MX records for email routing

* SPF, DKIM and DMARC records for email authentication

* TXT or CNAME verification records for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or other third-party services

Important: If your email is hosted externally, incorrect MX, SPF, DKIM or DMARC records at the new DNS provider can interrupt mail flow even when the nameserver change itself is successful.

Nameserver updates usually do not appear everywhere instantly. Different internet providers and DNS resolvers may refresh at different times. During this period, some users may reach the old DNS zone while others reach the new one.

This is called propagation. During propagation, you may notice:

* The website works on one network but not another

* Email behaviour appears inconsistent

* Online lookup tools show different results for a period of time

Propagation delays are normal after a nameserver change. Plan changes carefully, especially for business-critical domains.

If Apexhost hosts your DNS, your domain should use the nameservers provided for your Apexhost service. This is common when your website or DNS records are managed through Apexhost hosting.

If Apexhost manages the domain registration but another provider hosts the DNS zone, the nameservers should be updated to that external provider’s values.

If your domain is registered elsewhere but uses Apexhost-hosted DNS or hosting, you may need to ask your registrar to update the nameservers to the values provided by Apexhost.

This usually means the new DNS provider does not yet have the required DNS records. Review the DNS zone at the active nameserver provider and confirm that website, email and verification records were recreated correctly.

The update may still be propagating, or the change may not have been saved with the domain’s registrar. Confirm that the new nameserver values were entered correctly and allow more time before testing again.

You may be editing DNS at a provider that is not currently authoritative for the domain. Check the published nameservers first, then make sure you are updating records at the active DNS host.

Start by checking three things separately:

* Whether the domain is active and not expired

* Which nameservers are currently published

* Whether the required DNS records exist at that nameserver provider

This helps identify whether the problem is with registration, DNS delegation or the underlying website or email service.

No. Nameservers decide where the DNS zone is hosted. DNS records are the individual settings inside that zone, such as A, CNAME, MX and TXT records.

No. Changing nameservers only changes which DNS provider answers for the domain. It does not move website content, databases, mailboxes or application data.

Most domains use at least two nameservers for redundancy. Use the exact values supplied by your DNS or hosting provider.

Yes, if Apexhost is hosting the DNS for that domain and has provided the correct nameserver values. The nameserver change would usually be made with the registrar that manages the domain.

Yes, it can. If the new DNS provider does not contain the correct MX and related email DNS records, email delivery may stop working.

• Domain Names Explained (Domains)

• Managing Domains (Apexhost - Client Area)

• WHOIS (Domains)

• Domain Troubleshooting (Domains)

• Logging In (Apexhost - Client Area)

If you require further assistance, please contact Apexhost Support at support@apexhost.com.au.