When you point your website to a new hosting provider, you have two main ways to update where your domain resolves: by editing individual DNS records or by switching the domain’s name servers (NS). You don’t have to change name servers unless there’s a specific benefit to moving your DNS management.
Option 1: Keep Your Current Name Servers & Update Records
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Log in to your domain registrar’s DNS control panel (where your name servers are already set).
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Edit the A record (and AAAA, if you use IPv6) to the IP address given by your new host.
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Update any other records—CNAME for subdomains, MX for mail, TXT for SPF/DKIM, SRV for VoIP, etc.—to match the settings required by your new provider.
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Save and wait for propagation; typical TTLs mean changes appear worldwide in minutes to a few hours.
Pros:
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You keep every custom record intact in one place.
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No need to rebuild DNS zone at a new provider.
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Faster switch: only your A/AAAA records update.
Option 2: Point Your Domain to New Name Servers
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At your registrar, replace the existing NS entries with the name servers supplied by the new host (for example, ns1.newhost.com, ns2.newhost.com).
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In your new host’s DNS panel, recreate all the records you had previously (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, etc.).
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Save and wait 24–48 hours for full NS propagation.
Pros:
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Centralizes hosting and DNS management in one dashboard.
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Some hosts automate record creation (mail, SSL, subdomains).
When to Choose Which
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Edit records only if you already have advanced DNS settings (email, subdomains, geo-routing) you don’t want to rebuild.
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Switch name servers if your registrar’s DNS lacks features you need or you prefer a single control panel.
Best Practices
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Lower your TTL to 300 seconds at least 24 hours before big changes to speed propagation.
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Test with tools like
dig @8.8.8.8 yourdomain.comto confirm updates. -
Keep a backup (export) of your current DNS zone before making changes.
By understanding both approaches, you can transfer your site hosting smoothly while minimizing downtime and manual work.
