How to Change/Update Domain Nameservers

Changing (updating) your domain nameservers is one of the most important steps when you’re moving your website to a new hosting provider, switching servers, or pointing your domain to a different control panel. Nameservers work like the internet’s address book: they tell the world where your website and email services should be found.

In this Kenya-focused guide, you’ll learn the exact steps to update your nameservers safely, including telaHosting’s official nameservers for cPanel and DirectAdmin, plus easy instructions for popular registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, and Cloudflare. We’ll also share practical tips to reduce downtime and support a smooth domain propagation process to reduce issues.

Step-by-Step Process for Updating Nameservers

Here’s the standard process most domain registrars follow when you want to update nameservers:

1. Identify your new nameservers: Your hosting provider will supply the correct nameservers. For example, telaHosting provides:
   • cPanel hosting: dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com
   • DirectAdmin hosting: da1.tela-host.com and da2.tela-host.com

   These nameservers are usually included in your welcome email after purchasing hosting.

2. Log in to your domain registrar account: Access the platform where your domain was registered (for example, telaHosting, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).
3. Locate the nameserver section: Look for options like DNS Management, Nameservers, or Domain Settings.
4. Enter the new nameservers: Replace the old nameservers with the new ones from your hosting provider (for example, dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com).
5. Save and wait for DNS propagation: Most changes take 24 to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide. During this time, some people may still see your old website while others see the new one.
6. Confirm the update: After a few hours, verify using tools like whois.domaintools.com or command-line tools like nslookup.

Key Precautions Before Making Changes

Before you change nameservers, these precautions can save you from downtime or email issues:

• Preserve DNS records: If your current nameservers manage DNS records (MX for email, TXT for verification, subdomains, etc.), copy them first. You may need to recreate them after switching nameservers.
• Reduce downtime risk: DNS propagation can cause temporary inconsistency. In Kenya, it’s smart to make changes during low-traffic hours (late night or early morning) if your website gets steady visitors.
• Protect email delivery: If you use Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho Mail, or any custom email setup, ensure the correct MX records are ready on the new DNS to avoid email interruptions.

Updating Nameservers with telaHosting

telaHosting uses different nameservers depending on your hosting control panel:

• For cPanel hosting: dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com
• For DirectAdmin hosting: da1.tela-host.com and da2.tela-host.com

If your domain is registered with telaHosting, follow these steps:

1. Retrieve telaHosting nameservers: Log in to your telaHosting account and check your hosting details:
   • Use dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com for cPanel hosting
   • Use da1.tela-host.com and da2.tela-host.com for DirectAdmin hosting

   If you’re unsure which one applies, contact support before changing anything.

2. Open your domain dashboard: In your telaHosting account, go to Domains or Domain Management.
3. Locate nameserver settings: Click Manage Nameservers (or select your domain and click Change the nameservers your domain points to).
4. 
5. Enter the new nameservers: Replace the current values with the correct pair for your hosting type.
6. Apply changes: Click Change Nameservers to save.
7. Monitor propagation: DNS propagation typically completes within 24–48 hours, but it can be faster in some cases.

Updating Nameservers with Other Popular Registrars

If your domain is registered outside telaHosting, the steps are similar, but the menus differ slightly depending on the platform.

GoDaddy

1. Log in to your GoDaddy account and open My Products.
2. Under Domains, find your domain and click Manage.
3. Go to Additional Settings and open Manage DNS.
4. Find the Nameservers section and click Change.
5. Select Custom and enter your new nameservers (for example, dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com).
6. Click Save and allow 24–48 hours for propagation.

Namecheap

1. Sign in to Namecheap and go to Domain List.
2. Click Manage next to your domain.
3. Under Nameservers, choose Custom DNS.
4. Enter the new nameservers (for DirectAdmin, use da1.tela-host.com and da2.tela-host.com) and save.
5. Propagation usually takes 24–48 hours, though updates may appear sooner.

Google Domains

1. Log in to Google Domains at domains.google.com and select your domain.
2. Open the DNS tab.
3. Under Name servers, choose Use custom name servers.
4. Enter the new nameservers (for example, ns1.tela-host.com and ns2.tela-host.com), then save.
5. Allow 24–48 hours for the changes to fully propagate.

Cloudflare (Registrar or DNS Service)

1. Log in to your Cloudflare dashboard and select your domain.
2. If you are using Cloudflare DNS, Cloudflare will provide nameservers like xxxx.cloudflare.com during setup.
3. If you want to use telaHosting nameservers instead, you must change nameservers at your original registrar to dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com (because Cloudflare nameservers must be active for Cloudflare DNS to work).

Scenario: Different Providers for Domain and Hosting

This is common in Kenya: you may buy your domain from Namecheap or GoDaddy, then host with telaHosting. The fix is simple:

1. Get the correct telaHosting nameservers:
   • cPanel: dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com
   • DirectAdmin: da1.tela-host.com and da2.tela-host.com
2. Log in to your registrar and replace the old nameservers with the telaHosting ones.
3. Your registrar will then point your domain to telaHosting’s servers automatically.

Alternative Approach: Using A Records Instead of Changing Nameservers

If you don’t want to change nameservers, you can point your website to a new server using A records (this is common when you want to keep DNS at Cloudflare but host elsewhere).

1. Log in to your registrar or DNS provider and open DNS management.
2. Find the A record for the root domain (@) and for www.
3. Update the IP address to the one provided by your host (your welcome email usually contains it).
4. Save changes and wait for propagation.

Note: This method requires you to manually manage other DNS records (MX, TXT, subdomains). For many website owners, changing nameservers is easier and cleaner.

Resolving Common Issues After Updating Nameservers

Website Fails to Load

• Propagation may still be in progress—wait up to 48 hours.
• Clear browser cache or flush DNS:
  • Windows: ipconfig /flushdns
  • macOS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
• Double-check you entered the correct nameservers (for example, ns1.tela-host.com and ns2.tela-host.com).

Email Services Disrupted

• If email was managed by your old DNS, recreate your MX records on the new DNS provider.
• For Google Workspace or other providers, confirm the correct MX records from your email provider.

Changes Not Visible

• Use a DNS checker like dnschecker.org to confirm nameserver updates globally.
• Make sure you clicked save/apply and that your domain isn’t restricted by registrar settings.

Wrapping Up

Updating nameservers is a normal part of domain management, but careful planning helps prevent downtime and email interruptions. If you’re hosting with telaHosting, use:

• cPanel hosting: dns1.tela-host.com and dns2.tela-host.com
• DirectAdmin hosting: da1.tela-host.com and da2.tela-host.com

Always verify changes and track propagation using tools like dnschecker.org. If you need a clearer foundation first, read: how nameservers work.

If you run into challenges, contact your registrar or hosting provider support for quick assistance.