Setting Nameservers for Your Domain Names

When you register a domain name with us, we set it up on our parked nameservers so a temporary page displays when visitors go to your website. After you determine which hosting provider to use, you can change your domain name’s nameservers to remove the parked page and activate your domain name.

If you registered your domain name with another provider, you can still purchase a hosting account with us, use our Off-site DNS services, or use our CashParking® or Quick Content services. If you do any of those, you must view your nameservers in your account with us, and then set the nameservers with your domain name registrar.

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered with Us

If your domain name is registered with us, use the following instructions to update its nameservers depending how you use or host the domain name.

To Set Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered with Us

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. In the My Products section, select Domains/Domain Manager.
  3. Select the domain name(s) you want to modify.
  4. From  (Nameservers), select Set Nameservers.
  5. Select one of the following:
    • I want to park my domains — This option parks your domain name on our parked servers. When someone opens your domain name from a Web browser, our default parking page displays.
    • I want to forward my domains — Use this option if you want to forward this domain name to another URL. See Forwarding or Masking Your Domain Name for more information.
    • I have a hosting account with these domains — Use this option when your domain name is hosted with us.
    • I have specific nameservers for my domains — This option indicates that you are hosting your domain name with another company (enter the two or more nameservers your hosting provider gave you), or you have custom nameservers you want to use for this domain name.TIP: For .com, .net, and .edu domain names, see Custom Nameserver Restriction for .com, .net, and .edu Domain Names for information on using custom nameservers with these domain names. Likewise, certain country-code top-level domain names (ccTLDs) have specific requirements for their nameservers. See About ccTLDs (Country-Code Domain Names) to find the Help article with the nameserver requirements for your ccTLD.

      NOTE: You must enter at least two nameservers. After you set third-party nameservers and the DNS propagates, you can no longer manage your domain name’s DNS in our system and must contact your third-party provider to do so.

  6. (Optional) If DNSSEC is available for the domain name’s extension and the domain name is hosted with another provider, you can click Manage DS Records to set up self-managed DNSSEC. See About Self-Managed DNSSECfor information.
  7. Click OK.

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Hosted with Us

If you registered your domain name with another registrar but are hosting it with us, it must use our nameservers. We send you an email that lists your nameservers when you set up your hosting account. You can also use the instructions below to view the nameservers your domain name uses. Then, ask your domain name registrar how to set the nameservers with them.

NOTE: If you cannot access the Hosting Control Center or have difficulty viewing your domain name’s nameservers, you can contact our support team for assistance.

To Set Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Hosted with Us

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. From the My Products section, click Web Hosting.
  3. Next to the hosting account you want to use, click Launch.
  4. From the Settings menu, select DNS Manager.
  5. Click change zone.
  6. Select the domain name you want to use, and then click OK.

Your domain’s nameservers display in the NS (Nameserver) section. You must provide these nameservers to your domain name’s current registrar.

Example of Standard DNS nameservers:
ns01.domaincontrol.com
ns02.domaincontrol.com

Example of Premium DNS nameservers:
pdns01.domaincontrol.com
pdns02.domaincontrol.com

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Using Off-site DNS

If you purchased your domain name registration with another registrar but are using our Off-site DNS, your domain name must use our nameservers. Use the Standard DNS or Premium DNS instructions below to find your nameservers, and then ask your domain name registrar how to set your nameservers with them.

To Set Nameservers for Standard DNS Accounts

If you are using our Off-site DNS and have Standard DNS (the basic version of our DNS Manager), ask your registrar to update your domain name’s nameservers to:

  • mns01.domaincontrol.com
  • mns02.domaincontrol.com

To Set Nameservers for Premium DNS Accounts

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. In the left sidebar, click My Account.
  3. In the Domain Related section, click Off-site DNS Management. The DNS Dashboard displays.
  4. For the domain name you want to work with, click Edit Zone. The Zone File Editor displays.
  5. Go to the NS (Nameserver) section to view your nameservers, which are in the following ranges:
    • [pdns01-pdns13].domaincontrol.com
    • [pdns02-pdns14].domaincontrol.com

    NOTE: Nameservers use consecutive odd and even pairs, sopdns01.domaincontrol.com works with pdns02.domaincontrol.com, whereas pdns12.domaincontrol.com would not work withpdns13.domaincontrol.com.

  6. Set your nameservers with your domain name’s registrar.

Setting Nameservers for a Domain Name Registered Elsewhere and Using CashParking or Quick Content

If you purchased your domain name registration with another registrar but are using our CashParking or Quick Content services, your domain name must use our nameservers. Check with your domain name registrar for specific instructions on how to set your nameservers with them.

To Set Nameservers for CashParking

If you are using CashParking, you must tell your registrar to update your domain name’s nameservers to:

  • ns01.cashparking.com
  • ns02.cashparking.com

To Set Nameservers for Quick Content

If you are using Quick Content, you must tell your registrar to update your domain name’s nameservers to:

  • hpns01.domaincontrol.com
  • hpns02.domaincontrol.com

After updating your nameservers, allow 4 to 8 hours for other networks to access information for .com and .net domain names, and allow 24 to 48 hours for other networks to access information for all other domain extensions. If you have difficulty, contact our 24/7 technical support team for assistance.