How does DNS propagation affect my site's accessibility after changing nameservers?

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How does DNS propagation affect my site's accessibility after changing nameservers?

Asked on Oct 20, 2025

Answer

When you change your site's nameservers, DNS propagation is the process by which the updated DNS information is distributed across the internet. This can affect your site's accessibility as it may take time for the new DNS records to be recognized globally, leading to temporary inconsistencies in reaching your site.

Example Concept: DNS propagation occurs because DNS records are cached by ISPs and DNS servers worldwide. When you update nameservers, these caches need to refresh with the new information. The time it takes for this to happen can vary, typically ranging from a few hours to 48 hours, depending on the TTL (Time to Live) settings of the DNS records and the frequency of cache updates by different networks.

Additional Comment:

During propagation, some users may see the old site, while others see the new one.
To minimize downtime, plan changes during low-traffic periods.
Check propagation status using online DNS propagation tools.
Ensure your DNS records have a low TTL before making changes to speed up the process.

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