How does DNS propagation affect my site's availability after switching hosts?

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How does DNS propagation affect my site's availability after switching hosts?

Asked on Oct 06, 2025

Answer

DNS propagation is the process by which changes to your domain's DNS records are updated and spread across the internet. When you switch hosts, this propagation can temporarily affect your site's availability as different DNS servers update at different times.

Example Concept: DNS propagation involves updating DNS records, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide. During this time, some users may be directed to your old hosting server while others access the new one, depending on their local DNS cache.

Additional Comment:

DNS changes typically involve updating the A record to point to the new server's IP address.
To minimize downtime, reduce the TTL (Time to Live) value of your DNS records before making changes.
Monitor the propagation status using online DNS propagation check tools.
Communicate with your users about potential temporary access issues during the transition.

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