Website Not Opening After Nameserver Change ?

If your website is not opening after a nameserver change, the most common cause is DNS propagation or incomplete DNS setup on the new nameservers. This is a common issue after moving hosting providers or switching DNS services.

Changing nameservers moves DNS control to a new provider, so the new DNS zone must be correctly configured.

Most Common Reasons

1. DNS Propagation in Progress

After nameserver changes, internet providers worldwide need time to update.

Typical timeline:

• Begins within minutes

• Often updates within a few hours

• Can take up to 24–48 hours

During propagation:

• Some visitors see old website

• Some see new website

• Some see errors

2. DNS Records Missing on New Nameservers

When you switch nameservers, old DNS records do not always transfer automatically.

You may need to recreate:

A Record → website server IP

AAAA Record → IPv6 server

CNAME → www alias

MX Record → email routing

TXT records (SPF/DKIM/DMARC)

Without A/CNAME records, the website may not open.

3. Wrong Nameservers Entered

A typo in nameserver values can break resolution.

Example:

Correct: ns1.provider.com

Incorrect: nsl.provider.com

Always copy values exactly.

4. Hosting Not Configured on New Server

Even if DNS points correctly, the website may fail if:

• Domain not added to hosting account

• Virtual host not configured

• Website files missing

• Server offline

5. SSL Certificate Issue

If HTTP works but HTTPS fails:

• SSL certificate not installed

• Certificate pending issuance

• Domain not yet resolving to correct server

How to Fix It

Step 1: Confirm Nameservers

Check domain panel and verify exact nameservers entered.

Step 2: Check New DNS Zone

At the new DNS provider, confirm records exist:

Step 3: Confirm Hosting Setup

Make sure:

• Domain added in cPanel / hosting panel

• Website files uploaded

• Server active

Step 4: Wait for Propagation

If changes were recent, allow more time.

Common Error Messages

“Server IP address could not be found”

Usually missing A record or propagation.

“This site can’t be reached”

Could be DNS or hosting/server issue.

Old Website Still Showing

Propagation or browser cache.

HTTPS Not Secure

SSL pending or misconfigured.

Best Practice Before Changing Nameservers

Before switching:

1. Create DNS records on new provider first

2. Verify hosting is ready

3. Lower TTL beforehand if possible

4. Change nameservers after setup

This reduces downtime.

Need Help?

If your site is still not opening, contact support@govaio.com with:

• Domain name

• New nameservers used

• Time of change

• Error message shown

• Hosting provider name

Govaio Support will help diagnose the DNS and website issue quickly.