• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Meyne

  • Services
    • Blog Boost
    • Custom blog
    • Developer Day
    • VA for Bloggers
  • Blog
  • The Podcast
  • Client Access
  • Let’s Work Together
Home / WordPress Tutorials and Tips

How to change your DNS information

Written in: Jan 2018 🠆 Updated in: Jan 2019

Pin0Share0

Before I tell you how to change your domain name’s DNS info, I want to give you a quick explanation of what it all means.  That way what you’re doing will make sense and if the particular company you’re using does things a little different than my instructions, you’ll be able to figure it out all on your own (or at least be able to ask for help and understand their responses).

(If you don’t know what domains and hosting are, click here to read this first!)

What is a DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System.

When we want to go to a website, we type in a domain name like www.google.com.  But www.google.com is actually just the human-friendly version of its actual address.  The actual address that computers use is a series of numbers, called an IP address.

So when we type in www.google.com, here’s what happens in the computer world:

  1. Your browser looks up what’s called the nameserver for that domain
  2. The nameserver takes it to Google’s hosting company, who then tells your browser what the specific IP address for www.google.com is
  3. Your browser then scurries over to that IP address, and finally shows you Google’s homepage (amazing how fast that all happens isn’t it?)

(The reason for all the extra work?  Well Google’s IP for example is 216.58.216.164.  But that would be pretty hard to remember every time you wanted to look something up right?  So all this was created so we could have some human-brain-friendly ways of reaching our favorite websites.)

Technical termIn plain EnglishWhat it means
Domain namewww._____.comThe human-friendly web address
Nameserverns1.yourhostsdomain.comThe address from your hosting company that translates the domain to an IP for your computer.
IP Address216.58.216.164The address used by computers to find a website.

Make sense?

When would you need to know about a DNS?

  • When you buy a domain from a different company than your website is hosted at.
    Many people buy their domain names from NameCheap.com or similar, and then use a great host like SiteGround to host their website.
  • When you are moving from one hosting company to another.
    Like if you’re making a wise move away from BlueHost to a quality host like SiteGround or similar, but you are keeping your domain with the previous host.

How to change your DNS (or “update” or “point” your nameservers):

I’ll start with the bad news: the process is different for every single host.  But, if you understand the basics of what the terms mean and how it all works, you should be able to find your way through.  The steps for all are as follows:

  1. Acquire your nameservers from your hosting company
  2. Log in to the company you purchased your domain name from (like NameCheap or GoDaddy)
  3. Find the page required to add custom DNS
  4. Paste your custom nameservers into the fields

If you use NameCheap:

  1. Log into your hosting company and acquire your name servers (remember, they will look something like ns1.yourhostsdomain.com and ns2.yourhostsdomain.com)
  2. Log into namecheap.  Hover over your name in the top left corner and click “Dashboard”
  3. Click the “Manage” button next to the domain you need to make changes to
  4. Find the section that says “Nameservers”
  5. You’ll see a little drop-down menu: select “Custom DNS” if it isn’t already selected
  6. Paste the two nameservers you got from your hosting company onto the two lines
  7. Click the green check mark to save the changes

If you use GoDaddy for your domain:

  1. Log into your hosting company and acquire your name servers (remember, they will look something like ns1.yourhostsdomain.com and ns2.yourhostsdomain.com)
  2. Log into your account and go to the DNS Management page
  3. Find “nameservers” and, click “change”
  4. Under “choose your new nameserver type” choose “Custom”
  5. Enter the nameservers from step 1.
  6. Click save

If you’re using BlueHost for your domain:

  1. Log into your hosting company and acquire your name servers (remember, they will look something like ns1.yourhostsdomain.com and ns2.yourhostsdomain.com)
  2. Log in to Bluehost
  3. Click “Domain” at the top of the page
  4. Click on the domain name you need to make changes to
  5. Click on the “Name Servers” tab
  6. Select “Use Custom Nameservers”
  7. Enter the nameservers from step 1.
  8. Click “Save Nameserver Settings”

Important note:

While it often only takes under an hour or two, it could take up to 72 hours for it to “propagate,” which just means send people to your new host instead of your old one.

Pin0Share0

In the categories: Advanced Features, Beginner, Blog Type, Blogger Level, Business, DIY and Craft, Fashion, Food, Home Decor, Intermediate, Lifestyle, Pro, Travel, WordPress Tutorials and Tips

Hey! I'm Christina

WordPress developer for bloggers since 2014, occasional blogger since 2011, code perfectionist. Passionate about helping you make your blog a successful business.

Let's Work Together

How to edit a menu in WordPress
How to Make Reusable Blocks in Gutenberg
What is FTP access and why does your developer need it?
The difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
See more WordPress Tutorials and Tips posts:

Reader Interactions

Questions or Comments? Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi! I’m Christina.

Web developer and former blogger. I’m here to help bloggers who have great style and vision, to build exactly the site they need to achieve their goals.

Want a successful blog?

Woo hoo! You should get a message from me soon (check the dirty spam folder if you don't see it. I look forward to getting to know you!

Want a successful blog?

Let me send you the checklist I go through for my clients so you can do a DIY blog audit, for free and make sure your blog is going to help you achieve your goals.

What's your hobby? (And first, please excuse my ba What's your hobby? (And first, please excuse my bad photography.🙈) Don't forget to share yourself with your readers. A personal connection with your readers can be so helpful for your long-term goals of helping more people with your blog. Share one of your hobbies with them once in a while. Also share one with me here, I'd love to read about it!

One of mine is 1/12 scale miniatures. Interior design + before-and-afters + TINY THINGS! Yes, I know it sounds lame, but it's worth being picked on for having
Do you write like you talk? When I started my own Do you write like you talk? 
When I started my own blog 9 years ago, as I sat down to write the first post, I decided to purposefully write like I talked instead of using more formal and proper writing. And I'm so glad I did. It's such an easy way to make your blog feel more personal and make your visitors feel like they're hearing from an actual person instead of a corporation.

If you're not sure, read your last post aloud. Is it something you would actually say, the way you would say it?

Yes...I KNOW...SEO... Just make sure to keep it balanced. And don't forget, Google itself wants you to write like a human being, for other human beings.
It's good to think about where you started once in It's good to think about where you started once in a while.

In Feb of 2016, I started Meyne, selling pre-made WordPress and Blogger themes for small businesses. But after having been a blogger myself since 2011, that was still where my heart was. So the focus shifted to blog designs, where I could help very cool people who have created their own careers and are earning a living doing a very fun (and deceptively hard) job. 
Meyne has come a long way and gone through so many changes/new ideas/bad ideas/fun ideas...you know, everything that comes with a business. But the best part is all the great people I've gotten to work with and be a part of THEIR businesses. 🥰
When your reader reaches the end of your post, tel When your reader reaches the end of your post, tell them what to do next. They will follow instructions more often than we usually realize. Need some ideas? ☑️ Save it on Pinterest
☑️ Sign up for your newsletter
☑️ Follow you on Instagram
☑️ Buy a product (yours or an affiliate)

Whatever your CTA is, just make sure you make it EASY for them to do it.

In WordPress, you can easily add some text to the bottom of your posts, with an image if helpful, and then give the box a colored background to make it stand out. 
P.S. Many food bloggers have the Instagram call-to-action at the end of a recipe (
We launched! I’m sure you all know Erika @thepan We launched! I’m sure you all know Erika @thepancakeprincess, she has such a cool and unique blog. She puts in SO MUCH work to bring bake-offs of all the popular recipes of the world together so that OUR job of picking the RIGHT recipe will be easy. I. love. her. blog. And was so excited to get to be part of re-designing it so we can all get the most out of her years of hard work and baking. Go straight to thepancakeprincess.com to check it out!
Still just showing your latest posts on your homep Still just showing your latest posts on your homepage? I’m talking TODAY about what you should show instead if you want more subscribers and a lower bounce rate in my talk for the Blogger Breakthrough Summit (over 700 bloggers signed up to watch! 😱). You can still watch for free if you sign up now. Link in bio! Or go to meyne.co/summit and see about a special bonus I'm offering if you buy a pass. 😃

CONTACT & FAQABOUTBACK TO TOP© 2021 Meyne · Website by me, of course.