Why DNS changes take time
Caching, TTL and how to check whether a change is live.
DNS servers around the world keep a copy of each record for a period called its TTL (time to live). Until that copy expires, some visitors still get the old value. That's why a change can look live for you but not for someone else.
Typical times
- Record changes: usually minutes to a few hours, depending on the old record's TTL.
- Nameserver changes: up to 24 to 48 hours.
Checking progress
Use our DNS checker: it asks public DNS servers around the world and shows which ones already see the new value.
Speeding up a planned change
A day before a planned move, lower the record's TTL to 300 seconds (5 minutes). After the move, raise it again.
Seeing the old site on your computer? Clear your browser cache or try a private window, or flush your computer's DNS cache.