Short answer
Most DNS changes are visible within a few minutes to a few hours. Occasionally it can take up to 48 hours for every network in the world to see the change.
Why does it take time?
DNS answers are stored, or cached, by internet providers and devices to make browsing faster. Each record has a TTL, a time to live, that says how long it may be kept. Until the old answer expires, some visitors still see the old address.
Changing nameservers
Changing the nameservers of a domain usually takes longer than changing a single record, because registries and many resolvers cache that information for longer.
How to speed it up
- Lower the TTL of the record a day before you make a planned change.
- Clear your local DNS cache.
- Test from another network, such as your mobile data.
How to check
Use a public DNS checker website to see what different locations return, or run nslookup yourdomain.com on your computer.
Planning a website move
Keep the old website running until the new one is confirmed working, so visitors on either address see a working site during the changeover.
Need help?
If you get stuck, open a support ticket or email info@webzworld.com and our team will help.