You recently changed your DNS records and are excited to view your new site for the first time. You click refresh...nothing. Still not working. Annoying, I know. That is known as DNS propagation.
Propagation can take minutes or up to 48 hours - annoying, but normal.
• TTL (Time To Live): A higher TTL value means an old record can persist longer.
• Geo-location: Certain countries or ISPs may refresh information faster.
• ISP: Your Internet Service Provider may choose to keep DNS information longer.
Ultimately, if your website has not propagated, take a deep breath, it is just the internet catching up!
• Lower the TTL value most likely the day before you expect to make changes (you could set the value to around 300 seconds).
• Clear yourDNS cache on your browser's device to force a refresh.
• You can use command line tools to check if your changes are live (a tool like: dig or nslookup).
• You can use online propagation checkers, and see when the updates have propagated around the world.
I once moved a client's site over to a new server. I assumed it was broken since I could not see it. However, others in different states had seen the new version. The site wasn't broken—it was just DNS being slow.
And frankly, if someone tells you their URL went live immediately after updating the DNS record, they are just lucky.
So, to tackle it all simply, plan ahead, be patient, and don't worry. Your site will show up soon enough.
What Is DNS Propagation?
DNS acts as the phonebook of the internet: You type in a domain, and DNS allows your computer to find where the website is. Anytime you change a DNS record, that update takes time to propagate across servers as far as the opposite side of the planet.Propagation can take minutes or up to 48 hours - annoying, but normal.
Why Does It Take Time?
You might find it odd that your friend can see your site, but you are still looking at an old, cached version. Caching is when your device, browser, and/or provider are saving old DNS data to speed up your own experience. You will not see the result updated until that "cache" clears.Factors Influencing DNS Propagation Speed
The following are things that can impact the speed of DNS propagation:• TTL (Time To Live): A higher TTL value means an old record can persist longer.
• Geo-location: Certain countries or ISPs may refresh information faster.
• ISP: Your Internet Service Provider may choose to keep DNS information longer.
Ultimately, if your website has not propagated, take a deep breath, it is just the internet catching up!
Can DNS Propagation Be Speed Up?
It is not possible to completely expedite DNS propagation; however, the following will help you speed up the process:• Lower the TTL value most likely the day before you expect to make changes (you could set the value to around 300 seconds).
• Clear your
• You can use command line tools to check if your changes are live (a tool like: dig or nslookup).
• You can use online propagation checkers, and see when the updates have propagated around the world.
I once moved a client's site over to a new server. I assumed it was broken since I could not see it. However, others in different states had seen the new version. The site wasn't broken—it was just DNS being slow.
Why It Matters for Launches
Think about a significant launch you have planned: lots of emails, social media, the works—but only half of the visitors see the old site. This is why you should always leave extra time for DNS propagation before announcing a launch.And frankly, if someone tells you their URL went live immediately after updating the DNS record, they are just lucky.
Final Thoughts
DNS propagation might feel invisible to you, but it matters. Your DNS records updated will inevitably take some time for this information to propagate, so expect the delay. Your site isn't broken—it's merely working its way around the world.So, to tackle it all simply, plan ahead, be patient, and don't worry. Your site will show up soon enough.
