Overview
Nameservers are part of the Domain Name System (DNS). They direct browsers to the correct server when someone visits your domain, translating a human-readable address like example.com into the IP address of the server hosting your site. Knowing how to change them is a practical skill for anyone managing a domain, since some domain connection methods require you to update them at your registrar.
If you are connecting a domain to Rapyd Cloud and are unsure whether you need to change your nameservers, see How to Connect Your Custom Domain to a Rapyd Cloud Website first.
In this article, you will find a general walkthrough for changing nameservers, followed by step-by-step guides for the most popular registrars.
How to change your nameservers
The process is similar across most registrars. The steps below cover the general flow. If your registrar is listed in the section that follows, use the specific guide for more detailed instructions.
Step 1: Log in to your registrar
Log in to the account where your domain is registered.
Note: If you are unsure who your registrar is, use the ICANN Lookup tool and check the Registrar Information section of the results.
Step 2: Find your domain
Locate the domain you want to update in your account's domain management area.
Step 3: Navigate to nameserver settings
Find the DNS or Nameservers settings for the domain. Depending on your registrar, this may also appear as an NS record within your DNS records.
Step 4: Replace the nameservers
Replace the existing nameservers with the ones provided in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard.
Step 5: Save and wait for propagation
Save your changes. DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours, though it usually completes much faster. During this window, your site may experience intermittent connectivity issues.
Step-by-step guides for popular registrars
Select your registrar below for specific instructions.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy
Log in to your GoDaddy account.
Click Domains in the main menu.
Select your domain from the list.
Select Nameservers from the action menu.
Choose, I'll use my own nameservers.
Enter the Cloudflare nameservers provided in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard.
Click Save to apply the changes.
See GoDaddy's guide for changing nameservers for more details.
Namecheap
Namecheap
Log in to your Namecheap account.
Click Domain List from the dashboard.
Locate your domain and click Manage.
In the Nameservers section, choose Custom DNS from the dropdown menu.
Enter the Cloudflare nameservers provided in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard.
Click the green checkmark to save your changes.
See Namecheap's guide for changing nameservers for more details.
IONOS
IONOS
Log in to your IONOS account and go to the Domains & SSL section.
Locate the domain you want to update, then click the gear icon in the Actions column.
Select Name Server from the dropdown menu.
Choose Use Custom Name Servers.
Enter the Cloudflare nameservers provided in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard.
Click Save to apply the changes.
See IONOS' guide for changing nameservers for more details.
Hostinger
Hostinger
Log in to your Hostinger account and go to the Domains section in hPanel.
Click Manage next to your domain and select DNS/Nameservers from the sidebar.
Click Change Nameservers.
Enter the Cloudflare nameservers provided in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard.
Click Save to confirm your changes.
See Hostinger's guide for changing nameservers for more details.
Cloudflare (as registrar)
Cloudflare (as registrar)
If your domain is registered with Cloudflare, you do not need to change nameservers — the Cloudflare NS method does not apply to you. Instead, use the Cloudflare API method to connect your domain to Rapyd Cloud. This lets Rapyd manage your DNS records automatically via Cloudflare's API, with no changes to your nameservers required.
For setup instructions, see Path B in How to Connect Your Custom Domain to a Rapyd Cloud Website.
Bluehost
Bluehost
Log in to your Bluehost account and navigate to the Domains section in the left menu.
Select the domain you want to update.
Scroll to the Advanced Tools section and click Manage under the Nameservers DNS option.
In the pop-up window, click Continue to proceed.
Enter the Cloudflare nameservers provided in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard.
Click Save to confirm your changes.
See Bluehost's guide for changing nameservers for more details.
Hover
Hover
Sign in to your Hover control panel and select your domain.
On the domain's overview page, navigate to the Nameservers section on the left and click Edit.
Enter the Cloudflare nameservers provided in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard. Add extra nameservers if needed.
Click Save Nameservers to apply the changes.
See Hover's guide for changing nameservers for more details.
Important information
Double-check your nameservers: Enter the nameservers exactly as displayed in your Rapyd Cloud dashboard. Even a small typo will prevent the connection from completing.
Back up your current DNS records: Before making changes, save a copy of your existing DNS records in case you need to revert.
Propagation takes time: It is normal for changes to take time to reflect globally. Most updates complete within a few hours, but the full window is up to 24 hours.
Check propagation status: Tools like What's My DNS let you see how your changes are reflecting across different locations. You can also check your domain's connection status in the Domains tab of your Rapyd Cloud dashboard.
Conclusion
Changing your nameservers is a straightforward process once you know where to look in your registrar's settings. If you run into any issues or are unsure which nameservers to use, our support team is available 24/7.