Name Servers
2 min read
What are name servers?
Name servers are like the internet's phone book. When someone types your domain into their browser, the name servers tell the browser where to find your website.
Every domain has name servers assigned to it. When you point your name servers to Hands Free Sites, you're telling the internet: "This domain's website lives here now."
How name servers work with Hands Free Sites
When you migrate your DNS to Hands Free Sites, we create a dedicated DNS zone for your domain on AWS Route53 — one of the most reliable DNS services in the world. We then provide you with name server addresses that look something like:
- ns-1234.awsdns-12.org
- ns-567.awsdns-34.co.uk
- ns-890.awsdns-56.net
- ns-123.awsdns-78.com
How to update your name servers
- Go to your dashboard and navigate to DNS
- Click Scan my DNS records — we'll detect all your existing records
- Review the detected records (email, verification, etc.)
- Confirm the migration — we create your DNS zone with all records preserved
- Copy the name server addresses we provide
- Log into your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
- Find the Name Servers or DNS settings for your domain
- Replace the existing name servers with the ones we provided
- Save your changes
How long does it take?
DNS propagation typically takes 2-24 hours, though it can occasionally take up to 48 hours. During this time, some visitors might see your old site while others see the new one. This is normal.
Your dashboard shows a live status indicator that checks whether the name servers have propagated. Once it turns green, your migration is complete.
Will my email break?
No. Before we create your DNS zone, we scan and preserve all your existing records — including MX records (email), SPF, DKIM, and any verification records. Your email will continue working throughout the transition.
Do I need to move my registration?
No — pointing your nameservers at us is the fast path: same day, free, no transfer locks, and your registration stays right where it is. If you'd prefer to have your domain registration managed by us, email us and we'll help directly.