Last updated: 23 October 2026 · By Maurice, freeehouse team · About 3 minutes to read
What is DNS?
DNS is the internet's phone book. It translates your domain into the address of the server your website sits on, and tells other mail servers where mail for your domain should go. These details are stored as records in the DNS settings at the provider where your domain is registered.
Which records are there?
| Record | What for | Change when switching websites? |
|---|---|---|
| A | main address points to a server | yes |
| AAAA | like A, for newer addresses | remove or adjust |
| CNAME | one name points to another name, often used for www | usually yes |
| MX | where emails are delivered | no |
| TXT | verifications, SPF, DKIM, confirmations | no, unless the new host asks for a verification |
How do I go about it, step by step?
- 1
In the DNS settings, take a photo or write down all existing records.
- 2
Set the A record for the main address to the address your new host gives you. The name field stays empty or contains the @ sign, depending on the provider.
- 3
Delete any other old A records for the main address.
- 4
Set the record for www, usually as a CNAME pointing to the name your new host gives you.
- 5
Don't touch MX, SPF or any other email records.
- 6
Save and wait. Then check that the new site appears and the security certificate is active.
How long does the switch take?
The record is saved straight away. It can take a while until all devices and networks know about it, because old answers are cached. How long depends, among other things, on the TTL value every record has. In practice most visitors are on the new site within a few hours. If you want it especially smooth, lower the TTL some time beforehand.
What mistakes happen in practice?
In our go-lives in October 2026, the DNS step slowed things down almost every time. These mistakes came up:
- Name entered twice. The name field contained the domain, and the provider appended it again. Result: domain.de.domain.de. Fix: leave the field empty or enter @.
- Old A records left in place. Visitors landed alternately on the old and new site. Fix: delete all old A values for the main address.
- No certificate. The site showed a security warning because the certificate only had to be triggered after the switch.
- Old site in the cache. Customers still saw the old site on the day of the switch. Fix: wait a short while, and if in doubt use the preview address.
- Menu not found. With some providers the DNS settings are well hidden. A guide with screenshots saves a lot of time here.
What if my provider has no DNS settings?
Some website builders manage the domain internally and offer only limited settings. Then there are two ways: move the domain to a provider with full DNS management, or change the nameservers so that another provider manages the records. When changing nameservers, all email records must be set up with the new manager beforehand.
At freeehouse you get a guide with screenshots for your provider covering exactly these records, and afterwards we check that website, certificate and email are working. We don't charge for building the website. How the switch works
How do I check that the switch worked?
- Open the website on your phone over mobile data, not Wi-Fi, which often has a different cache.
- Look for the padlock in the address bar.
- Send a test email to your address and a reply back.
- Open it with and without www; both should lead to the new site.
- Open an old subpage and check that the redirect works.
Frequently asked questions
Will my email break if I change the A record?
No. Email depends on the MX records. As long as you don't change those, it keeps working.
What does @ mean in DNS?
@ stands for the domain itself, meaning the main address without www. Some providers want an empty field instead.
What is a TTL?
The time other servers are allowed to cache a record. A low TTL makes changes visible faster.
Do I have to change the nameservers?
Usually not. Changing the records for the website is enough. You only switch nameservers if another provider is to manage all the records.
Sources
- Wix Hilfe: Domain-Verbindungsmethoden Weiterleitung vs. Nameserver, accessed 23 October 2026
- Google Search Central: Website-Umzug mit URL-Änderungen, accessed 23 October 2026
- Let's Encrypt: Über uns, accessed 23 October 2026
Providers' prices and terms change often. What counts is what's in your customer account and your contract. Not legal advice.
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