How long DNS changes take to work
Why DNS and nameserver changes are not instant, how long they usually take on FoxFolio Cloud, and how to check progress without guessing.
Quick answer
Changes to DNS records in a FoxFolio Cloud control panel reach FoxFolio Cloud’s DNS servers within about a minute, but other networks may keep the old answer for up to the record’s time-to-live, usually about an hour. Nameserver changes at a registrar are slower: usually a few hours and occasionally up to 48 hours.
Before you start
- The change already saved at your registrar or in the control panel
Applies to: Domains, Cloud Hosting, WordPress Cloud, Managed WordPress, Basic Email.
Typical timings
Propagation is not something anyone can speed up once the change is made. Networks, internet providers and devices keep a copy of DNS answers for a set time and only ask again when it expires.
| Change | Usual time | Worst case |
|---|---|---|
| Edit a record in the control panel | A few minutes | About an hour (the record’s TTL) |
| Change nameservers at a registrar | 6–8 hours | Up to 48 hours |
| New domain registration | Minutes to a few hours after activation | Up to 48 hours |
Steps
Confirm the change was saved
Re-open the registrar or control-panel screen and check the value is exactly right, with no typing mistakes or extra spaces.
Check from outside your network
Use a public DNS lookup tool that tests from several locations. Look up the nameservers or the record you changed.
Clear what you can locally
Try a private browser window or a phone on mobile data. Restarting your router or device clears some local caches.
Plan changes ahead
For a planned move, change DNS at a quiet time and keep the old hosting and email running until the new answers have spread everywhere.
What you should see
Public lookups from most locations show the new nameservers or record, and your website or email follows them.
Troubleshooting and common mistakes
- Some people see the new site and others the old one.
- That is normal during propagation. Keep both old and new services running until everyone sees the new one.
- Nothing has changed after 48 hours.
- The change was probably not saved correctly, or it was made at the wrong provider. See Fix a domain that is not resolving.
When to contact FoxFolio support
Open a ticket if public lookups still show the old nameservers or records more than 48 hours after a confirmed change. Include the domain, what you changed and when.
Sources
Adapted from the platform vendor’s DNS propagation, TTL and nameserver lookup documentation.
- DNS propagation (opens in a new tab) — 20i documentation
- Default TTL (opens in a new tab) — 20i documentation
- View the nameservers of a domain (opens in a new tab) — 20i documentation