Connecting your domain to your hosting involves updating the nameservers in your domain registrar’s DNS settings to match those provided by your hosting provider. Once you have updated the nameservers, you need to wait for 48 to 72 hours for DNS propagation and then verify that your website is connected to your hosting account.
While it is not a difficult process, to avoid errors, we suggest reading a detailed guide before you try to connect a domain to hosting. 

This article will help you connect your domain to your hosting successfully.  

First things first 

When building a website, the first and most crucial step is to pick a domain name that fits your business. Next, choose a hosting plan that suits your needs, and can scale up or down as your business grows. Without both domain and hosting, your website won’t be live. So, it’s essential to connect a domain to hosting to get your site up and running. 

Before we dive into how to connect a domain to hosting, let’s first understand what domain and hosting are. 

What is Domain and Hosting?  

A domain name is like your website’s address—it’s how people find your site online.  

Hosting, or web hosting, on the other hand, is the service that stores all your website files on a server so that anyone can access them. 

When you connect your domain name to your hosting, you’re basically telling the internet where to find your website’s files. This way, visitors can access your website. 

How to Connect a domain to Hosting 

Here’s a snippet on how to connect a domain to hosting:   

  1. Access your Domain Registrar Account 
  2. Go to DNS Management and Locate the Name Server Settings 
  3. Update Your Hosting Server’s Name Servers to Your Domain’s Name Servers 
  4. Update Your Name Servers 
  5. Verify the Domain Name and Hosting Account Connection 

Now, let’s have an in-depth look at the process.  

1. Access Your Domain Registrar Account 

First, go to bigrock.in/login and log into your BigRock account by entering your username and password. If you are a new user, you can click on the ‘Sign Up’ option and create a BigRock account. 

Source: BigRock Website 

For step-by-step instructions on setting up a BigRock account, take a look at our comprehensive guide titled: Creating a BigRock account.  

2. Go to DNS Management and Locate the Name Server Setting

When you log into your BigRock account, you’ll need to go to the ‘Manage Orders section’ for details related to your domain and hosting account. If you navigate to another page, simply click the arrow next to your name and select ‘Manage Orders’ to access your domain and hosting account. 

In the ‘Manage Orders’ page, you will see all details related to your domain name and hosting account. Click on the ‘Name Server Details’ under the hosting package that you have purchased. 

As you can see in the above image, the ‘List of Orders’ contains details related to your domain name and its expiry date. On this page, you can also access details about your domain name, including when it will be expired and more.  

If you want to get more information on auto renewals and why they are useful, read our blog on domain renewal.  

3. Update Your Hosting Server’s Name Servers to Your Domain’s Name Servers 

As soon as you click on the ‘Name Server Setting’, you will be redirected to the cPanel of your hosting account. There you can find details related to the website, hosting plan details, and name server. Click on the ‘Name Server details’, which will open a pop-up window. There you will find the name server details of your domain; copy them on a notepad.  

Source: BigRock Website 

4. Update Nameservers 

This is where the actual process of connecting your domain name to hosting account starts. After you have copied the nameservers to the notepad, scroll up to the ‘Domain Registration’ section and click on ‘Name Servers’. Then, replace the existing name servers with the ones you noted earlier and click on ‘Update Name Servers’.  

Source: BigRock Website 

5. You Have Successfully Connected Your Domain Name to Hosting Account

Clicking on the ‘Update Name Servers’ button is the last step of the process. However, you must remember that it could take 24 to 72 hours for your website to be functional due to DNS Propagation.  

6. Verify the Connection 

The last step is to verify the connection between your domain name and hosting account. It’s crucial to ensure that your website is accessible to visitors, so don’t skip this step. 

To check if your domain and hosting are correctly connected, use tools like ping or traceroute to confirm the IP address of your site. You can also test your website by visiting it in a web browser to see if it loads properly. 

Additionally, you can use DNS lookup tools to verify your DNS settings. These tools will show you the A record, CNAME record, and other DNS details for your domain, allowing you to compare them with the settings provided by your hosting provider.  

If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to contact our customer support for assistance. 

ALSO READ: A Beginners Guide to Hosting a Website 

Why Connect a domain to Hosting? 

Here’s why connecting your domain and hosting is so important: 

  1. Visibility and Usability: Linking your domain to your hosting makes your website accessible to everyone online. As mentioned earlier, without both a domain name and hosting, your website won’t be available to visitors. 
  2. Search Engine Optimization: Connecting your domain to your hosting helps search engines like Google find and rank your site better. This can improve your site’s position in search results. 
  3. Control and Customization: When you connect a domain to hosting, you can fully control your website’s content, design, and features. Hosting services like WordPress allow you to create and customize your site easily. 

Common Issues with Connecting Domain to Hosting 

Connecting a domain to hosting can sometimes be tricky. Here are some common issues you might encounter and how to address them: 

  1. DNS Propagation Delay: After connecting your domain name and hosting account, it can take up to 24-48 hours for the changes to reflect across the internet. During this time, your domain might not show your website because the connection is still being made. It’s like when you move to a new house, and it takes a little while for everyone to get to know your new address. 
  2. Incorrect Name Servers: Ensure that you have entered the correct name servers provided by your hosting provider. Even a small typo can prevent your domain from connecting properly. 
  3. Conflicting DNS Records: If there are conflicting records (e.g., multiple A records pointing to different IP addresses), there might be problems with connecting your domain to the hosting account. 
  4. Domain Not Registered or Expired: Make sure your domain is registered and not expired. An expired domain won’t connect to your hosting. 
  5. Propagation Issues with ‘www’: Sometimes, your domain might work without “www” but not with it. This can be fixed by adding a CNAME record for “www” pointing to your domain. 
  6. SSL Certificate Issues: If your SSL certificate is not set up correctly, your site might show security warnings. Ensure your SSL is properly installed and configured. You can learn more about this from our blog on how to install an SSL Certificate. 
  7. Incorrect DNS Settings: Double-check all DNS settings, including A records, CNAME records, and MX records, to ensure they are correctly configured. 

Remember that if you encounter any of these issues, reviewing your DNS settings and ensuring they match your hosting provider’s requirements is a good first step.  

ALSO READ: Difference Between Domain & Hosting – A Beginner’s Guide 

Summing Up 

We hope our guide helps you connect a domain to hosting successfully. Remember, the connection process can take some time, so be patient and make sure to verify your setup once it’s complete.  

Was that a bit too much? 

If you have any questions or need help, you can always contact our customer support for assistance.  

You can even check out FAQs on connecting a domain to hosting for more clarity.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Why and How to Connect a Domain to Hosting 

1. What happens if I don’t connect my Domain name to my Hosting Account?

If you don’t connect your domain name to your hosting account, your website won’t be visible to anyone. Your domain name is like your website’s address, while hosting is where your website’s files are stored and accessed online. Without this connection, people won’t be able to visit your site. Therefore, it’s important to connect your domain to your hosting as soon as possible so your website can go live and start attracting visitors.  

2. How long does it take for the Nameserver changes to reflect? 

When connecting your domain to your hosting account, remember to update your DNS settings to direct to your hosting provider’s nameservers. This process, known as propagation, usually takes a few hours but can sometimes take longer. During this time, your website might not be accessible to everyone. 

3. How do I point my domain to another hosting provider?

If you want to transfer your domain name to BigRock’s hosting, you can do it in 4 simple steps. 

  1. Go to BigRock’s Domain Transfer Page and input the domain name you wish to transfer. 
  2. Ensure your domain is ready for transfer. 
  3. Complete the purchase process. 
  4. Wait for the transfer request to finalize.