DNS
DNS propagation — how long does it take?
Why DNS changes are not instant, what TTL means, and how to know when the world sees your new records.
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Caching everywhere
Resolvers at ISPs, offices, and public DNS services cache answers to speed up browsing. When you change a record, old values linger until the Time To Live (TTL) expires — not until you hit save in the panel.
Typical timelines
With a 300-second TTL, many users see updates within minutes; with 3600 or 86400, expect hours to a full day. Global propagation rarely exceeds 48 hours for common record types unless nameservers themselves changed.
Nameserver changes are slower
Pointing the domain to new nameservers (for example moving DNS to Cloudflare) is a bigger step than editing one A record. Allow extra time and avoid parallel edits at the registrar and new DNS host.
How to verify
Use lookup tools from multiple networks — office Wi‑Fi, mobile data, and an external DNS checker — rather than only your laptop. Clear local DNS cache only on your device; it does not fix the internet-wide view.
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Common questions
How long does DNS propagation take?
Often minutes to a few hours depending on TTL; nameserver changes can take up to 24–48 hours globally. See mrtechmelbourne.com/guides/dns-propagation-explained
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Keep reading
More guides
Domain expiry and DNS basics
How registration, nameservers and records fit together — and how to avoid your site and email going dark overnight.
- Registration vs DNS hosting
- Records you should know
What is DNS?
How the internet finds your website and delivers your email — explained without jargon for business owners.
- DNS in plain language
- Why businesses should care