One of the first steps in launching your website with Sternhost is connecting your domain name to our servers. Whether your domain is registered with us or another registrar (like Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Google Domains), this guide walks you through how to point your domain to your Sternhost hosting plan using DNS.
🔍 What Does “Pointing Your Domain” Mean?
When you register a domain, it needs to know where your website lives. That’s done through Domain Name System (DNS) settings — specifically nameservers or A records — that tell the domain to connect to your Sternhost hosting account.
✅ Step-by-Step: Pointing Your Domain to Sternhost
Option 1: Change Nameservers (Recommended)
This is the easiest and most flexible method — it allows Sternhost to manage your DNS settings completely.
✏️ Step 1: Locate Sternhost Nameservers
After purchasing your hosting plan, you’ll receive a welcome email from Sternhost with nameservers. Typically, they look like this:
If you didn’t receive them, you can also find them in your Sternhost Client Area under My Services > Hosting Details.
✏️ Step 2: Log in to Your Domain Registrar
Go to where your domain is registered (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap).
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Find the DNS Management or Nameservers section.
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Choose “Custom Nameservers.”
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Replace existing nameservers with Sternhost’s:
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Save or confirm the changes.
⏳ DNS changes may take up to 24–48 hours to fully propagate worldwide.
Option 2: Update A Records (Advanced)
If you want to keep DNS management with your registrar but point only the web traffic to Sternhost, you can update the A record.
✏️ Step 1: Get Your Sternhost Server IP
Find your shared IP address in your cPanel Dashboard or in the welcome email.
✏️ Step 2: Modify A Record at Your Registrar
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Go to DNS settings.
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Locate the A record for your root domain (
@) andwww. -
Edit the IP to match the Sternhost IP (e.g.
185.123.45.67) -
Save your changes.
🧠 Don’t forget to delete or disable conflicting A records to avoid routing issues.
🌍 How to Check If DNS Has Propagated
Use tools like:
Enter your domain and check that the nameservers or A records are pointing to Sternhost.
🛡️ Bonus Tip: Enable SSL After DNS Propagation
Once your domain is fully connected, head into your cPanel > SSL/TLS section and install a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate.
🔗 How to Install an SSL Certificate on Sternhost →
🚀 Why Choose Sternhost?
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Fast, secure SSD hosting
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Free domain registration on select plans
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24/7 expert support
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Easy-to-use cPanel interface
🧠 Need Help?
Visit our full Knowledgebase, or reach out to Sternhost Support — we’ll help you every step of the way.
