How to change your domain's nameservers: step by step
Published on July 10, 2026 8 min read
Want to change your domain's nameservers? Follow this step-by-step guide to update them in the LJPc portal or at your registrar, plus propagation tips.
Nameservers decide which servers manage your domain's DNS, and therefore where your website and email end up. If you want to change your domain's nameservers, for example because you are moving to LJPc or switching to external DNS, you update which nameservers your domain points to. This article explains what nameservers are, when you change them, how to do it step by step in the customer portal or at another provider, and what to watch so your website and email keep working.
What are nameservers?
Nameservers are the servers that manage your domain's DNS zone and answer questions about it. DNS, the Domain Name System, translates a domain name such as yourcompany.com into the IP address of the server where your website or email runs. The nameservers store that information as DNS records, such as an A record for your website and an MX record for your email.
Which nameservers your domain uses is not stored in your website, but at the registry for your domain extension. For .nl that is SIDN. Your registrar, the company where your domain is registered, sets up this link for you. Technically this is done with an NS record, which states which nameservers are responsible for your domain.
LJPc's nameservers are ns1.ljpc.network, ns2.ljpc.network and ns3.ljpc.network. Point your domain at these and LJPc manages your domain's DNS.
When do you change your nameservers?
You change your nameservers whenever you want a different party to handle your domain's DNS. That mainly happens in these situations:
- You are moving to LJPc. You bring your website or email to LJPc and want us to manage the DNS too. Point your domain at our nameservers. If you are also moving the domain itself, first read how to transfer a domain to LJPc.
- You are switching to external DNS. You want to manage DNS with a different DNS provider than where your hosting runs. Point your domain at that provider's nameservers.
- You want to return to LJPc DNS. You previously set custom nameservers and want to bring the DNS back to LJPc.
Note: editing a single DNS record, such as an A record or MX record, is different from changing your nameservers. If you only want to change a record while the nameservers stay the same, you do not need to touch the nameservers.
Before you start: get your DNS right
As soon as you change your nameservers, the new nameservers start answering your DNS. If they are missing records you need, your website and email can go down. So check these points first:
- Prepare your records at the new party. Think of the A or AAAA record for your website, the MX records for email and the TXT records for SPF, DKIM and DMARC. If you will manage the DNS at LJPc, you can manage these DNS records in the customer portal.
- Check that LJPc hosts your DNS. If you point to ns1.ljpc.network and the others but you have no hosting or DNS management with LJPc, those nameservers have no zone to answer with and your domain will not work.
- Is DNSSEC enabled? Then an extra step is needed. You will read exactly what to do further down.
- Lower the TTL if you can. Set the TTL of your records lower a day in advance, so a later change takes effect sooner.
Change your domain's nameservers: two situations
How you change your nameservers depends on where your domain is registered. Both situations are below.
Domain registered with LJPc: through the customer portal
If you registered your domain with LJPc, you change the nameservers in the customer portal:
- Log in to the customer portal.
- In the top bar, open the Services menu and click Hosting and domain names.
- Go to the Domain names tab and click the domain you want to change.
- On the domain page, find the Nameservers card. It shows which nameservers are currently active.
- Want to return to LJPc's DNS? Click Switch to LJPc DNS. The portal then sets ns1.ljpc.network, ns2.ljpc.network and ns3.ljpc.network.
- Want to set your own nameservers? Click Use custom nameservers, enter the nameservers (at least two) and click Save.
The portal passes the change on to the registry. When you see the message Domain updated, the request has been sent. If a nameserver is not valid, you get the message Invalid nameserver and can correct it. If your domain already uses our default nameservers, you see the LJPc DNS label and do not need to do anything.
Domain with another registrar
If your domain is with another registrar or hosting provider, you change the nameservers in that party's control panel. LJPc has no access there, so the exact screens differ per provider. The general approach is the same everywhere:
- Log in to the party where your domain is registered.
- Open the list of your domain names and select the domain you want to change.
- Find the nameserver settings. They are often called Nameservers or DNS servers.
- Replace the current nameservers with LJPc's: ns1.ljpc.network, ns2.ljpc.network and ns3.ljpc.network.
- Save the change.
If you get stuck, LJPc can move your domain or website for you free of charge and without downtime. Contact support to arrange it.
Propagation time: how long does it take?
After a nameserver change, it takes a while before the change is known everywhere. This is called propagation. The registry usually processes the change within a few minutes to a couple of hours. For .nl domains, SIDN republishes the zone roughly every half hour, so your domain is often on the new nameservers within a few hours.
After that, caching of DNS data can add up to 24 hours, and in exceptional cases up to 48 hours, before everyone worldwide uses the new nameservers. Exactly how long depends on the TTL that was set on the old data. Our article on DNS propagation explains how this works and how to check the progress. So plan a change at a quiet moment where possible.
What can go wrong
Most problems when changing nameservers come from the new nameservers not serving the DNS correctly yet. This table helps you on your way:
| Symptom | Cause and solution |
|---|---|
| Website or email goes down | The new nameservers are missing records. Prepare all records (A, MX, TXT and more) before you make the change. |
| Domain unreachable, resolver returns SERVFAIL | DNSSEC is probably still on. See the explanation below. |
| One visitor sees the old site, another the new one | Propagation is still in progress. Wait up to 24 to 48 hours and check with a propagation checker. |
| Invalid nameserver message in the portal | A nameserver was typed incorrectly. Enter a full hostname, such as ns1.ljpc.network. |
| At least 2 nameservers required message | You filled in too few fields. Provide at least two nameservers. |
If your domain is still unreachable after the waiting time, see our article on troubleshooting DNS problems.
Watch out with DNSSEC
If you have DNSSEC enabled for your domain, be extra careful. DNSSEC links a DS record at the registry to the keys of your current nameservers. If you change the nameservers without updating that DS record, the signing no longer matches and your domain can become unreachable. Resolvers then return a SERVFAIL error.
So first disable DNSSEC at your current provider and wait until the DS record has disappeared from the registry's zone, usually 24 to 48 hours. Only then change your nameservers and turn DNSSEC back on at the new party. To learn what DNSSEC is and how it protects your domain, read our article on DNSSEC. In doubt? Contact support.
Still stuck? Contact support and we will help you change your nameservers or handle the move for you.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my website when I change my nameservers?
As long as the new nameservers contain the same DNS records as the old ones, visitors notice nothing. If records are missing, your website and email can go down temporarily. So prepare all your records at the new party first, and only then change your nameservers.
How long does it take for my nameservers to change?
The registry usually processes the change within a few minutes to a couple of hours. For .nl domains this is often quick. Because of caching, full propagation can then take up to 24 hours, and in exceptional cases up to 48 hours.
Which nameservers do I use for LJPc?
LJPc's nameservers are ns1.ljpc.network, ns2.ljpc.network and ns3.ljpc.network. Point your domain at these three to have LJPc manage the DNS. Make sure you have hosting or DNS management with LJPc, otherwise there is no zone to answer with.
Can I change my nameservers if my domain is not with LJPc?
Yes. Log in to the registrar or hosting provider where your domain is held, find the nameserver settings and enter the nameservers you want. To move to LJPc, use ns1.ljpc.network, ns2.ljpc.network and ns3.ljpc.network.
Do I need to do anything with DNSSEC when I switch nameservers?
Yes, if DNSSEC is on. Disable DNSSEC first and wait until the DS record has disappeared at the registry. Then change your nameservers and turn DNSSEC back on at the new party. If you skip this, your domain can become unreachable.
What is the difference between changing nameservers and editing a DNS record?
Your nameservers decide which party manages your domain's DNS. A DNS record, such as an A or MX record, is a single setting within that DNS. Changing your nameservers changes who manages the DNS, while editing a record changes a single setting within the current DNS.