Overview
DNS propagation is the time it takes for DNS changes to be seen by recursive resolvers around the internet. The authoritative DNS provider updates first, but visitors may still see cached records until TTL values expire.
What affects propagation
- Previous TTL values.
- Registrar update speed.
- Recursive resolver cache.
- Browser and operating system DNS cache.
- Whether the correct authoritative nameservers were updated.
Practical advice
For migrations, lower TTL before the move when possible. After the move, test with multiple DNS lookup locations and avoid making repeated conflicting changes while caches are still clearing.
DNS troubleshooting flow
- Find the authoritative nameservers first.
- Edit records only at the authoritative DNS provider.
- Check root domain, www, mail, MX, TXT, and any app-specific records.
- Watch for stale IPv6, duplicate SPF, and old mail records.
- Wait for TTL expiry before assuming a change failed.
Quick support handoff
If this article does not solve the issue, open a support ticket with the domain, service name, exact error, time the problem started, and what changed recently.
