Fix a Domain That Does Not Open or Shows the Wrong Website

What does "resolve" mean?

DNS is like a phone book for the internet. It turns a website name into a number, called an IP address. When a domain "resolves", the book gives the right number. When it does not, browsers cannot find your site, or they find the wrong one.

Common causes

• The nameservers at your registrar are wrong.
• The A record points to the wrong IP.
• You changed DNS recently and it has not spread yet.
• Your computer or browser remembers the old answer.
• The domain was not added to the hosting account.
• The domain has expired.

Steps

1. Open your site in a private browser window. This avoids old saved data.
2. Try another device or network, such as your phone on mobile data. If it works there, the problem is on your computer.
3. Clear your computer's DNS memory. On Windows, open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig /flushdns

This clears the DNS answers saved on your computer. On a Mac, ask the system to flush its DNS cache. The command differs between versions.

4. Check the domain's expiry date in your client area under Domains. If it expired, renew it.
5. Check the nameservers on the domain. Use a WHOIS lookup site or the Domains page. They should match those in your welcome email.
6. Look up the IP the domain points to:

nslookup yourdomain.com

This shows the IP address your domain gives out.

7. Compare that IP with the IP of your hosting account. The hosting IP is in your welcome email.
8. If they differ, fix the A record in your DNS zone.
9. If the domain shows another site on the same server, make sure it is added to your account, as an addon domain or as the main domain.
10. Wait. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours.

If it still fails, open a support ticket. Include your domain name and the IP that nslookup shows.

Quick recap

• Test in a private window and on another network.
• Flush your DNS memory.
• Check expiry, nameservers and the A record.
• Wait for DNS to spread, then ask support.