How do I change my nameservers?

Change your nameservers at your domain registrar, or if your domain is registered with Hostworld, in your Hostworld Client Area under Domains. Set them to: ns1.serverworld.uk, ns2.serverworld.uk, ns3.serverworld.uk and ns4.serverworld.uk.

Before you start

• Build or import the full DNS zone on the destination nameservers first. Include website and email records: A or AAAA, CNAME, MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
• If DNSSEC is enabled at your registrar, remove the DS record or disable DNSSEC before switching. You will re‑enable it after cutover.
• Have access to your registrar login, or to the Hostworld Client Area at https://portal.hostworld.uk/.

Step 1: Prepare the destination DNS zone

Changing nameservers does not copy your DNS records. Create or import everything your domain needs on the new DNS first. For email services like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, add the provider’s MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records now. If you planned this change in advance, lower TTLs on your current DNS a day or so beforehand to shorten caching during cutover.

If your website or mail is hosted with Hostworld cPanel, add or confirm the required records in cPanel’s Zone Editor. This edits records on whichever nameservers are currently authoritative. It does not change the registrar delegation.

Step 2: Change nameservers at the registrar or in your Hostworld account

You must enter hostnames, not IP addresses. Use at least two nameservers. We publish four. Use all four exactly as shown.

Hostworld‑registered domain (WHMCS)

1. Sign in at https://portal.hostworld.uk/ and go to Domains.
2. Select your domain, then find the Nameservers or Manage Nameservers area.
3. Choose to use custom nameservers. Enter:
   ns1.serverworld.uk
   ns2.serverworld.uk
   ns3.serverworld.uk
   ns4.serverworld.uk
4. Save or confirm the change.

GoDaddy

Open the domain in your GoDaddy account, locate the Nameservers section, choose to use your own nameservers, enter the four serverworld.uk hostnames, then save.

Namecheap

Open the domain, find the Nameservers setting, select Custom DNS, enter the four serverworld.uk hostnames, then save.

Squarespace Domains

Open the domain’s details, find Nameservers, switch to custom nameservers, enter the four serverworld.uk hostnames, then save. This applies to domains that migrated from Google Domains as well.

Step 3: Verify the delegation change

This command follows the chain of authority and shows which nameservers are now authoritative. Run it after you submit the change:

dig +trace yourdomain.tld NS

Look for the final NS answers to be ns1.serverworld.uk, ns2.serverworld.uk, ns3.serverworld.uk and ns4.serverworld.uk. Registries usually update quickly, but resolvers cache old data. Global visibility can take up to 24–48 hours due to caching.

Step 4: Re‑enable DNSSEC after cutover

When your new zone is live and answering correctly, re‑enable DNSSEC by adding the new DS record at your registrar. Use the DS values from the DNS provider now hosting your zone.

If it does not work

• DNSSEC SERVFAIL: If you see SERVFAIL, the registrar may still have a DS record for the old DNS. Remove or disable DNSSEC, wait for caches to clear, confirm resolution works, then add the new DS.
• Site or email down: The new nameservers may not have the full zone. Add the missing A or AAAA, CNAME, MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records on the destination, then test again.
• Changed it in cPanel instead of at the registrar: Edits in cPanel’s Zone Editor do not change delegation. Go back to your registrar or the Hostworld Client Area and update the nameservers there.

Need help with any of this? Please open a support ticket and we will check the delegation and your zone.

What next

For a deeper walkthrough of planning and verification, including TTL changes and multi‑provider moves, see our Guides. If you are moving services between servers, our VPS guides explain common DNS patterns to keep services reachable while you migrate.