How to Fix “Website Not Showing” After DNS Changes in DirectAdmin

What Really Happens When You Change DNS

When you make DNS changes, it’s important to understand one simple truth: your website usually doesn’t break.

What’s really happening is this — the internet hasn’t fully caught up yet. DNS updates need time to spread across different networks worldwide, and during that period, things can look confusing or inconsistent.

Most website issues after DNS changes usually fall into one of these common categories:

• DNS propagation delay: the update hasn’t reached all locations yet
• Wrong IP address: the domain is pointing to the wrong server
• Conflicting DNS records: old and new records are fighting each other
• Browser or local cache: your device is still showing old information
• Nameserver mismatch: DNS is being edited in the wrong place

Don’t worry — these are normal situations, and they’re all fixable. Let’s go through them one by one and clear things up properly.

Step 1: Check If DNS Has Fully Propagated

DNS changes are not instant.

Typical propagation time:

• 5–15 minutes
• Up to 24 hours worldwide

What to do:

1. Visit dnschecker.org
2. Enter your domain
3. Select A record
4. Check if the IP matches your telaHosting server IP

If different locations still show the old IP, your site may not load everywhere yet. This is normal.

Step 2: Confirm Your A Record in DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Go to Account Manager → DNS Management
3. Look for your main A record

It should look like:

• Type: A
• Name: yourdomain.com
• Value: Your_telaHosting_server_IP

If the IP is wrong, update it and save.

Step 3: Check the “www” Record

Sometimes the root domain works, but www doesn’t (or vice versa).

What you should see:

• A CNAME for www pointing to your main domain
  OR
• An A record pointing to the same IP

Example: www → yourdomain.com

If www is missing or incorrect, your site may not load properly.

Step 4: Remove Conflicting DNS Records

Too many records can confuse DNS.

Check for:

• Multiple A records pointing to different IPs
• Both A and CNAME for the same name
• Old subdomain records

Fix:

• Keep only the correct record
• Delete outdated or unused ones

Less is more in DNS.

Step 5: Confirm Nameservers Are Correct

If your DNS is managed in DirectAdmin, your domain must use telaHosting nameservers.

Check at your domain registrar:

• ns1.telahosting.com
• ns2.telahosting.com

If your nameservers point to Cloudflare or another provider, changes in DirectAdmin won’t apply.

Step 6: Clear Browser and DNS Cache

Sometimes the website is actually working — your browser just hasn’t updated.

Try this:

• Open your site in Incognito Mode
• Try a different browser
• Clear DNS cache on your computer

For Windows: ipconfig /flushdns

This step alone fixes many “site not showing” issues.

Step 7: Check If the Website Files Exist

DNS only points traffic — it doesn’t host files.

Verify:

1. Go to DirectAdmin → File Manager
2. Open public_html
3. Confirm your website files are there

If the folder is empty, DNS is working — but there’s no site to display.

Step 8: Test the Website Using the Server IP

This helps confirm whether the issue is DNS or hosting. Test: http://SERVER_IP

If the site loads with the IP but not the domain, DNS is still propagating or misconfigured.

Step 9: Check for Recent Nameserver or DNS Reset

If you recently:

• Reset DNS zone
• Switched hosting
• Changed nameservers

Then your DNS may need time to stabilize.

Always allow at least 1 hour before assuming something is broken.

Common Mistakes That Cause This Issue

Avoid these next time:

• Changing DNS and nameservers at the same time
• Deleting old records too early
• Pointing to the wrong IP
• Editing DNS in the wrong control panel
• Expecting instant results

DNS rewards patience.

Conclusion

A website not showing after DNS changes is almost always a temporary issue. In most cases, it comes down to propagation time, an incorrect A record, or a nameserver mismatch. With a calm approach and the right checks, you can fix it quickly — without stress.

FAQs

1. How long should I wait after DNS changes?

Up to 24 hours, but most updates work within 30–60 minutes.

2. My website works on mobile but not on my laptop — why?

Different devices cache DNS differently. Clear cache or wait.

3. Can DNS changes break my website permanently?

No — DNS changes are reversible.

4. Should I reset DNS if my site isn’t showing?

Only as a last resort. Always check records first.