How long does DNS take to propagate / why isn't my domain working yet?

DNS updates are not instant. They usually take around 30 minutes but can take up to 48 hours to reach everyone, so a domain that "isn't working yet" is often just mid-propagation.

Why it takes time

When you change a record, that update has to spread across DNS servers worldwide, and caches along the way hold the old value until they expire. That's why it can work for you but not a friend, or the reverse.

What to check, in order

1. Confirm the A record value is your IP with no port.
2. Look it up on DNSChecker.org — if it shows your IP in most locations, the record is live.
3. Flush your local DNS / try another network to rule out caching on your end.

Tip: A lower TTL (e.g. 30 minutes) means future changes propagate faster, so set it low while you're still testing.

Frequently asked questions

It's been over 48 hours and still nothing. Re-check the record values carefully — a typo, a stray port, or a conflicting record is more likely than slow propagation at that point.

DNSChecker shows my IP but I still can't join. That points at a client-side cache or a version/address mismatch rather than DNS. See the connection troubleshooting articles.