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When setting up an external domain, you must choose whether to use the IONOS name servers or your current name servers. We recommend choosing the IONOS name servers so that you do not have to deal with the complicated DNS settings later.
Your current provider's name servers
In certain circumstances, you may wish to choose the name servers of your current provider:
- To use the IONOS name servers, you must register them with your domain provider. If your provider does not allow other name servers, you should choose the option 'Domain provider's existing name server.'
- You should also choose this option if you do not want to use the domain exclusively with IONOS (e.g. website with IONOS but email with the domain provider) and your provider does not allow other DNS settings.
Note: If you are unsure which option is right for you, you should choose the IONOS name servers. You can configure the domain with different name servers at a later time if necessary.
Preparing the external domain
The domain is set up in our systems once you have chosen a name server option. In most cases this is finished in 30 to 60 seconds, meaning you can start using the domain immediately. If this is not the case, we will inform you by email as soon as your external domain has been set up.
Using IONOS name servers
If you wish to use IONOS' name servers, you simply need to enter them in your domain provider's name server settings.
The exact name servers you need to enter for your domain are displayed in your IONOS account. To retrieve them, complete the following:
- Log in to your IONOS account.
Click on Menu > Domains & SSL from the title bar.
Click on the relevant domain.
Click on the Name server tab. There you will find a list of the IONOS name servers valid for your domain.
Consider copying & pasting the name servers to avoid mistakes.
Please note that after entering the name servers, it may take up to 72 hours before you can use the external domain with your IONOS products.
Tip: If you don't know how to set the name servers at your domain provider, either search the provider's help section or contact the domain provider's customer service. For some providers we have already found the appropriate article in the provider's help section:
GoDaddy | Namecheap | Network Solutions | Bluehost
Using the domain provider's name servers
If you want to use the name servers of your domain provider, we need a confirmation that you are authorised to administer the domain for security reasons. For this purpose, an authentication code is displayed in your IONOS account during the setup process. To confirm your authorisation, you must now create a TXT record at your domain provider that contains the authentication code as a value. Then, start the verification process in your IONOS account. Our system will now check whether a TXT record with the correct authentication code exists for your domain. If it does, the setup of the external domain will be completed automatically.
If you do not know how to create a TXT record at your domain provider, either search the provider's help section or contact the domain provider's customer service. For some providers we have already found the corresponding article for you:
Notes
- It may take some time before the TXT record you have created can be found for verification. Accordingly, we recommend that you wait an hour and only then start the verification process in your IONOS account.
- In the past, it was possible to complete the setup by entering the name servers independently. This is no longer possible and now leads to a corresponding error message. Instead, please create the TXT record required for verification as described above and then complete the setup through your IONOS account.