So you just launched or transferred your new website (maybe it’s on WordPress), you’re feeling pumped, and then your developer hits you with:
❝The DNS is propagating. It might take up to 48 hours.❞
Wait… what?
Let’s break that down.
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. Think of it like the internet’s phone book. When you type a web address like myawesomebusiness.com, DNS is what figures out where that site actually lives—behind the scenes, it’s converting that name into an IP address (like 192.0.2.1) that browsers use to find and load the site.
So What Does “DNS Propagation” Mean?
When you (or your developer) update something about your domain—like pointing it to a new hosting provider, changing the nameservers, or moving your WordPress site to a new server—those changes don’t take effect instantly across the entire internet.
Instead, they have to “propagate” through DNS servers all over the world. These servers cache DNS information so they don’t have to keep looking it up, and that cache takes time to update. Some places might see the new site in a few minutes, while others may take hours—or even up to 48 hours.
It’s kind of like changing your phone number and waiting for everyone’s contacts to update. Most people will get it fast, but a few might be stuck calling your old number for a bit.
Why This Matters (Especially for WordPress Sites)
If you’re launching a new WordPress site, migrating to a different host, or going live with a staging version, DNS propagation is the quiet background process that determines when people will actually start seeing the updated site.
During propagation, weird things can happen:
- Some users see the new site, others still see the old one.
- You might see the correct version on your phone but not your laptop.
- Your site might seem down for a few people.
This is totally normal—and temporary.
What You Can Do (and Not Do)
✅ Be patient
✅ Clear your browser cache
✅ Try viewing your site from different devices or networks
✅ Use a tool like whatsmydns.net to track propagation progress
❌ Don’t make more DNS changes during propagation
❌ Don’t panic if things look weird for a little while
❌ Don’t ask your dev “is it done yet?” every 15 minutes 😅
TL;DR
DNS propagation is the process of DNS changes spreading across the internet. It can take a few minutes to a couple days. During that time, your site might behave inconsistently, but it’s all part of the process.
So next time your developer says “It’s propagating,” you can nod confidently and say:
“Cool. I’ll check back in a bit.”