What is Internet Propagation?
When you make updates to your domain settings (such as pointing your domain to your Zibster website or updating email records), those changes need to spread across the internet. This process is called internet propagation, also known as DNS propagation.
During propagation, some people may see your updated website or email setup right away, while others may still see the old version until their internet provider refreshes the information.
Internet propagation can take as little as a few minutes or as long as 48 hours.
Understand What Internet Propagation Means
Propagation is the amount of time it takes for updates to your domain’s DNS (Domain Name System) records to be refreshed across all DNS servers worldwide.
Internet propagation can apply to any of the following scenarios with your Zibster website:
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Changing domain name servers
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Adding MX records
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Adding A records, CNAME records, TXT records, DMARC records, DKIM records, or other DNS records
Know Why Propagation Takes Time
DNS servers temporarily store (cache) your domain information to help websites load faster. When you make changes, each DNS server will only refresh after its cache expires. This timing is controlled by a setting called TTL (Time To Live).
Be Aware of How Long It Can Take
Propagation often completes within a few hours, but in some cases it may take up to 24–48 hours for updates to fully spread worldwide.
Expect Different Experiences During Propagation
It’s normal for some people to see your new website while others still see the old one. This difference depends on which DNS server their internet service provider is using.
Wait For The Process To Complete
Once you submit your domain changes, no further action is required. The updates will finish spreading across the internet automatically.
