Before changing nameservers, prepare the new DNS zone with every record your email service needs, not just the website address. Check incoming mail routing, sender authentication and any mail-related hostnames, then verify the new service before retiring the old DNS setup.
Before you begin
- Copy the complete active zone.
- Check mail records and DNSSEC before switching.
- Test mail in both directions afterward.
Take a complete record of the existing zone
Export the zone if the current DNS host supports it, or record every relevant name, type, value, priority and TTL. Include MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC and provider verification records. Also record website and other application entries so the move does not break a different service.
Do not rely solely on what a public lookup happens to return. Some record names, especially DKIM selectors and verification records, are difficult to discover unless you already know them. The current DNS editor and the email provider’s setup instructions are the better starting points.
Prepare the destination before delegation
Create the required records at the new DNS host and confirm it is ready to serve the domain. Check how its editor handles the root name and whether it automatically appends your domain to record names. A copied DKIM name can accidentally become duplicated if you use the wrong format.
Review DNSSEC with the current and new providers before changing nameservers. A stale parent DS record that no longer matches the new DNS service can cause validation failures. Follow a planned provider process rather than guessing at a toggle during an outage.
Use a controlled change window
Keep both the old service details and the people needed for support available.
- Save the current nameservers and zone copy.
- Prepare and check the replacement zone.
- Confirm the DNSSEC plan where applicable.
- Update nameservers for the exact domain.
- Check delegation and authoritative records.
- Test inbound and outbound email from an independent mailbox.
Keep the mail subscription separate
Changing nameservers does not migrate inbox contents or create accounts at a new email host. If mail remains with the same provider, preserve that subscription and point the new DNS records at it. If mail is also moving, plan message migration as a separate task.
Once the move is confirmed, update your domain inventory to show the new active DNS host. The domain can remain registered at NameUK with its own renewal schedule while the website, DNS and mail services are supplied elsewhere.
Prepared with AI-assisted drafting and illustration, then checked against the linked sources and NameUK’s current service. The artwork is conceptual; setup values must come from your own provider.
Further readingCloudflare: DNS NS records ↗Cloudflare: DNS MX records ↗Google Workspace: set up SPF ↗Google Workspace: set up DKIM ↗Google Workspace: set up DMARC ↗NameUK registration and renewal prices ↗Extension rules and provider processes can change. Check the current registrar instructions before a registration, transfer or renewal.
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Register .co.uk for £9.99 for one year, with annual renewal currently £9.99. Or choose a new three-year .co.uk registration for £25.99. Check the selected name and term before payment. Future renewal prices can change.