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How come my domain on DigitalOcean doesn't work?

Posted on February 2, 2024

I put in the DigitalOcean’s nameservers on my GoDaddy domain settings. I updated my A record in my DigitalOcean droplet. Yet, still I cannot access my website using the custom domain. Its been several days already. When I type in my droplet’s IP address, I am able to access it. However, I cannot access using the custom domain!



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Hey there!

It sounds like you’ve hit a common snag when setting up domains and DNS settings. Let’s go through a checklist to troubleshoot and hopefully get your domain working with your DigitalOcean Droplet.

1. DNS Propagation

First up, DNS changes can take some time to propagate across the internet. While it’s been several days in your case (which is usually enough time), it’s not unheard of for delays to occur. You can check the current state of DNS propagation using tools like whatsmydns.net. Just enter your domain and see if the A record points to your Droplet’s IP address globally.

2. Nameserver Settings

Since you’ve set DigitalOcean’s nameservers in your GoDaddy domain settings, double-check to ensure they are entered correctly:

  • ns1.digitalocean.com
  • ns2.digitalocean.com
  • ns3.digitalocean.com

A simple typo can derail the entire process.

3. A Record Configuration

Within your DigitalOcean control panel, ensure that the A record for your domain points to the IP address of your Droplet. It sounds like you’ve done this, but it’s worth verifying. The A record should match your Droplet’s IP exactly, without any trailing spaces or typos.

Usually, patience is key with DNS issues, as changes can take a while to fully propagate around the Globe.

I hope this helps, and I look forward to hearing that your domain is up and running with your DigitalOcean Droplet!

Best,

Bobby

Heya @calvietech,

You are correct, the DNS shouldn’t be propagating for more than 48 hours and even that is by current standarts a lot. Everything after a couple of hours is actually pretty alarming.

Anyway, make sure that your Nameservers are:

Next, make sure you don’t have a TYPO in the domain you added to your DigitalOcean account.

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