Why Is My Domain Not Working? Common Causes and Fixes

It can be frustrating when you type your domain name into a browser and nothing loads, or you see an error page. There are several possible reasons why your domain may not be working, especially if it was recently registered, transferred, or moved to a new hosting provider. This guide will help you diagnose and fix common domain issues on Nairahost.

1. DNS Propagation After Registration or Nameserver Change

When you register a new domain or change its nameservers, the changes need time to spread across the global DNS system. This is known as DNS propagation.

During propagation:

• Some users may reach your site, while others still see an old server or an error.
• Propagation usually completes within a few hours, but can take up to 24–48 hours in some cases.

What to do:

• Wait a few hours and try again.
• Clear your browser cache.
• Test from another device or network.

2. Incorrect Nameserver Settings

If your domain points to the wrong nameservers or to an old hosting provider, your website may not load as expected.

For Nairahost hosting, make sure you are using the correct nameservers:

• cPanel hosting: ns1.nairahost.cloud, ns2.nairahost.cloud
• DirectAdmin hosting: ns1.nairahost.com.ng, ns2.nairahost.com.ng

What to do: Log in to your Nairahost client area, go to Domains > My Domains, choose the domain, and verify or update the nameservers to the correct ones.

3. Missing or Incorrect DNS Records

Even if your nameservers are correct, the domain may still not work if there are no DNS records or they point to the wrong IP.

• The A record for your root domain (e.g. yourdomain.com) should point to your hosting server’s IP.
• Your www subdomain should have a CNAME pointing to your main domain, or its own A record.

What to do:

• Log in to cPanel and open Zone Editor or DNS editor.
• Make sure there is an A record for your domain pointing to the correct IP address.
• Add or correct the www record as needed.

4. Hosting Account Not Set Up or Suspended

If you have registered a domain but did not purchase hosting or did not link the domain to a hosting account, the domain will not show a website.

Also, if your hosting account is suspended due to billing or resource overuse, you may see a suspension page.

What to do:

• Check your Nairahost client area for hosting services under Services > My Services.
• Confirm that your hosting is active and not suspended.
• If you only bought a domain, order a hosting package and then connect the domain to it.

5. SSL or HTTPS Errors

If you have forced HTTPS (SSL) but don’t have a valid SSL certificate installed, visitors may see a “connection not secure” or similar browser warning.

What to do:

• Install a free or paid SSL certificate from your cPanel or from Nairahost.
• Use AutoSSL if your plan supports it.
• After installing SSL, you can safely enforce HTTPS using .htaccess or a plugin (for WordPress).

6. Browser or Local Network Cache Issues

Sometimes the problem is not with your domain or hosting, but with your browser or local DNS cache.

What to do:

• Clear your browser cache and cookies.
• Try another browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.).
• Restart your router or try browsing from a mobile network instead of Wi-Fi.

7. Domain Expired or Not Renewed

If your domain has expired, visitors may see a parking page, error message, or registrar placeholder.

What to do:

• Log in to your Nairahost client area.
• Go to Domains > My Domains and check the expiry date.
• If expired, renew the domain immediately to restore functionality.

8. Firewall or Security Block

Security plugins or firewalls can sometimes block your IP or some visitors, making it appear as if the site is down when it is not.

What to do:

• Disable any newly installed security plugin temporarily to test.
• Contact Nairahost support to check whether your IP is blocked by the server firewall.

When to Contact Nairahost Support

If you have checked your nameservers, DNS records, hosting status, and browser cache, but your domain is still not working, reach out to Nairahost support. Provide:

• Your domain name.
• A screenshot of the error you see.
• Any recent changes you made (such as nameserver updates, transfers, or DNS edits).

With this information, the support team can quickly investigate and help you bring your domain back online.