How long does it take for DNS record changes to propagate?

Key findings

• Not immediate: DNS record changes are not seen immediately due to the caching mechanisms of DNS resolvers across the internet.
• TTL impact: The Time-to-Live (TTL) value of a DNS record dictates how long recursive DNS servers will cache (store) that record before querying for an update. You can learn more about this on SiteGround's knowledge base.
• Typical timeframe: While changes at authoritative servers are quick, global visibility can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24-48 hours, occasionally extending to 72 hours.
• Negative caching: If a record is deleted or moved, its absence might also be cached (negative caching), which is controlled by the parent zone's SOA record TTL.

Key considerations

• Plan ahead: Before making critical DNS changes, consider temporarily lowering the TTL of the records you intend to modify. This can accelerate propagation once the changes are applied. RunCloud offers guidance on speeding up propagation.
• Wait for old TTL: The most reliable approach is to wait for the previous record's TTL to expire before expecting universal adoption of the new record. For email deliverability, this means considering how long to wait before sending email.
• Monitor changes: Use online DNS lookup tools to check the propagation status across different DNS servers worldwide.
• Impact on email: Unpropagated or incorrect DNS records, especially for DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, can lead to significant email deliverability issues. Changing nameservers impacts email deliverability.

Key opinions

• Anticipate delays: Marketers recognize that DNS changes are not instant and require a propagation period.
• Client-driven issues: A common struggle involves clients who mistakenly remove or incorrectly re-install DNS records, necessitating re-validation.
• Tooling limitations: While tools like MXToolbox and DNSChecker help verify changes, they may not immediately reflect the updates, leading to uncertainty.
• Pre-send verification: It's considered essential to confirm DNS propagation before sending large volumes of emails to avoid impacting deliverability.

Key considerations

• Proactive validation: Always validate DNS record installations or re-installations promptly.
• Continuous monitoring: Regularly check propagation status using various tools, understanding that some may cache data for longer than others. This is part of the deliverability test checklist.
• Buffer time: Allocate a buffer of at least a few hours, or longer depending on the old TTL, before critical email sends following DNS changes. This can boost email deliverability rates.
• Preventing issues: Proactive DNS management is key to preventing disruptions to email deliverability, preventing emails from going to spam.

Key opinions

• Caching over propagation: Experts argue that there is no true propagation; rather, it's about recursive DNS resolvers updating their cached information.
• TTL control: The duration of caching is directly controlled by the TTL value of the DNS record, meaning old records persist for up to their TTL.
• Instant authoritative updates: Once a DNS change is made at the authoritative servers, the new data is available for queries almost immediately.
• Negative caching impact: The absence of a record can also be cached, with its TTL governed by the parent zone's SOA record.
• Specialized tools: Certain tools exist that do not cache DNS queries for long, providing a more immediate view of changes.

Key considerations

• Patience is key: After a DNS change, it is advisable to wait for a period equivalent to the old record's TTL before fully relying on the new configuration. This helps DMARC policy propagation.
• Strategic TTL adjustment: Temporarily reducing TTL before a planned change can minimize the window of cached stale data.
• Verify with expert tools: For quick verification, use tools that are known not to cache aggressively, providing a more real-time view of DNS records.
• Understand negative caching: Be aware of how deleting records or adding new ones can be affected by negative caching, which can impact SPF DNS timeout issues.

Key findings

• Typical duration: Most documentation indicates that DNS changes will propagate within 24-48 hours, though some state it could take up to 72 hours.
• Caching principle: The delay is primarily attributed to DNS resolvers caching old information based on the record's Time-to-Live (TTL).
• Rapid edge propagation: Some advanced DNS services (e.g., AWS Route 53) report propagation to their edge locations within 60 seconds.
• Factors influencing time: Various elements, including the record type, DNS provider, and resolver settings, can affect propagation speed.

Key considerations

• Reduce TTL: A common recommendation is to temporarily lower the TTL value of your DNS records approximately 24 hours before making any changes. This ensures that caches expire faster, leading to quicker propagation of the new record. For example, RunCloud provides detailed steps.
• Expect delays: Even with optimal planning, anticipate a period during which some users may still resolve to the old DNS records. This is critical for preventing email delivery failures.
• Provider specifics: Some DNS providers may have faster propagation times due to their infrastructure, such as Amazon Web Services' Route 53.
• Continuous monitoring: Utilize online tools to monitor the propagation status globally and ensure your changes are fully visible before critical operations.