Domains

Registering, managing, and pointing your domain.

How to Move an Addon Domain to Its Own Separate Hosting Account

If an addon domain on your hosting account has outgrown it, here is how to back it up, remove it, and set it up on its own separate hosting account.

What Is a CNAME Record and How Do You Use It?

A CNAME record points one domain or subdomain to another domain name instead of to an IP address. Here's what it does, when you need one, and how to add it.

What Is a Wildcard DNS Record and When Do You Need One?

A wildcard DNS record makes every subdomain you haven't created yet point to the same destination, which is handy for catch-all setups but can cause problems if you're not careful.

What Is an NS Record and How Is It Different From Your Domain's Nameservers?

An NS record lists which nameservers are authoritative for your domain's DNS zone, and this explains how that differs from the nameserver setting at your registrar and how to check yours.

What Is a Premium Domain Name and Why Does It Cost More?

Some domain names are priced far above the standard registration fee because the registry classifies them as premium. Here is what that means and what your options are.

What Is a TXT Record and What Is It Used For?

A TXT record is a type of DNS record that stores plain text information about your domain, most commonly used to verify domain ownership or authorize services to send email on your behalf. This explains what a TXT record looks like and the most common reasons you'll need one.

What Is an ALIAS/ANAME Record and When Do You Need One?

An ALIAS or ANAME record lets you point your bare root domain to a hostname the same way a CNAME record would, which matters because standard DNS rules don't allow a CNAME at the root of a domain.

What You Need to Register a .or.ke, .ac.ke, or .go.ke Domain in Kenya

Explains the documents and approval process needed to register a restricted Kenyan domain extension such as .or.ke, .ac.ke, or .go.ke.

What Is an MX Record and How Does It Control Your Email Delivery?

An MX record is the DNS setting that tells the internet which mail server should handle email for your domain. Here's how it works and how to check or change it.

How to Point Your Domain's MX Records to ZIPROF Email Hosting Without Moving Your Website

You can keep your website hosted anywhere else and still use ZIPROF's professional email hosting for your domain, by changing only your MX records. This guide walks through updating those records without touching your existing website setup.

How to Renew a Domain Name After It Has Already Expired

If your domain has expired, you can usually still renew it during a grace period before anyone else can register it, but the process is more urgent and can cost more than a normal renewal. This article walks you through renewing an expired domain and what to check afterward.

How to Turn Off Auto-Renew for Your Domain

Learn how to disable automatic renewal for a domain in your ZIPROF client area, and what to expect once you do.

How to Change Your Website's Primary Domain in cPanel or DirectAdmin

Your hosting account's primary domain is tied to your account itself, so you can't rename it from inside cPanel or DirectAdmin on your own. This article explains how to check your current primary domain and request a swap from ZIPROF support.

How to Check Your Domain's DNS Records Using Dig, Nslookup, or an Online Checker

Use dig, nslookup, or a free online DNS checker to confirm your domain's A, MX, CNAME, or TXT records have actually updated, instead of guessing and refreshing your browser.

What Is DNSSEC and Should You Enable It for Your Domain?

DNSSEC adds a cryptographic signature to your domain's DNS records so visitors can't be silently redirected by tampered DNS responses. Here's what it does and how to turn it on.

What Is a Glue Record and When Do You Need One?

A glue record links a nameserver's hostname to its IP address at the registry level, and you need one whenever your domain's nameserver is a subdomain of the domain itself.

How to Set Up a CDN for Your Website Using Cloudflare

Learn how to route your domain through Cloudflare's free CDN to speed up page loads and add basic protection, without moving your website away from your current host.

How to Point a Subdomain to a Different Host or IP Address

How to send a subdomain like blog.yourdomain.com to a separate server or platform using a DNS record, without creating a hosting subdomain on your account.

How to Choose a Good Domain Name for Your Business

Practical tips for picking a domain name that is easy to remember, matches your business, and still available to register.

What Is a DNS Zone File and How Do You Read One?

A DNS zone file is the list of records that tells the internet where your domain's website, email, and other services live. Here's what's in it and how to view or edit yours in cPanel or DirectAdmin.

How to Register a New Domain Name with ZIPROF: A Step-by-Step Guide

A walkthrough of the full domain registration process with ZIPROF, from searching for an available name to paying via MPesa and getting your domain ready to use.

What Is an SOA Record and What Does It Control?

An SOA record tells other DNS servers who is authoritative for your domain and how often to check it for updates. Here's what it contains and when, if ever, you need to look at it.

Kenyan Domain Extensions Explained: .co.ke, .or.ke, and More

Kenya has several local domain extensions beyond .co.ke, each meant for a different kind of organization. Here's what each one is for and who can register it.

What Is an AAAA Record and How Do You Add One to Your Domain?

An AAAA record points your domain to a server's IPv6 address, the newer counterpart to the standard A record. Here is what it does and how to add one if your hosting server supports IPv6.

How to Change the Registrant (Owner) of a Domain Name

Learn the difference between updating your domain's WHOIS contact details and formally changing its registrant, plus how to request an ownership transfer through ZIPROF.

What Is an SRV Record and How Do You Add One to Your Domain?

An SRV record tells other services where to find a specific network service, such as VoIP calling or instant messaging, on your domain. Here's what the fields mean and how to add one in cPanel and DirectAdmin.

How to Set Up Custom (Vanity) Nameservers for Your Domain

Custom nameservers let you use hostnames on your own domain, like ns1.yourdomain.com, instead of your host's default ones. Here's how to set them up, including the glue records you need first.

What Is DNS TTL and How Do You Lower It Before Moving Your Website?

TTL controls how long DNS resolvers cache your domain's records before rechecking them. Lowering it a day ahead of a planned change, such as switching hosting servers, helps visitors see the update sooner.

What Is a PTR Record (Reverse DNS) and Why Does It Matter for Email Deliverability?

A PTR record links your mail server's IP address back to a hostname, and getting it wrong is a common reason legitimate emails land in spam. Here's what it is and how to check yours.

What Is a CAA Record and How Do You Add One to Your Domain?

A CAA record controls which certificate authorities are allowed to issue an SSL certificate for your domain, and a missing or wrong one can silently block certificate renewal. Here's what it does and how to add one.

What Is a Domain Lock and When Should You Unlock It?

A domain lock stops your domain from being transferred to another registrar without your permission. Here's what it does, when you need to turn it off, and how to do that safely.

How to Create a Wildcard Subdomain in cPanel and DirectAdmin

A wildcard subdomain automatically catches any subdomain of your domain that hasn't been set up individually. Here's how to create one in cPanel and DirectAdmin.

How to Turn On Auto-Renew for Your Domain

Learn how to enable auto-renew for your domain in your ZIPROF client area so a renewal invoice is generated automatically before expiry, and what to do once it's raised.

What Is an EPP/Authorization Code and How Do You Get One?

An EPP code, also called an authorization code, is a security code you need to transfer a domain to a new registrar. Here's what it is and how to request yours from ZIPROF.

How to Update Your Domain's WHOIS Contact Information

Learn how to update the name, email, phone number, and address linked to your domain registration, and why keeping this information accurate matters.

How to Transfer a Domain to ZIPROF

Moving your domain to ZIPROF keeps your website and email running the whole time, as long as you have the right details from your current registrar ready before you start.

How to Check If a Domain Name Is Available Before You Register It

Learn how to check whether a domain name is available before you register it, using a domain search tool or a WHOIS lookup.

How to Remove a Subdomain or Addon Domain

Learn how to safely remove a subdomain or addon domain you no longer need, in both cPanel and DirectAdmin, and what to check first so you don't lose files or email.

How to Clear Your DNS Cache to See Website Changes Sooner

If you just updated your domain's nameservers or DNS records but still see the old website or old email settings, your computer or browser is showing you a cached answer. Here's how to clear that cache on Windows, macOS, and Chrome.

What You Need to Register a .co.ke Domain Name

Registering a .co.ke domain requires extra documentation that generic domains like .com don't, because Kenya's registry verifies who is behind every .co.ke domain. Here's exactly what you need to have ready before you register.

How to Set Up MX Records for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365

Learn how to update your domain's MX records so you can use Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or another external provider for email while keeping your website hosted with ZIPROF.

How to Renew Your Domain Name Before It Expires

Learn how to check your domain's expiry date, renew it through your client account, and pay via MPesa before you risk losing it.

What Is Domain Privacy Protection (WHOIS Privacy) and Do You Need It?

Domain privacy protection hides your personal contact details from the public WHOIS database, replacing them with anonymized information. Here is what it does, why it matters, and how to turn it on for your domain.

How to Add or Edit a DNS Record (A, CNAME, MX, TXT)

Learn what DNS records are and how to add or edit A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records for your domain in cPanel and DirectAdmin.

How to Create a Subdomain in cPanel and DirectAdmin

A step-by-step guide to creating a subdomain in cPanel and in DirectAdmin, so you can run a blog, store, or staging site under your existing domain name.

How to Point Your Domain to a New Host

Moving hosts? Here's how to update your domain's nameservers so it points to your new server.

What Is a Domain Name and How Does It Work?

A domain name is the address people type to reach your website. Here's how it actually works behind the scenes.

What Happens If Your Domain Expires?

An expired domain doesn't disappear instantly, but the grace period is shorter than most people expect. Here's the timeline.

How to Transfer a Domain to a New Registrar

Moving your domain to a new registrar is a standard process. Here's what it involves and how long to expect it to take.

How to Add an Addon Domain in cPanel and DirectAdmin

An addon domain lets you host a second, fully separate website under your existing hosting plan.

How to Set Up a Parked Domain in cPanel and DirectAdmin

A parked domain shows the exact same content as your main site under a different domain name, with no separate files needed.

How to Set Up a Redirect Domain in cPanel and DirectAdmin

A redirect domain sends visitors from one domain to another automatically, useful when you're consolidating multiple names into one site.

What Is a Nameserver and Why Does It Matter?

Nameservers tell the internet where to look up a domain's DNS records. Getting them right is the single most important domain setting.

How Long Do DNS Changes Take to Propagate?

DNS changes don't apply everywhere at once. Here's why propagation takes time and how to check where things stand.

How to Check Your Domain's Current Nameservers

Not sure which nameservers your domain is currently using? Here are two quick ways to check.