Skip to content
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Understanding Propagation and How It Affects Your Website Launch

DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours for your website to appear everywhere. It’s a normal part of the launch process, so be patient!

When launching your swim team’s website, one of the final steps is connecting your custom domain (like yourteam.com) to your new site. Part of that process involves something called DNS propagation—and while it sounds technical, we’re here to break it down for you in simple terms.

Essentially, after updating your DNS records, your website may temporarily go dark or show an error while the changes spread across the internet. This is completely normal and part of the propagation process—it just takes a little time. 

What is Propagation?

When you connect your domain to your website, your domain’s DNS settings (Domain Name System) are updated so that your domain points to the correct location—your new site. These updates need to spread across the internet so that servers around the world know where to send people when they type in your web address.

That process of updates spreading is called DNS propagation.

How Long Does It Take?

Propagation typically takes anywhere from a few minutes up to 48 hours, depending on your domain provider, internet service providers (ISPs), and global network traffic. Some users might see the new site quickly, while others may still see an older version or an error page while propagation is still in progress.

Important: This Is Out of Our Control

We know it can be frustrating to wait, especially when you're excited to launch. But it’s important to understand:

  • Propagation is handled by internet infrastructure, not by Swimmingly.

  • We do not have the ability to speed it up or control how quickly the updates reach every corner of the internet.

  • The best thing to do is be patient and give it time—and rest assured that it’s a normal part of the launch process.

What You Can Do

While waiting for propagation to finish:

  • Try viewing your site from different devices or networks (e.g., Wi-Fi vs. mobile data).

  • Use tools like whatsmydns.net to check if your domain is pointing to the correct place in different parts of the world.

  • Wait up to 48 hours before troubleshooting further.

Once Propagation is Complete

Once the changes have fully propagated, your website will be live and visible to everyone using your domain name. From that point on, you can share your site confidently with swimmers, parents, and your broader community!

If you’re unsure whether propagation is still in progress or have questions about your DNS setup, check with your domain provider.