" MicromOne: Troubleshooting Guide: How to Fix DNS and Hosting Issues for Your Website

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Troubleshooting Guide: How to Fix DNS and Hosting Issues for Your Website

Step 1: Check DNS Propagation

Before troubleshooting further, ensure that your domain is properly configured:

  • DNS updates take time – If you recently updated DNS records or purchased a new domain, it may take up to 48 hours for the changes to propagate.
  • Use a DNS lookup tool – Check if your domain is pointing to the correct server using DNSChecker.
  • Verify important DNS records:
    • A Record – Points your domain to an IPv4 address.
    • CNAME Record – Used for domain aliasing.

Step 2: Verify Web Server Configuration

If the domain is correctly pointing to your server but the website is still not loading, check your web server configuration.

  • Check server settings – If your website is hosted on Apache or Nginx, confirm that the server is correctly configured to serve your domain.
  • For cloud hosting (e.g., Azure) – Log into your hosting provider’s portal and verify that your application is set up for the custom domain.
  • Confirm site status – Use your hosting panel (such as cPanel, Plesk, or Azure Portal) to check if your website is online and running without errors.

Step 3: Configure Your Domain in Azure (If Applicable)

If your website is hosted on Azure, make sure your domain is correctly linked:

  1. Go to Azure Portal and navigate to your web app.
  2. Find "Custom Domains" in the settings.
  3. Add your domain and ensure DNS records are correctly pointing to Azure servers.
  4. Verify domain binding – Azure will confirm once the domain is properly configured.

Step 4: Check SSL/HTTPS Configuration

An improperly configured SSL certificate can cause website errors or security warnings.

  • Verify SSL Certificate – In your hosting provider’s SSL settings, check if your domain has a valid SSL certificate.
  • Get an SSL certificate – If you don’t have one, obtain a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt or purchase one from your hosting provider.
  • Redirect HTTP to HTTPS – Ensure all HTTP requests (http://yourdomain.com) automatically redirect to HTTPS (https://yourdomain.com).
    • In Azure, you can configure this via Application Gateway or URL Rewrite rules.

Step 5: Test in Incognito Mode & Clear Browser Cache

  • Use incognito mode – Sometimes, your browser may cache an old version of the website. Open an Incognito Window (Chrome: File > New Incognito Window) and visit your website.
  • Clear browser cache – If the issue persists, clear your browser cache:
    • Chrome: Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data > Cached Images & Files
    • Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Clear Data

Step 6: Check Server Logs & Website Availability

If your site is still not loading, check for server-side errors.

  • Review error logs – Access server logs in cPanel, Azure, or your hosting provider’s dashboard to identify possible issues.
  • Check global availability – Use tools like Is It Down Right Now to see if your website is accessible worldwide.

Step 7: Contact Technical Support

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, reach out to your hosting provider’s support team.

  • Provide details about the problem, including:
    • Your domain name
    • Any error messages you encountered
    • A summary of troubleshooting steps you've already taken. 

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and fix common DNS and hosting issues. Regularly monitoring your website’s performance and ensuring proper configurations will help prevent future downtime.