One warning if you want to use 1&1 for domain names: it takes forever to make any simple changes that every other registrar is able to make right away.
Let’s say you buy a domain name and then want to point it to your DNS servers. Simple enough, right? But with 1and1, it’ll say “updating” for about 8 hours, throughout which they’ll keep reporting their DNS servers as the authoritative ones. After about 8 hours, the status will change to “domain update done.”
But that’s a lie. I don’t know why it says that, because it’s not done at all. They still report their servers as authoritative (this is at the WHOIS level querying their server, don’t think I’m just checking my local ISP and that I don’t understand DNS TTL.) And the DNS button is greyed out if I select the domain that’s now supposed to be done updating, so I can’t make any changes to it.
Oddly enough, “domain update done” isn’t a status message that they explain. There’s a helpful question mark next to “status,” but that only gives you the following options:
- Ready – This domain’s settings can be changed by clicking on the available options in the toolbar.
- Update – This domain is currently undergoing an update. Please wait until the domain is ready before changing any settings.
- DNS settings incomplete with registrar – This domain cannot be configured until the DNS settings are complete.
- Waiting for approval – This domain is currently unavailable for configuration. Transfers usually take up to ten days once all the proper forms are received.
- Domain setup error – Please review the settings and correct any errors. You can also reset the domain by selecting it and then clicking on DNS in the toolbar. On the next page click on Reset.
- Other – If the status is not explained here, visit our FAQs for more information
Ok, so you can click through to the FAQs for explanations of other status results. But after much FAQ browsing, I don’t see anything about “domain update done.” They do have a question about being unable to change the DNS settings, but those all talk about errors with the setup. Some Google searching indicates that the message I’m getting just means they’re still working on making a simple DNS server change, and the right answer is to keep waiting, maybe up to 24 hours before they make their change. And then of course you have the DNS propagation delays while you wait for caches to expire all over the net. Good thing this is a new unused domain which shouldn’t have any caching issues (I’ve been careful not to lookup the name at my ISP until 1&1 gets the right info in there.)
Some day I’ll have to post about my scam experience with 1and1, from back when they were charging less for domain names than it cost them to get them, and they sent my account to a collection agency saying I hadn’t payed for a $6 renewal, even though they had my correct credit card information saved in their billing system. Nobody there was ever able to explain why I had to pay all kinds of outrageous fees to reactivate my account for non-payment, when they had all my billing information right there if they only wanted to use it (which they were supposed to do.)
Oops, I guess I just posted my 1&1 scam experience. There you go. My theory is that their attempt to use cheap domains as a loss leader for their expensive supplemental products (like hosting and crap) wasn’t working out, so they needed to pull billing scams like that one to make a profit on domain names. They increased their prices shortly afterwards.
1and1 is crap. i am currently waiting for a simple nameserver change. 72 hours and ticking……..
cheap hosting is not always good hosting. what a surprise!
Thanks for this. I thought I was going mad trying to pry my client’s domain name and DNS away from this awful Web hosting company.
hey you know i foound this where you can get hosting for free.
before everyone thinks i’m advertising and it’s some scam or something,
it really is free.
a few catches,it might be slower than most host and you’re only allowed 100megs of space.
I am going through tthe same experience. Been almost 24 hours with the status at “Domain Update Done” I called them and they told me that I should wait till it says “Ready” to make any changes. They are so slow. With my other domain registrars, as soon as I make a change, I can see changes within an hour.
what a mistake trying to save 2 dollars on a domain name, im in the same boat waiting and waiting for them to set a glue record. lesson learned. even tho go daddys a little more money, and private registration isnt free, atleast you know any changes you make to it will be done with in a reasonable amount of time.
Add me to the list of dissatisfied 1and1 customers. I used to have a dedicated server with 1and1, but it was too expensive so I moved my server elsewhere and kept the domains at 1and1, not realising that unless you have a server with them, they restrict your subdomains to 5, and won’t let you do wildcards. I am moving my DNS elsewhere, but in a similar position to those above. Waiting… waiting… ARGHH!
Ugh, it’s so great that I can search “Domain Update Done.” in Google to find this page. 1and1 sucks, I was looking for one of their FAQs which they wrote I’d find like the author explained above. Instead I find this page. Funny how things work out.
It makes sense in some sick way, thinking of all the people who don’t understand DNS that well. I’m sure much of them give up and buy 1and1 hosting to avoid the transfer.
They have cheap domains so they can sell people on other packages they offer. They have crap DNS timing because their most-likely losing money on their Domain deals. They charged me 7 bucks, I remember when they used to charge 3.. It doesn’t make sense their still trying to get the return with slow DNS…. Damn Corporate Scoundrels… I avoided 2 dollars for this?
Like those listed above, I tried 1and1 after seeing their ads every month in Wired, Fast Company, etc. I was lured by the free private registration, because I’m getting tired of paying ($8.99/yr) with GoDaddy.com.
A sub-rant on Bob Parsons for sec: I’m a dude, and still ask, could he be a bigger pig with his GoDaddy girl ads? Dude, you’re over 40, and still slinging sex to the masses with your inane vamped-up ads that never have a point or a laugh? I use your domain service because it’s good, but I’m looking elsewhere because I have issue with the ads. But maybe you could make it all better by finding one, just one bimbo who can act. Because those breathlessly delivered, emotionally hollow lines delivered by wanna be ex strippers are making me dumber by the second. Jesus.
Okay, I’m back: so I’m sitting here, on hour six and the DNS is still transferring a .Com. A .COM! With GoDaddy, it would have taken 2-3hrs tops. So I guess I’ll just switch fingers and put the left one in my butt now, because the right one went numb.
Maybe I’ll go to Dotster or Register or… something?
Maybe Gandi.net is the ticket!
I am having an issue with registering new domains. When I requested the domain, it showed available. Once it confirmed registration, they were in the “Waiting for approval” status, when normally they should have sent request for domain regisration status. Waiting status, as per their faq states that this status applies to domain transfers, while mine is a new registration. Not sure if anyone else had this question and found the answer … please share
I too have been staring at the ‘update done’ for 12+ hrs. Should’ve stayed with namecheap or evne godaddy. What a joke.
I Have been waiting for 7 hours……i dont know how long i have to wait/….
Last night 10PM I change my 1and1 MX records so I can use it with google apps – 12+ hours on at 1026AM domain lookup is still saying that its 1and1′s mx servers. I already have email hosting with MSN using @email.milosoft.co.uk and I remember that taking ages as well – at least 36 hours. The only reason I went with 1and1 is because it was only £3. I wish I’d paid an extra few quid for godaddy.
I moved all my sites over to Hostgator after having such a ridiculously horrible experience with 1and1. But my domain names I still purchase through1and1. I’m now playing the waiting game for some DNS changes on some of my other domains. what a PITA. I would never recommend 1and1 for hosting, ever.
24 hours and counting.. Another thing to watch out for with 1and1 is that you have to do a bit of a hack to use a private nameserver (like with HostGator VPS, that I’m on). I decided to leave 1and1 and move the last domain I’ve got there to GoDaddy where I’ve got the rest.
shit i just been a victim of this site. I registered 4 days ago. Took 2 days to get a reply from them. Then they got my ID on 3rd day. Then on 4th I dont see any signs of charge on my PayPal. Odd enough, I see on the billing settings that my PayPal has $200 maximum charge. WHAT THE F. I JUST BUT A DOMAIN FROM THEM. Aside from that, theres NO OPTION TO CHANGE THE DNS SERVER NAMES. GOD DAMN SO SCAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMM!
same experience .. waiting from 24 hours+ .. This is the first time ,i used 1and1 .because of their $0.99 .info domain.Registered it for some testing purpose.It is not updated yet.So i registered another domain at name.com and completed my test.Still the domain with 1and1 is not updated.. I don’t recommend 1and1..
Yeap I’ve been experiencing the dreaded DNS updating message for 6 hours now. WTF people this is the internet age not something that should be handled by hand! Seriously. I have something like 30 domains left to transfer too!
Just like the original poster, thank goodness for Google because I’m not getting any answers on 1and1′s site. I’ve been waiting >2 days for my new domain to be registered, and now I have the same “Domain Update Done” message (after updating my name servers) and I’m still waiting to use it. Ugh. Looks like another day of waiting for me.
Wow, who knew this was such a common issue? I’m in the same boat — been waiting 2+ days for the “Domain update done.” to change to “Ready”. But I suppose since I don’t need the domain right away, it’s not a disaster, just super annoying. The only reason I went with these guys is because it was about 24 bucks cheaper to register with them than it was with Network Solutions. Any suggestions for an alternative to 1&1 that is cheap and actually works well?
I’m glad the previous posters have commented here because 1&1 doesn’t include “Domain update done.” in their FAQs and my client’s site has been doing the cache-crash for about 36 hours. Thought I’d take advantage of the weekend to get the DNS propagated, but that still wasn’t good enough. Caveat emptor folks.
Same here, 24 hours and stuck on “Domain Update Done”
Four days, two 30 minute support calls with n o results (lots of promised), emails to the “Transfer Department” (unanswered) and I’m still waiting for the “Domain Update Done” to change to “Ready”. For an ecommerce site this is REAL problem. Will be changing domains away from these people as soon as I can. AVOID
snap….72hrs + and counting… this is driving me mad. and to go with it the other domains are being found on FTP server upload filezilla.
putting back launch date it costing money. with NO help from 1and1. so shite.
Yup. Been waiting 3 days to change my DNS. Hate to pay more for simple registration but that’s what it’s coming to.
Me, too. Like going on four days, 8 hours now. Updated nameservers for one of like 50 domains I have there. Hmmm. Still no access to the site (external hosting). Cannot get in to fiddle with anything like MX records. All settings greyed out for that domain. No changer or even review of settings possible. The other weird thing is that they don’t seem to charge my card for like a month after I buy a domain. Weird? It is like they are totally understaffed and doing absolutely all functions by hand. Ouch. That’s a good business model for a multimillion-customer technology company in its death spiral. What happens to the domains 1and1 holds when 1and1 declares itself insolvent and folks like a cheap tent in a windstorm? Uh oh. Time to shlep my domains to a third party DNS provider. Fudge. Did save a crapload on registration. Think it works out to like 33 center/hour of frustration so far . . .
4 days + WTF???????? AVOID 1AND1!!!!!!!!!
I just transferred my dns.. and worried how long it will take after reading these posts.
It’s been almost 72 hours for me with “updating” on the DNS. My site’s been down this entire time because I was getting too much traffic and my hosting got shut down. You think for something that takes Godaddy 2 hours max to do that you wouldn’t need more than 48 FREAKIN HOURS to do it at 1and1. Every time that I talk to someone it’s the same answer, “just wait a couple of more hourrs….” I can’t wait this LONG! Every hour the site is down I’m losing money and it’s affecting my SERPS. This is bullshit, the company is bullshit and they need to get this issue fixed before they go out of business. OH wait they’re already going out of business, or at least they should be because this is completely unacceptable .
My domain has been in “domain update done” status for 7 days now. I just transferred in to 1&1, but come 60 days, I will be paying to transfer away. they suck!
My DNS update started at 9am on 16th July 2011 and has only just been completed , so 4 days …..it is ridiculous.
I also had issues with then not sending reminders when my domain was up for renewal and simply shutting the domain down in March . I didn’t really mind their rip off fee of £25 for reinstatement , what was annoying was that their silly reinstatement process was long and convoluted and took around 7 days!
Iand1 trully are crap
It’s a horror. I just started dns change and after 6 hours I’m still waiting. 3 till 7 days more? I really hope not.
I Love 1&1
They do take a while changing DNS settings and stuff, but they always have someone at the other end of the phone day or night.
They offer the best prices and best service
Guess what? It’s been over 24h since we’ve made changes to DNS. Even though the change seems to have taken place on 1and1 CP they haven’t propagated to any other DNS servers. Now, waiting for the same standard response from tier1 support. I think it’s time to move on to another hosting company…
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I cant get my domain out of 1&1 to host at hostgators, they just won’t let go the DNS editing. 1&1 is crap.
first of all, is the name supposed to be SUPER, and the © is just always around to make sure we know that it’s a copyrighted program, or is the name actually SUPER ©, which is the way it seems to be from all of their web pages
I have to agree even now 1and1 is very slow at updating their DNS servers. You would have thought in this day and age it would have moved with technology…
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It’s been 6 days since I’ve changed the DNS on about 20 domain on 1and1, they’re still not working – this is when I go find another domain host.
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DNS appears for Website Name Hosting server. I know the term Hosting server is frightening and you are considering “oh sure, another document published in technicalese language”. Think of a server as a frequent pc, like the one you are using now to study this.
I have to agree even now 1and1 is very slow at updating their DNS servers
I have transfered in my domain to 1&1 and it’s been 30+ hours with status “waiting for tag” and if I check whois manually, I can see that it’s already been updated to SCHLUND, but name servers still appears from my old hosting company… weird.
Well, i bought the cheapie “.info” domain at 1and1 where I have other domains registered. It costs $2.00 for the first year. The control panel at 1and1 still says domain registration is being requested 16 hours later. Maybe they don’t work on weekends? Maybe it’s because it’s Chinese Lunar New Year weekend?
I’m actually tempted to go over to godaddy and register it for a couple of bucks and see if they get the registration done faster. Whois is showing it’s still available for purchase.
You guys are talking about a few days?
It has been 30 days + where my domain has not been pointed.
The technical staff at 1 and 1 have no weight are and paid simply to tell to you to be patient
I will never forget the stress this company has given me.
Absolutely furious at the company and staff.
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