Preview your website before changing DNS

Check your website on Host Dada before you point your domain at us, so visitors never see a half-finished or broken site. Use the temporary URL for a quick look, or the hosts file method for a full test (including WordPress) on your own computer.

• Applies to: Essential and WordPress hosting (Host Dada Control Panel)
• Time: about 5 to 15 minutes
• Difficulty: Beginner (temporary URL), Intermediate (hosts file)

Before you start

• Upload your website first, for example with File Manager or FTP.
• Don't change your nameservers yet. That's the last step, once you're happy.

Option 1: the temporary URL (quickest)

1. Log in to the Host Dada Control Panel. Go to cp.hostdada.uk (or Client Area → Services → your hosting → Login to Control Panel) and open your package.
2. Click View Temporary URL. In the Account Summary box on the right, find Temp Address and click View Temporary URL. Your site opens at an address based on your domain, such as yourdomain-co-uk.hostdada.net. The temporary URL and your package's IP address are both in Account Summary.
3. Click around your site. The temporary URL works over both http:// and https://, so you can share it with a colleague or client for feedback.

Option 2: the hosts file (best for WordPress and full testing)

Your computer's hosts file can override DNS for your computer only. You tell it "my domain lives at Host Dada", and you see the new site at your real address while everyone else still sees the old one.

1. Find your package's IP address. It's listed as IP Address in Account Summary (see the screenshot above).
2. Edit the hosts file.
   • Windows: search for Notepad, right-click it and choose Run as administrator. Open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (change the file type to All Files to see it).
   • Mac: open Terminal and run sudo nano /etc/hosts, then enter your Mac password.
3. Add one line at the bottom, using your IP address and domain, for example:

   185.151.30.200 yourdomain.co.uk www.yourdomain.co.uk

   Save the file (on a Mac, press Ctrl+O, Enter, then Ctrl+X).
4. Open your site in a private or incognito window. You're now viewing the copy on Host Dada at your real domain. Test logins, forms and checkout.
5. Remove the line when you've finished and save again. Forgetting this is the most common cause of "the site works for me but not for anyone else".

Ready to go live?

Point the domain to Host Dada by changing its nameservers to ns1.kandekore.net, ns2.kandekore.net, ns3.kandekore.net and ns4.kandekore.net. See Point your domain to Host Dada, then activate free SSL. If you use email on the domain, set up your mailboxes first so nothing is missed.

Troubleshooting

The temporary URL shows a placeholder page

Your files aren't in public_html yet, or an old index file is still there. Check in File Manager.

The hosts file change doesn't seem to work

Browsers cache DNS. Close all browser windows and reopen a private window. On Windows you can also run ipconfig /flushdns in Command Prompt. Check there's no # at the start of your line.

Links on the temporary URL go to my live site

Your site uses full links that include the domain name (common with WordPress). That's normal. Use the hosts file method to test properly.

Last reviewed: October 2026