Why should DNS changes be timed carefully?

DNS changes should be timed carefully because they can affect how visitors reach a Shopify store. If changes are made incorrectly or at the wrong time, they can cause temporary downtime or make the domain point to the wrong website.

During a migration, careful timing helps:

• Minimize downtime when switching from the old store to Shopify.
• Ensure DNS records are configured correctly before launch.
• Allow DNS propagation to occur, which can take time.
• Prevent traffic from being split between old and new environments.
• Coordinate the domain switch with final data migration and launch testing.

Ideally, DNS changes should be planned as part of the final migration and launch process, with the old store kept available until the new store is confirmed to be working correctly.