DNS Management: how to add A, CNAME, MX and TXT records for my domain

Domains

DNS Management: how to add A, CNAME, MX and TXT records for my domain

1 views

DNS records tell the internet where each part of your domain points: the website (A, CNAME), email (MX), verifications and email-sending settings (TXT) and more. With DNS Management you set them yourself from the domain page, without having hosting with us.

When do I need it?

Situation	What to do
You have hosting with us for this domain	You don't need it. You manage DNS records from the hosting panel (e.g. "Zone Editor").
The website is elsewhere (e.g. Wix, Shopify, Blogger, your own server) and you want to keep DNS with us	Turn on DNS Management and add the records your provider gives you.
You use Cloudflare or another provider's DNS	You don't need it. The records go there, and you set that provider's nameservers on the domain (Nameservers).

Step 1: Turn on the add-on

Go to Domains → My Domains → Manage on the domain.
In the Domain Addons card, on the DNS Management line, click Enable.
If it's free, it's enabled immediately. If it's paid, a proforma invoice is issued only for the days left until the domain's expiry; the add-on is enabled once it's paid, and from then on it renews together with the domain.

The DNS Manager card then appears on the domain page. Click its title to open it.

Step 2: Nameservers and zone

If you see that the domain doesn't have the default nameservers, click Set them automatically. Without our nameservers, the records you add here have no effect.
If you see that no existing DNS zone was found, click Create DNS zone.

Before changing nameservers: if the website or email already work elsewhere, first add all their records here (A, MX etc.) and then set the nameservers. Otherwise they'll stop until you add them.

Step 3: Adding a record

Click Add a new DNS record.
Choose the Type (see the table).
In Host Name enter:
- @ or leave it empty for the domain itself (e.g. yourdomain.com).
- just the prefix for a subdomain, e.g. www or shop. The system adds the rest.
Leave TTL at 14400, unless the provider asks for something else. If you plan to change a record soon, set 300 so the change applies faster.
Enter the Value (IP, name or text) exactly as your provider gives it.
Click Save Changes. You'll see that the DNS records were added successfully.

To change a record click the pencil on its line, and to delete it the bin.

Record types

Type	What it's for	Example
A	Points a name to an IPv4 address.	Name `@`, Value `203.0.113.10`
AAAA	The same for IPv6.	Name `@`, Value `2001:db8::10`
CNAME	Makes a subdomain an "alias" of another name. It can't go on the domain itself (@) or alongside another record with the same name.	Name `www`, Value `yourdomain.com`
MX	Sets which server receives email. The lowest Priority goes first.	Name `@`, Priority `10`, Value `mail.provider.com`
TXT	Text: ownership verification (Google, Microsoft, Facebook), SPF, DKIM, DMARC.	Name `@`, Value `v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all`
SRV	Services on a specific port (e.g. VoIP, Teams). You fill in Priority, Weight and Port.	As given by the provider
CAA	Which SSL certificate authorities may issue certificates for the domain.	Flags `0`, Tag `issue`, Value `letsencrypt.org`

There must be only one SPF record (a TXT starting with v=spf1). If you add a second email service, merge them into one.

Ready-made setups

Configure Google Blogger: adds the records Blogger needs for your domain. If Blogger also gives you a verification CNAME, enter its name and target in the window.
Auto-configure Email DNS: shown if you have an active email service with us for this domain. It writes MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC and autodiscover automatically.

Zone actions

Reset to defaults: replaces all records with the original ones.
Recreate zone: wipes everything and starts from an empty zone.
Delete zone: deletes the zone. The domain's website and email will stop, if it still uses our nameservers.

None of the three can be undone. Take a screenshot of your records first.

How long a change takes

Usually a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the old record's TTL. See Nameservers and DNS propagation.

Problems

Problem	What to do
I can't see the DNS Manager card	The add-on hasn't been enabled (or paid), the domain isn't active, or the extension isn't supported. Send a ticket.
"You already have an active hosting account for this domain…"	Manage DNS from your hosting panel.
"Failed to modify DNS records!"	Check that you filled in the Value and that you're not adding a CNAME to a name that already has another record. Try again.
I added the record but it doesn't work	Check that the domain has our nameservers and wait for propagation. Check with whatsmydns.net.

Was this answer helpful?