Knowledge Base
How do I change A, CNAME, MX or TXT records?
Change DNS records with the provider that manages your domain's DNS. If our hosting nameservers manage it, open cPanel → Zone Editor → Manage beside the domain. Choose Edit for an existing record or Add Record for a new one, enter the exact values supplied by the service you are connecting, then choose Save Record. A domain being listed in cPanel does not prove that its public DNS is managed there.
Check where to make the change
- DNS is the set of directions that sends visitors and email to the right services. Your domain's nameservers identify the provider responsible for those directions.
- In your account, open Domains, select the domain and choose DNS & nameservers to check its nameservers. For a domain registered elsewhere, check with that registrar. Use our nameserver guide if you need help finding them.
- If Cloudflare or another provider manages the DNS, use its record editor. Do not switch nameservers just to add one record.
- Keep a copy of the current record before editing it. For a website move, confirm the new website is ready and protect your existing email records first.
Open the record editor
- Find the hosting service in Services, choose Log in to cPanel and open Zone Editor using Search Tools.
- Choose Manage beside the domain. Use the A, CNAME, MX or TXT filter to find the record type you need.
- To update a record, choose Edit on its row. To add one, choose Add Record. Enter Name as the full name being changed, such as
www.example.com, using your own domain. - Keep the existing TTL unless the service's instructions require a change. TTL is how long other systems can keep a saved copy of the answer.
Enter the right kind of value
- A: points a name to an IPv4 address. Choose A in Type and enter the supplied IP in Address.
- CNAME: makes one name point to another name. Enter the supplied hostname in CNAME, not a full web address with
https://or a page path. A CNAME cannot share its name with other record types. - MX: directs incoming email. Enter the mail provider's Priority and Destination exactly. Do not remove existing mail routes unless you intend to move email.
- TXT: holds text used for checks such as ownership or email authentication. Paste the supplied value into Text. For SPF changes, update the existing SPF policy to include the required senders rather than adding a second SPF record.
Save and check
- Review the name, type and value, then choose Save Record. Choose Cancel if anything is unclear. Do not use a whole-zone reset to solve a single-record problem.
- Reopen the record to check the saved value, then use the connected service's verification action. Other networks may still have an older answer; see DNS propagation.
- If the change fails or you cannot identify the DNS provider, send Tech/Server the domain, intended record and error before making more changes.