How to add, edit or delete DNS (A, CNAME, MX, TXT etc) records in Zone Editor cPanel

Adding, editing, or deleting DNS records like A, CNAME, MX, and TXT in cPanel’s Zone Editor is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to manage DNS records using the Zone Editor in cPanel:

Step 1: Log into Your cPanel Account

1. Open your web browser and go to your cPanel URL, typically yourdomain.com/cpanel or cpanel.yourdomain.com.
2. Enter your cPanel username and password to access the cPanel dashboard.

Step 2: Locate and Open the Zone Editor

1. Scroll down to the Domains section.
2. Click on Zone Editor.

Step 3: Select the Domain to Manage

1. You will see a list of all the domains in your cPanel account.
2. You will see three options next to the domain for which you want to manage DNS records: Manage, + A Record, and + CNAME Record.
3. Click on Manage to view all DNS records for that specific domain.

Step 4: Adding a New DNS Record

1. Click on the + Add Record button at the Zone Editor’s top right.
2. Choose the type of record you want to add:
   • A Record: Points a domain or subdomain to a specific IP address.
   • CNAME Record: Points a domain or subdomain to another domain name.
   • MX Record: Directs email to a mail server.
   • TXT Record: Often used for verification purposes or custom configurations (e.g., SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records).
3. Fill in the following fields based on the record type:
   • Name: The domain or subdomain for the record.
   • TTL (Time To Live): The duration (in seconds) that the record should be cached by DNS servers. The default is typically 14400 (4 hours).
   • Type: Select the type of record (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.).
   • Record or Address: The value of the record (e.g., IP address for A record, destination domain for CNAME, or priority and mail server for MX records).
4. Click Add Record to save your new DNS record.

Step 5: Editing an Existing DNS Record

1. In the Zone Editor, locate the DNS record you want to modify from the list.
2. Click the Edit button next to the record.
3. Update the Name, TTL, or Record/Address fields as necessary.
4. Click Save Record to apply the changes.

Step 6: Deleting a DNS Record

1. Find the DNS record you want to delete from the list in the Zone Editor.
2. Click the Delete button (trash can icon) next to the record.
3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Common DNS Record Configurations

1. A Record:
   • Name: @ (represents the root domain) or subdomain (e.g., www).
   • Address: The IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
2. CNAME Record:
   • Name: subdomain (e.g., mail, www, or ftp).
   • Record: The domain name it points to (e.g., mail.example.com or www.example.com).
3. MX Record:
   • Name: @ (or leave it blank to indicate the root domain).
   • Priority: A number indicating the priority of the mail server (lower values have higher priority).
   • Record: The mail server domain (e.g., mail.example.com).
4. TXT Record:
   • Name: The domain or subdomain (e.g., @ or _dmarc).
   • Record: The text value (e.g., SPF or DKIM records like "v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all").

Best Practices

• Plan DNS Changes Ahead: Update TTL values to lower settings before making changes for faster propagation.
• Backup DNS Records: Before making changes, note down the current DNS settings in case you need to revert back.
• Use Correct Syntax: Ensure all records, especially TXT and MX records, follow the correct syntax to avoid errors.

By following these steps, you can easily add, edit, or delete DNS records in the Zone Editor section of cPanel.