DNS is the system that turns a domain name into the address of the server where your site lives. Each instruction inside that system is called a DNS record. The Zone Editor is the cPanel tool that lets you read and change those records.
Most people only open the Zone Editor when something stops working or when they connect a new service. Knowing the main record types makes that job much easier.
The Records You Will Use Most
- A record: points a name to a server’s IP address, the numbered address of the machine that hosts your site.
- CNAME record: points one name to another name. It is often used for www or for a service you connect.
- MX record: tells the internet which server receives email for your domain.
- TXT record: holds verification text, used for domain ownership checks and email security.
Open the Zone Editor
- Log in to cPanel.
- In the Domains group, click Zone Editor.
- Find your domain in the list and click Manage to see its records.
Write Down the Existing Records First
Before you change anything, copy the current records into a text file. The values in that file are your way back if a change goes wrong.
Add a Record
- Click Add Record, or use the quick-add button for the record type you need.
- Type the name. For a www record, type www only. cPanel adds your domain to the end for you.
- Enter the value, such as the IP address or the target name.
- Save the record.
Edit or Delete With Care
Changing the wrong record can take a site or its email offline. Work on one record at a time, then test before you move on.
- Do not delete an MX record unless you are switching email providers.
- Leave alone any record you do not recognize until you know what it does.
Wait for Changes to Spread
DNS changes do not appear everywhere at once. They often take a few hours to spread, and sometimes up to a day. If your site does not respond to a change straight away, wait before you edit again.
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