Adding DNS records in cPanel may sound technical, but with the right steps it’s quite straightforward — especially when you break it down. In this guide we’ll walk you through the process, explain common record types, and give helpful tips.

Why you might need to add DNS records

DNS (Domain Name System) records tell the Internet how to handle your domain. For example:

  • Pointing your domain to a hosting server

  • Verifying your domain for email services or apps

  • Setting up custom sub-domains (like blog.yourdomain.com)

  • Creating mail records (so your email works correctly)

Making mistakes in DNS can cause your website or email to stop working. That’s why it’s good to learn how properly to add or update records in cPanel.

Before you start: a few checks

  • Make sure you’re logged into your cPanel account (you’ll usually get it from your hosting provider).

  • Ensure your domain is using the nameservers provided by your host (if your domain uses different nameservers, you might need to add records there instead).

  • Take note of the values you need: type of DNS record, name/host, value/data, TTL (time to live) etc.

  • DNS changes can take some time to propagate (usually a few hours to 48 hours).

Step-by-step: Adding DNS records in cPanel

1.Log in to cPanel
Open your cPanel dashboard (typically via your hosting provider).

2.Go to the “Zone Editor” or “DNS Records” section
In cPanel, look for something like “Zone Editor”, “DNS Zone Editor”, or “Advanced DNS Editor”.

3.Select your domain
If you have multiple domains/sub-domains in your account, pick the one you want to edit.

4.Add a new record
Click on a button like “+ Add Record” or “Add DNS Record”.

5.Choose the record type
Here are some common types:

  • A record: Points a hostname to an IP address (e.g., yourdomain.com → 123.45.67.89)

  • CNAME record: Points a hostname to another hostname (e.g., blog.yourdomain.com → yourdomain.com)

  • MX record: For mail exchange – tells where email should go for your domain.

  • TXT record: A text record often used for domain verification or email-security (SPF, DKIM).

  • AAAA record: Same as A record, but for IPv6 addresses.

  • SRV, NS, and others: Less common for basic use, but possible.

6.Fill in the fields
Example:

  • Name/Host: www or @ (the “@” often means the root domain)

  • Type: e.g., “A”, “CNAME”, etc.

  • Value/Data: e.g., an IP address, or a hostname.

  • TTL: Time in seconds how long other systems should cache this record (you can leave default).

7.Save/Confirm
After you fill in the details, click “Save”, “Add Record”, or similar to apply the change.

8.Check propagation
After adding the record, it may take some time before the change is visible everywhere. You can use online tools (DNS lookup tools) to verify.

Example use case

Let’s say you want blog.yourdomain.com to point to 123.45.67.89.

  • Name/Host: blog

  • Type: A

  • Value/Data: 123.45.67.89

  • TTL: leave as default
    Then save.
    Once it propagates, when someone types blog.yourdomain.com, they’ll be directed to that IP address.

Tips & best practices

  • Use descriptive hosts: If you have many sub-domains, keep names clear.

  • Don’t delete old records unless you’re sure you don’t need them.

  • For email, make sure your MX records point to the correct mail server and that you’ve set any required TXT (SPF/DKIM) records.

  • Keep TTL reasonable. If you expect frequent changes, you might set a shorter TTL (e.g., 300 seconds) so changes propagate faster.

  • After major changes, clear your browser cache or test from another network to avoid seeing cached results.

  • If you are unsure about a record, ask your hosting provider or use a staging domain until you're confident.

When to contact support

If:

  • You added the record but your site/email still doesn’t work after 24-48 hours.

  • You’re not sure what value/data to use (for example when setting up third-party services).

  • You have special DNS requirements (like SRV records, non-standard ports, multiple mail servers).

  • Our team at Server Management Services is happy to help with DNS or server-side issues.

Conclusion

Working with DNS in cPanel is something many beginners can do — once you know the steps. To recap: log in → go to Zone Editor → select domain → add record → fill details → save → wait for propagation. With those steps, you’ll have more control over your domain and services.