How to Edit the DNS Zone of Your Domain
Find your host or registrar in the list below and jump straight to their official guide for editing your DNS zone without the guesswork.
The first time you edit your DNS records is rarely simple, and half the battle is just finding where they live. So I’ve gathered here the links to the official documentation of the main registrars and hosts covering how to edit the DNS zone, so you can be guided step by step. Don’t forget to check which platform your domain name is stored on, and whether the DNS zone is actually managed there. If editing your DNS records changes nothing even after 48 hours, and the nameservers give you no clue, don’t hesitate to reach out to their support team.
The documentation list for the main hosts and registrars
Registrars and hosts are sorted alphabetically. Be warned that some documentation is far more beginner-friendly than others… and a few of the guides below are written in French, since several of these providers are based in Europe. I’ve flagged those so you know what to expect.
- Amen : documentation “Changer ses entrées DNS / sa zone DNS” (in French)
- BlueHost : documentation “DNS Management: How to Add, Edit, or Delete DNS Entries”
- Bookmyname : no official documentation could be found. The DNS zone lives under Gérer (Manage), then in the Vos services (Your services) section, click the Personnaliser le contenu de vos DNS (Customize your DNS content) link. Enter the domain concerned and you’ll land on the DNS zone. Bookmyname offers two interfaces, one more advanced than the other depending on your needs.
- Cloudflare : documentation “Manage DNS records in Cloudflare”
- Gandi : documentation “Editing DNS Records for a Single Domain”
- GoDaddy : documentation “Manage DNS zone files”
- HostPapa : documentation “Using the DNS Zone editor”
- Infomaniak : documentation “Domain name: editing the DNS zone (CNAME, A record, MX record, DKIM, SRV, etc.)”
- Ionos : documentation “DNS settings” (be sure to pick the section matching what you want to change)
- LWS : documentation “Managing advanced DNS zones (A, CNAME, MX, SPF…)” (in French)
- Namecheap : documentation “How to set up DNS records for your domain”
- O2Switch : documentation “DNS Zone editor” (in French)
- OVH : documentation “Editing an OVHcloud DNS zone”
FAQ
How long does DNS propagation take after a change?
Usually anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours. The delay depends on the record's TTL (Time To Live): that's how long servers keep the old value cached. A low TTL (300 seconds) speeds up the update, a high TTL slows it down. Lower it ahead of a planned change.
Why aren't my DNS changes taking effect?
Most of the time the cache simply hasn't expired yet (the TTL is still running), or your DNS zone is managed somewhere other than where you're editing it. Also double-check for typos and the trailing dot on CNAME records. Flush your computer's DNS cache, then give propagation time to finish.
What's the difference between nameservers and the DNS zone?
Nameservers tell the internet which platform is authoritative for your domain: they point to where the answers live. The DNS zone is the content of those answers: the list of A, MX and CNAME records. Put simply, the nameservers point to the house, the DNS zone is what's inside it.
Where is my DNS zone managed if my domain and hosting are with two different providers?
It depends on your nameservers. Your DNS zone is editable wherever the nameservers declared at your registrar point. If you switched the nameservers over to your host, the zone is edited there, not at the registrar. Always check this before hunting for where to edit your records.
Can editing my DNS zone take down my website or my email?
Yes, a mistake can break your site or stop email from being delivered. The A record governs access to the site, the MX records govern mail. Always write down the existing values before you touch anything, change one record at a time, and never delete something whose purpose you don't know.
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