How to Configure DNS with an External DNS Provider

Before changing DNS

First confirm which provider is authoritative for your domain's DNS. If your domain uses Cloudflare nameservers, changes made in your hosting control panel's DNS editor usually will not affect the public DNS zone.

Collect the exact DNS values from the service you want to connect, such as your hosting provider or email provider. Do not guess IP addresses, MX targets or verification values.

Option 1: Keep your current nameservers

If your domain already uses the external DNS provider's nameservers:

Sign in to that provider's dashboard.
Open the DNS zone for your domain.
Add or edit the records specified by your web hosting or email provider.
Save the changes and check that the record name, target, priority and any required proxy setting are correct.

Typical records include A or AAAA for a website, CNAME for an alias, MX for incoming email, and TXT for verification or email authentication. The exact records depend on your services.

Option 2: Change nameservers

Change nameservers only if you intend to move DNS management to another provider. Before switching, copy all required records from the existing DNS zone, including website, email and verification records. Missing MX or email-authentication records can interrupt mail delivery.

At your domain registrar, replace the nameservers with the exact pair supplied by the new DNS provider. Do not change nameservers just to add one record.

Check your changes

DNS updates may take time to appear everywhere. Test the website and email separately. If a website works but email does not, review the MX and email-authentication records rather than repeatedly changing the website's A record.

For record types, see the guide to A, AAAA, CNAME, MX and TXT records. For delays, see the DNS propagation guide.

Important

Save the existing DNS values before editing them. If you are unsure which records are required, ask the relevant service provider for its exact DNS instructions before making changes.