An A record (Address Record) is one of the most important settings in your domain’s DNS zone. It connects your domain name to the correct IP address, allowing visitors to reach your website. Without a properly configured A record, your domain won’t know where to send traffic.
What Does an A Record Do?
Think of an A record as a map that tells the internet where your website is hosted. For example:
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If your website is hosted on a server with the IP address
123.45.67.89, your A record needs to point your domain (likeyourdomain.com) to that exact IP. -
You can also create A records for subdomains, such as
blog.yourdomain.com, to direct them to a different server.
How to Add or Edit an A Record
Managing your A records is straightforward through your domain’s DNS zone editor:
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Log in to your domain control panel (or hosting account).
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Locate the DNS Zone Editor – this is where all your DNS records are listed.
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Add or update the A record:
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Name/Host: usually “@” for the root domain or the subdomain name (e.g.,
www). -
Type: select “A”.
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Value: enter the server IP address your domain should point to.
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TTL (Time to Live): usually left at default (e.g., 14400 seconds), which defines how long servers cache the record.
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Save your changes.
Once saved, the new settings will go through DNS propagation, which may take anywhere from a few minutes up to 24 hours.
When Should You Update an A Record?
You’ll typically update your A record if:
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You moved your website to a new hosting provider.
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You changed servers or upgraded to a dedicated IP.
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You want different subdomains to point to different servers.
Troubleshooting Tips
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If your site isn’t loading after an update, check your A record using a tool like DNS Checker.
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Make sure you only have one A record for your main domain to avoid conflicts.
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If issues persist after propagation, clear your local DNS cache.
Related Guides
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[What Is DNS Propagation?]
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[How to Change Nameservers for Your Domain]
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[Understanding MX Records for Email Setup]
Final Thoughts
Managing A records is an essential step in keeping your website accessible. With the right configuration, your domain will always point to the correct server. At dedirock.com, we provide easy-to-use DNS tools and expert support so you can manage your records with confidence.