Edit your DNS records

The DNS zone is your domain's directory. It tells the internet where to find your website, where to deliver your email and how to prove that the domain belongs to you. This guide explains how to add, edit or delete a record in the zone of a domain managed at Upkyo.

Before you start

• The domain must use Upkyo's name servers for the zone managed here to take effect.
• Keep the values to enter at hand: they are provided by the service you want to connect (hosting, email provider, mailing tool, Google verification…).
• If in doubt, do not delete anything: removing the wrong record can take your website or email offline.

Add a DNS record step by step

1. Open Domains and click your domain.
2. Open the DNS tab, or scroll down to DNS records.
3. Click Add a record.
4. Choose the Type: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, CAA…
5. Enter the Name: @ (or leave it empty) for the root domain, or a subdomain such as blog for blog.yourdomain.com.
6. Enter the Value: an IP address for an A record, a host name for a CNAME or MX, some text for a TXT.
7. Choose the TTL (Auto, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 4 h or 24 h) and, for an MX or SRV record, the Priority.
8. Click Add to save.

To edit an existing record, use the actions shown on its row in the list. You can also tick several rows and delete them together.

What is each record type for?

• A: links a name to an IPv4 address (for example your website's server).
• AAAA: same role as the A record, for an IPv6 address.
• CNAME: makes one name an alias of another, for example www pointing to your main domain.
• MX: tells the world which servers receive the domain's email, with a priority, see MX record: what it does and how to change it.
• TXT: holds text read by other services: SPF, DKIM, DMARC, ownership verification.
• SRV: describes a specific service (port and server), used by some email or phone systems.
• CAA: states which authorities are allowed to issue SSL certificates for the domain.

Zone tools

• Templates: add the records for a common service in one click (Upkyo email, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, standard website, Vercel, Netlify…).
• Backups: go back to a previous version of your zone.
• Propagation: check whether your change is visible around the world.
• Import / Export: download the complete zone in BIND format, or upload a zone in BIND or CSV format.

Some records are marked Protected: these are the root NS and SOA records, which the zone needs to work. To change them, contact support.

What is TTL and which value should you pick?

The TTL (time to live) tells other servers how long to keep a value in memory before asking again. Auto works in most cases. Before a major change (moving your website, switching email provider), a short TTL such as 5 minutes makes the switch faster. Once everything is stable, you can go back to a longer value. The minimum TTL accepted is 60 seconds.

Common errors and how to fix them

• "Invalid value for an A record": an A record expects an IPv4 address such as 192.0.2.10, not a domain name. For a name, use a CNAME.
• "Priority required": an MX record needs a priority, for example 10.
• Domain typed twice: enter blog, not blog.yourdomain.com, in the Name field, otherwise you get blog.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com.
• Two SPF records: a domain must have only one TXT record starting with v=spf1. Merge the values instead of adding a second one.
• The change is not showing: usually a DNS cache issue, see Why is my DNS change not visible yet?.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a DNS change take to work?

The change is saved instantly at Upkyo. It becomes visible everywhere once the TTL of the old value expires, usually within a few minutes to a few hours. Click Propagation to follow its progress.

How do I undo a mistake in my DNS zone?

Open Backups in your domain's zone and restore a previous version. It is also a good idea to export the zone before any big change, so you keep your own copy.

What do I put in the Name field for the main domain?

Enter @ or leave the field empty. For a subdomain, enter only the part before the domain, for example www or shop.

Can I manage DNS for a domain bought elsewhere?

Yes, as long as you point the domain's name servers to Upkyo from your current registrar. If you only want to receive your email at Upkyo, follow Use Upkyo Mail with a domain bought elsewhere.

Which records do I need to connect my website?

Usually an A record for the root domain and a CNAME for www. The standard website template adds both for you, see Point a domain name to a website (A and CNAME records).