Introduction: Understanding DNS Record Types and Their Role

Managing the Domain Name System (DNS) settings is one of those behind-the-scenes things you might not think about too often, but it’s super essential for keeping your website up and running smoothly. 

Think of DNS as the internet’s address book—it helps connect the dots between your website’s name and the actual server on which it lives. Without it, people wouldn’t be able to find your site, emails could go missing, and other connected tools might stop working.

If you’re hosting your site with SiteGround, you’re in luck. They’ve built a pretty straightforward interface that lets you fully control your DNS settings through the DNS Zone on SiteGround. 

Whether you are adding a new subdomain, tweaking email server settings, or connecting your site to an external service, this tool is where you do it. Even if you’re not super techy, the layout is clean and easy to follow—so you don’t have to worry about messing things up just by poking around.

That said, DNS can still feel a bit intimidating at first. There are a bunch of different types of records—A records, CNAMEs, MX records, and so on—and each one does something different. It’s not rocket science, but you do want to know what you’re changing and why. Otherwise, you could accidentally take your whole site offline or stop emails from being delivered. No one wants that headache.

Learning your way around the DNS editor on SiteGround and understanding when it’s the right time to make updates can save you from all kinds of issues. It puts you in control. You won’t need to rely on support for every little change, and your website will thank you for it. 

It’s all about making sure everything runs smoothly, so your visitors and customers get the experience they expect without hiccups. Don’t worry, ARZ Blog got you covered.

What Are DNS Record Types: Overview of Key DNS Entries

DNS records might seem a bit confusing at first, but once you get the hang of what each one does, it’s not too bad. Think of them like little instructions that help your domain do different jobs—like showing your website, sending emails, or pointing to another service.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the ones you’ll probably run into the most:

A Record: Mapping Domains to IPv4 Addresses

This one’s pretty basic but super important. It connects your domain name to an IP address (the actual location of your website on the internet). So when someone types in your domain, the A record tells the browser, “Hey, go here.”

CNAME: Creating Domain Aliases

A CNAME is sort of like a nickname. It points from one domain to another. You’d use this if you want something like blog.yourdomain.com to point to another service, maybe where your blog is hosted. It’s not for pointing to IPs—just other domain names.

MX Record: Managing Email Routing

MX stands for Mail Exchange. These records handle your email. If you’re setting up email with something like Google Workspace or Outlook, you’ll probably need to update your MX records so your domain knows where to send and receive messages.

TXT: Adding Verification and Security Information

TXT records are kind of like notes you attach to your domain. They’re mainly used for verification, like proving to Google or Microsoft that you own the domain, or for things like SPF and DKIM, which help prevent email spoofing. You don’t see them in action, but they’re essential behind the scenes.

AAAA: Associating Domains with IPv6 Addresses

It is similar to an A record, but this one points to an IPv6 address instead of IPv4. Unless you know you need it, you’ll probably be using A records most of the time. However, more sites are slowly moving to IPv6 so it might come up.

SRV: Specifying Services for a Domain

SRV records are used for more specific services, like VoIP or some chat apps. They tell your domain where to find a service and what port it uses. You don’t see them often unless you’re working with something that specifically asks for one.

Accessing the DNS Zone Editor: Navigating DNS Management

Before you can actually manage any DNS records, there’s one crucial thing to check first—your domain needs to be pointed to SiteGround’s nameservers. If it’s not, SiteGround won’t let you make changes right away. Instead, you’ll see a warning pop up with details on which nameservers to use. It’s not the end of the world, just something to sort out before moving on.

Once that’s in place, there are two main ways to access the DNS Zone Editor in your SiteGround account: through the Client Area or by using Site Tools. Both routes work fine—it just depends on what you’re more comfortable with or what you need to do.

Access via Client Area: Managing DNS Through Your Account

• Head over to the SiteGround website and log in to your account.
• Once you’re in, go to the Client Area, then click on Services, and from there, choose Domains.
• Find the domain you want to manage and click the Settings button next to it.
• On the settings page, you’ll see an option for DNS Zone Editor—click that.

This method is convenient if your domain is registered directly through SiteGround or if you’ve already pointed your domain to their nameservers. It gives you full access to view and tweak your DNS records as needed.

Access via Site Tools: Adjusting DNS Settings in SiteGround’s Interface

• Log in to your SiteGround account, and go to Site Tools for the specific site you’re working on.
• In Site Tools, navigate to Domain > DNS Zone Editor.

This path is valid when you’re working on an active website hosted on SiteGround. You’ll get the same set of tools whether you want to add a new record, edit an existing one, or delete something you don’t need anymore.

Both options lead you to the same kind of controls. It just comes down to which view you prefer. Just make sure your domain is pointed the right way, and the rest is pretty straightforward.

Managing DNS Records on SiteGround: Key Administrative Actions

Properly managing your DNS records is crucial for your website, email, and other domain-related services to work properly. SiteGround makes this easy with its DNS Zone Editor, which lets you add, change, or delete records without needing to be a server wizard.

Whether you’re pointing your domain to another host, setting up emails to go through a specific service, or just trying to verify your domain for Google or whatever tool you’re using, being able to handle DNS records yourself gives you way more control. It might sound technical at first, but once you’ve done it a few times, it starts to feel routine.

Here’s how you can go about it—adding new records, editing the old ones, and getting rid of the stuff you don’t need anymore.

Creating New DNS Records: Implementing Essential Configurations

• Select the Domain: First off, log in to your SiteGround account and head over to the DNS Zone Editor. You’ll see a list of your domains—pick the one you want to work with.
• Navigate to the “Create New Record” Section. Once you’re inside the editor, scroll or look for the section that says Create New Record. That’s where you’ll be adding the new info.
• Choose the Type of Record: You’ll see tabs for different record types—A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, SRV, TXT… pick the one that matches what you need. If you’re unsure, there’s usually a little description or guide nearby.
• Fill in Required Fields and Save: Each record type will ask for different details, such as hostname, IP address, or maybe a priority number (for MX). Just fill in what’s needed, double-check that it’s correct, and hit Create or Save. And that’s it—the new record is added.

Editing Existing DNS Records: Modifying Entries for Accuracy

• Locate the Record in the DNS Zone Editor: Scroll through your DNS list until you spot the record you want to change. If you have many entries, this might take a minute.
• Use the Pencil Icon to Edit: Next to each record, there’s a little pencil icon. That’s the edit button. Click it, and the record will open up for editing.
• Make Changes and Confirm Updates: Go ahead and update whatever needs changing—maybe the IP has changed, or you typed something wrong the first time. After you’re done, hit Confirm or Update, and your changes will be saved.

Deleting DNS Records: Removing Unnecessary Configurations

• Use the Trashcan Icon Next to the Record: If a record is no longer needed (or if you added it by mistake), you can delete it by clicking the trashcan icon next to it. You’ll see this right beside the pencil icon.
• Confirm Deletion: You’ll get a confirmation popup—just to make sure you didn’t click delete by accident. Click Yes or Confirm, and the record will be permanently removed.

That’s all there is to it. Just take your time, double-check your entries, and don’t be afraid to ask for support for help if something feels off.

Verifying and Propagating DNS Changes: Ensuring Updates Take Effect

So, you’ve updated your DNS records—great. But if you’re wondering why the changes don’t show up right away, don’t worry; that’s normal. DNS doesn’t update instantly across the entire internet. Instead, there’s a delay, which happens because of something called DNS propagation. It’s the time it takes for servers around the world to catch up with your changes.

Every DNS server stores domain info temporarily. This period is controlled by something called TTL, or Time to Live. TTL tells the server how long it should keep the old info before checking if anything’s new. 

Not all servers follow this in the same way. Some updates are quicker than others, and a few might take their sweet time. So, depending on where people are accessing your site from, the changes might show up right away—or take a day or two. In some rare cases, it could even stretch to 72 hours.

During that waiting period, some visitors might still be sent to the old IP address or server info, while others are already seeing the new version. That can cause weird stuff, like your site being up for some and down for others or an email landing in the wrong inbox. It’s frustrating, sure, but it’s just how the system works.

Most of the time, if you plan your updates correctly, you can avoid actual downtime, but yeah, some patience is part of the deal.

Tools and Methods to Verify DNS Changes: Checking Propagation and DNS Health

If you want to keep an eye on whether your updates have gone through, there are a few handy ways to check:

DNS Lookup Tools

Sites like DNSChecker or WhatsMyDNS let you see your DNS records from various locations around the world. You just enter your domain, and it shows whether the changes have taken effect in different countries. SiteGround also has its built-in tools that do pretty much the same thing.

Command Line Checks

If you’re a bit more hands-on, you can use your computer’s command line to check the records directly. Commands like nslookup, dig, or host can show you precisely what a DNS server is returning at that moment. It’s nerdy but accurate.

Clear Your Browser or System Cache

Sometimes, it’s not even the DNS server—it’s your browser or device hanging on to old info. Try clearing your browser cache, or if you’re on a phone or another network, test from there. That can help confirm whether the change has gone through.

Conclusion: Best Practices for Efficient DNS Management on SiteGround

Managing your DNS zone on SiteGround is easy. There’s a bit of a learning curve, especially with all those different record types and technical terms flying around. But once you’ve done it once or twice, it starts to click. The good thing is that SiteGround makes it easier with its clean layout and tools.

Whether you’re setting up email, pointing your domain somewhere else, or verifying stuff for third-party services, it’s all right there in the DNS Zone Editor. You’ve got complete control, and you don’t need to be an expert to figure it out. Just follow the steps, take your time, and always double-check what you’re adding or changing.

And remember—propagation takes time. It’s normal if you don’t see your updates live right away. Tools like DNSChecker or a quick command-line lookup can save you a lot of second-guessing.

Don’t overthink it. With a bit of patience and a few clicks, you’re managing your domain like a pro. And if anything goes sideways, SiteGround support is usually pretty quick to help out.

For reliable and scalable hosting solutions, Visit ARZ Host.

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Where do I find the DNS Zone Editor in SiteGround?

It’s not hidden or anything; it’s just a couple of clicks. You can access your Client Area or use Site Tools, whichever you’re more used to. Once you’re in, look for “DNS Zone Editor” under the domain settings. That is where the magic happens.

Do I need to be super tech-savvy to manage DNS settings?

Honestly, not really. It sounds more complicated than it actually is. Once you poke around a bit, things start making sense. And SiteGround keeps things clean and kind of foolproof, which helps a lot.

What if I mess something up? Will my site crash?

It can happen, yeah. If you delete or edit the wrong record, your site or email might stop working. But don’t panic—it’s not permanent. You can usually fix it pretty quickly once you spot what went wrong. Just double-check things before saving.

Why aren’t my changes showing up right away?

That’s normal. DNS changes take time to spread across the internet—this is called propagation. Sometimes, it’s fast, and other times, it drags a bit. It could take a few minutes or up to 24–48 hours, depending on where you are and what kind of record you changed.

Which DNS records should I care about?

If you’re just running a site and email, these are the main ones:

• A Record: points your domain to an IP
• CNAME: links one domain to another
• MX Record: handles email delivery
• TXT Record: used for things like domain verification or email security

The rest are more niche unless you’re doing something specific.

How do I know if a DNS update worked?

There are tools for that. Try websites like DNSChecker.org or WhatsMyDNS.net. Just enter your domain, and you’ll see if the new record is live in different regions. Sometimes, clearing your browser cache does the trick.

What if my domain’s not registered with SiteGround?

You can still manage DNS through SiteGround, but you need to point your domain’s nameservers to them first. Otherwise, the DNS Zone Editor won’t be available. SiteGround will let you know if that’s the case—there’s usually a little warning at the top.

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